Ben Kennedy’s Architecture-inspired Contemporary Furniture Collection

INTERVIEWED BY Steve Smith PHOTOS Francis Marais

Cape Town-based furniture designer Ben Kennedy is driven to create high-end contemporary furniture pieces that not only transcend function but pay homage to the Mother City’s Art Deco architecture.

Ben Kennedy Design’s contrasting use of organic textures and geometric forms is strongly influenced by Ben’s heritage and his place of residence in Cape Town. We had a chat with him to find out more about his latest collection.

Firstly a bit more about you… what’s your creative journey been and how did you get into furniture design?

My interest in design sparked at a young age and I was drawn to art and architecture. I have always had a love for drawing and was intrigued by geometry. Growing up in Namibia, I was surrounded by Frystark and other mid-century modern furniture pieces my Grandmother owned. I grew to love those timeless pieces, many of which are still in my house today. After High school, I worked in various fields in the design industry and also gained some valuable experience in manufacturing. Using this knowledge, I started by building furniture for the house my friends and I lived in. Without formal training in furniture making, I had no pre-conceptions of what exactly furniture design should be. I yearned for something unique and started to design my own.

What inspired this new range?

I like to reference my surroundings in my work and Cape Town is a constant source of inspiration. I have always loved the city, and after finally moving here in 2018, I was drawn to the historic buildings in and around the city. I loved running in Vredehoek or strolling through the CBD on Friday afternoons. I felt the need to pay homage to all of the intricate detailing and curves on the Art Deco buildings, which allowed me to create distinctive pieces that are not only functional but would tell a story. I tend to look at these pieces as tiny structures for your home.

Tell us more about the materials you used.

For this collection, I selected materials and colours that would not only complement the form but also reference the buildings they were inspired by. In the Art Deco style, you will often find a combination of marble and metal and ebonised timber. The use of these materials in the new collection was inevitable. A playful coat of “Holyrood pink” on a Bellair side table or the combination of dramatically contrasted marble and steel is my ode to the Art Deco buildings in Cape Town.

And why did you choose Mutual Heights to showcase the range?

When selecting a location for the photoshoot, I knew it had to be in the city centre. We wanted to showcase the furniture pieces in locations seeped in history. 

I have always admired the Mutual Heights building, it is considered to be one of the finest examples of Art Deco in Africa. From the brass ceiling, black and gold-veined onyx, pink marble columns, parquet flooring and stainless steel fittings, the building is unapologetically true to its style. The photographer Francis Marais convinced me that it was the perfect location. The space not only elevated the pieces but heightened the sense of glamour we wanted to convey.

Where can one buy the range?

Most of our furniture is made to order through our website and social media pages, and our pieces can often be seen as part of local exhibitions. Currently, we are part of an online exhibition called Blurring The Lines with The Fourth, on Artsy. We are also very fortunate to have pieces at Kombi, a design gallery based in New York presenting contemporary furniture and art objects from Southern Africa. | benkennedy.design

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