WORDS Carine Visagie
Work we’ll be talking about long after the designers are gone…
That certainly is how we’d describe the re-imagining of Johannesburg’s Braamfontein precinct by architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, who came out tops in this year’s ABSOLUT VISI Designer of the Year competition.
Along with South Point developers they’ve plotted a design vision that will not only mean a renewed sense of community but also a better-looking, better-functioning city precinct where Johannesburg urbanites can live, work and play.
Our annual award – the Oscars of the design world – was handed over to Silvio and Lesley at a party that rocked the Chavonnes Battery Museum at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Wednesday evening.
According to main judge and international trend forecaster Li Edelkoort, the judges specifically looked at the “mentality” of the nominated designs, choosing the project that best succeeded in conveying a message relevant to the time and age we live in. Finding ways in which to breathe new life into inner-city spaces is a global problem – and one that Silvio and Lesley managed to solve beautifully.
Tonic’s Greg Gamble and Philippe van der Merwe were this year’s recipients of the VISI Special Award, giving them the opportunity to be guest editors on a future issue of the magazine.
