I was sitting on the beach yesterday.
It was a wonderfully balmy Sunday afternoon, the air coming off the cold Atlantic calming the heat radiating from the Twelve Apostles. Everyone was happy. Families, kids, mates, couples of all colours and backgrounds enjoying the last hours of the weekend together. Sneaking a glass of wine; playing beach bats; shrieking as freezing foam washed over tiny toes; lovers sitting close, heads touching. It felt like the best of us. This was how South Africa can and should be.
Of course, Camps Bay beach wasn’t always like this. I grew up here; went to high school on the hill above; spent many days surfing and hanging out on these warm sands. Back then it was way quieter, and altogether whiter. Our infamous apartheid segregation laws meant that the majority of South Africans were not allowed to share in the happy sundowner vibes. Now, sitting here, it struck me what a uniquely communal space our beaches have become. Even in this ultra-exclusive coastal suburb, everyone takes pleasure in going to the beach. Where else – other than a Springbok rugby game, perhaps – do all our differences and tensions dissolve into such unfiltered joy?
We don’t always get it right in VISI – and that’s a challenge I will take up in 2025. Maybe, as you page through this issue, it could be food for thought… What will you challenge yourself to do? South Africa has so much to offer, both in its natural beauty and in its diverse and talented design community. We have such potential and, as a tumultuous year draws to a close, there’s a groundswell of positivity building among us. The Coastal Escape issue of VISI celebrates that potential, and commits to helping realise it.
VISI Outdoor Living
It also celebrates the outdoor lifestyle we South Africans love so much. Turn to page 145 for the latest contemporary trends and helpful advice on how to design an outdoor space that best suits your lifestyle. From spaces that seamlessly connect interior living to the outdoors and ones focused on boosting our wellness levels, to advice on how plants can make even the smallest outdoor patio feel welcoming, we have some inspiring mood-board images and advice on how to create your own version of fresh-air paradise.
And then – because we’re obsessed with Brutalist design – we asked acclaimed food editor and stylist Abigail Donnelly to create a very special food shoot for us. Turn to page 179 – the Brutalist braai awaits!
– Steve Smith, Editor | info@visi.co.za
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