Cool Spaces: SheBeen

WORDS Michaela Stehr PHOTOS Supplied

SheBeen – a fantastically pink pop-up bar designed by Tristan du Plessis in collaboration with Brutal Fruit creates a safe women-only space in the heart of Soweto.

SheBeen, situated at the Rockerfella Tavern, is an exclusive pop-up that aims to provide a venue where women can socialise in a secure and unthreatening environment. The brief from the team at Brutal Fruit for Tristan was to create a safe, beautiful space for women to connect, socialise and, more importantly, to feel as though the area was created just for them. “The Shebeen is a speakeasy in the true sense of the word, the high-end space is hidden discreetly behind a typical corrugated iron facade, which adds a layer of secrecy as well as an added element of surprise for guests,” exclaims Tristan.

Blush pink tones nod to the popular drinks in the Brutal Fruit stable while playing to the tongue-in-cheek stereotype of pink being for “women”. “A stand-out design feature is the use of colour and lighting to create a unique and sumptuous environment,” explains Tristan. “We wanted the Shebeen to feel like it would be just as well suited in Sandton as it was in Soweto.”

MOOOI carpets, Kalki Ceramics and Mash T. Studio light fittings are some top local names that grace the sophisticated space, placing an emphasis on female-led makers and suppliers. “We wanted the space to be oozing with glamour and sophistication, we wanted the women that entered space, to feel as though they were seen and made to feel important,” Tristan continues. “All women deserve to feel this way and we were thrilled at the idea of creating this feeling through design.” 

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