Hard Lines, Soft Living

Locha Design Studio is redefining outdoor furniture by blending African heritage with bold forms and playful colour.

WORDS Dumisani Mnisi PHOTOS Tremayne Ward-Smith; Supplied

Heritage in form

“Bringing the comfort of the indoors outdoors” was the guiding outlook for Locha Design Studio’s new outdoor range, the Akan Collection. Created by industrial and product designer Tshidzo Mangena, the range comprises bold, futuristic furniture pieces perfectly suited to the South African climate. “We felt that there isn’t much on offer in the outdoor space from local designers, and we wanted to close that gap,” he says. Launched at Design Week South Africa, the range consists of couches, chairs and tables conceptualised from the studio’s popular existing piece, the Ivory couch.

For Tshidzo, the range is about changing the conversation around how people look at and experience outdoor furniture. With the emphasis usually being on practicality and weather durability, style and creativity can often be overlooked. He poses the question: why can’t it have both?

With a background in fine art and industrial design, Tshidzo is fascinated by pushing boundaries, especially when it comes to materials and shapes. “As an artist, I approached the products from a playful perspective, wondering what interesting things I could bring out of a specific material,” he says.

The Akan Collection is an intersection of shape, colour and materiality, embodying the essence of African design. The range is named after the Akan people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana, West Africa, known for being skilled artisans. “We decided to name our pieces after artefacts, places or people from the continent – a way of connecting us as Africans while educating our client base about the continent.” The Akan, renowned for their craftsmanship in metalwork, art and textiles, are reflected in this outdoor range through its stainless- steel foundations and the detailed craftsmanship of the cushioning.

Intention and thoughtfulness were the driving factors behind this collection. Tshidzo believes furniture must “endure” all types of weather, whether it’s in sunny Johannesburg or battling the strong winds of Cape Town. “We used stainless steel because it’s corrosion-resistant and lasts longer,” he says. The studio initially conceptualised the range in aluminium, but it’s a softer metal that dents easily. “Our objective is to create heirloom-quality pieces – pieces your children will fight over because they are modern, lasting and well designed.”

There is a striking contrast between the furniture’s brutal form, defined by symmetrical, sharp, straight lines, and the softness and playfulness introduced through its cushioning and colour. The colourful aspect of the range is inspiredby Africa’s landscapes and culture. As a descendant of the Tsonga and Venda people, who are known for embracing vibrant colours, Tshidzo celebrates these elements in the Akan Collection. “We wanted to offer excitement and freshness, with a wide spectrum of colours to suit client tastes.”

From mustard yellows to deep, rich blues and even neon colours, the idea is of something custom-built. “People need to express themselves through the furniture they buy; it should speak to their style and aesthetic.”

There is intent in the colour palette used to launch the collection. A deep, oxidised red is symbolic of the red soil clay found across Africa, which serves multiple functions in African culture, and is used to protect skin from the sun or in decorative applications in the home. That is what the Akan Collection and Locha Design Studio are about – creating a brand that’s enduring and solid while honouring African heritage.

Art meets design

Locha Design Studio is a synergy of Tshidzo’s love for art and design, but it also aims to refine the ways in which people talk about and understand African furniture. It subverts the stereotypes of how furniture from Africa should look, emphasising its infinite possibilities.

Tshidzo achieves this by experimenting with materials, shapes and textures. With more than 20 years of experience as a fine artist, his work has gravitated towards celebrating the multiplicity of Africa’s landscapes and cultures. This focus was channelled into product and furniture design after he graduated from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where he focused on industrial product design.

Art consistently influences his perspective as a product designer. “Design stems from being able to draw and conceptualise, then translate those ideas into shapes, lines and shades,” he says. “I begin creating from an art silhouette, then apply my industrial design skills to ensure functionality and a great user experience.” This approach is evident in a studio showstopper: the Kigali chair, a well-constructed wooden piece that showcases both creativity and craftsmanship.

Tshidzo’s superpower lies in his ability to connect and collaborate, researching and understanding his industry while building a solid clientele. He uses his experience in exhibiting and curating to pilot his pieces on platforms such as Decorex, gauging public engagement and usability before placing the product on the market.

“It’s all about innovation and freedom – about being untethered in the way we pursue and design our products, and how we run the business.” | @locha_design_

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