Cool Spaces: The Striped Horse Muizenberg

WORDS Amelia Brown IMAGES Micky Hoyle

An exclusive look at preeminent South African designer Haldane Martin’s commission by The Striped Horse for their new Muizenberg bar.

Situated in a heritage Victorian building in the hub of Muizenberg, The Striped Horse Muizenberg is an eclectic bar and grill that demanded a distinctive character, aesthetic and a relaxed atmosphere to suit its beach-side suburb, famous for its surf culture and warm Indian Ocean.

Haldane Martin Iconic Design, who worked with The Striped Horse on the interior design of its office space in 2014, was commissioned to design key elements of the new bar to complement the rest of the interior designed by bar owner, Jurie Blomerus. The design team worked on the bar’s shelving, outdoor furniture, signage and the focal point of the space, namely the centrepiece bar, a large, masculine curved piece with Oregon pine edging.

The brand motif developed for The Striped Horse offices – a distinctive naval camouflage used by the British navy in World War I, which, in addition, reinforces the black and white stripes of the zebra at the heart of the brand identity – was continued in this space.

This black-and-white “razzle dazzle” concept was taken a step further for the bar design to develop a naval language, drawing on the seaside location and heritage of Simon’s Town, home to the South African navy, across the bay. The bar front is made out of laser-cut raw steel profiles similar in shape to the ribs that naval vessels are built from. The back of the bar features porthole-shaped shelving also laser cut from raw steel and backed with bronzed mirrors to further strengthen the naval reference.

Made from galvanised mild steel and marine plywood, the outdoor tables, benches, round tables and stools were designed to be a simplified expression of traditional beerfest furniture. In a reference to old-fashioned hotel bars, the exterior roadside bar signage was created in plaster relief, while the logo was hand painted on the beach-facing exterior wall for an authentic, vintage finish, fit for a heritage building.

The overall impression is of an iconic space that encapsulates the bold craft beer brand, appreciated as much for its crisp, refreshing taste as it is for its novel design. The perfect spot for a sundowner this summer.