WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Ed Reeve

Cork is truly one of nature’s wonder materials – the flexible yet durable bark is not only sustainable, but offers excellent thermal insulation, and is naturally hydrophobic and fire-resistant, too.

This multifaceted materiality inspired David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group to create “Casa Cork” for Milan Design Week 2025 – an immersive, layered space that invited the global design community to envision a regenerative future. The pop-up was a collaboration between the Rockwell Group, the sustainability-focused non-profit Cork Collective, and Corticeira Amorim – the world’s largest cork producer – which invited the global design community to imagine a regenerative future.

At the heart of Casa Cork was a dramatic centrepiece – a lifelike, six-metre-tall 3D-printed replica of a monumental tree, clad in virgin cork reclaimed from trees that have fallen due to disease or lightning strikes.

Beyond the tree, the space showcased the versatility and sustainability of cork through various design applications. The interior and furnishings were crafted almost entirely from, you guessed it, cork, and featured innovative cork furniture and products by both emerging and established international designers and manufacturers. Highlights included a bespoke chandelier and bar custom designed by Rockwell Group by Artemest; a custom illuminated wall feature, with sconces designed by Rockwell Group and manufactured by Thomas Cooper Studio, a Lusive company; and fabrics, tiles, and wallcoverings from 4Spaces.

Framing the entrance to the bar and tasting lounge inside Casa Cork, was a display that showcases the applications of cork in collectable design. The objects in these vignettes further emphasised the material’s versatility and beauty, crafted by luminaries from the design industry worldwide, including the Campana Brothers, Tom Dixon, Made in Situ by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Grain, Toni Grilo (Blackcork), Maddalena Casadei (designer), Falegnameria Pisu (artisan) for Pretziada, and Susana Godinho (Sugo Cork Rugs).

The pop-up also played host to a student design competition and a series of talks aimed to educate visitors about cork and sustainable design practices. Featuring prominent figures in architecture and design – including David Rockwell, Yves Béhar, Deyan Sudjic, Suchi Reddy, and Tom Dixon – the talks explored themes related to cork, such as craftsmanship, timelessness, manufacturing, and the circular economy. | rockwellgroup.com

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Situated on an isolated slope with expansive views of Santa Maria da Feira, Casa AS takes advantage of the natural characteristics of its plot, seamlessly melding the indoors with the landscape.

Mário Alves Arquiteto, a Portuguese architecture firm known for its minimalist aesthetics, wanted to integrate Casa AS with its natural surroundings, taking advantage of the open views and skyline. The architects focused on creating a functional and visually appealing home, using angular forms and materials, like cork, that blended with the environment.

The slight incline of the plot was perfect for creating a simple, continuous design, allowing the house to flow “outwards” towards the horizon. The interior spaces of Casa AS are designed to seamlessly connect the interior and exterior through large glass panels, blurring the boundary between inside and outside. This creates a sense of space that is both physically and visually expansive.

The social areas of the home serve as a connection between the street and the more private areas of the house, effectively turning transitional spaces into living areas. The private areas of the house receive ample sunlight and are situated in a secluded, recessed space for added privacy.

The flat white roof, designed to control solar exposure, physically represents the horizon line in the house’s design. The architects used cork as a key design element in constructing the facade. The sustainable material has excellent thermal insulating properties and integrates seamlessly with the natural greenery of the house’s surroundings. | marioalvesarquiteto.pt

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Wiid Design has been working wonders with cork since 2010, and recently added brilliant colour to this unique material in its completely covetable Spektrum Collection.

It took a lot of time and experimenting to understand how cork really works,” says Laurie Wiid van Heerden, explaining his journey towards creating the wide range of unique contemporary cork products that his studio has designed to date. “To fully understand this unique material, I travelled to Portugal often, visiting cork factories and the beautiful cork forests. I quickly became aware of its wonderful properties and manufacturing capabilities, and realised I wanted to place my focus on cork and make it one of our core materials.”

When Laurie describes cork as “unique”, he’s not exaggerating: as he points out, this remarkable material is biodegradable, renewable, recyclable, reusable, lightweight, waterproof, elastic, compressible and resistant to wear and tear. It’s also immensely versatile. When using the material as a designer, however, he says it was vital to “push the limits and add value to it. We had to create awareness and push the boundaries to achieve a number of world ‘firsts’ – including the world’s largest cork pendant light and cork cabinet.”

The latest updates to Laurie’s portfolio include pieces such as stools and lampshades in super-bright colours. He explains that one of the key reasons for adding colour was to emphasise the unique texture of cork. The Spektrum Collection, first launched in 2018, includes the results of Wiid Studio’s experiments “with various paint techniques and pigments”, says Laurie.

“Cork is transformed by a coat of paint, keeping its unique texture and sustainable properties, but gaining an added element of durability and luxury,” he says. The colourful pieces are warm and bold, adding instant visual interest to a range of settings, including domestic spaces. And they can be customised in almost any colour.

Recent installations by Wiid Studio include a set of custom-designed cork and stone tables at La Petite Colombe restaurant in Franschhoek, and an installation of 22 cork pendants in a private home in Durban. “It’s always been an objective of mine to install large sculptural pieces in public spaces all around the world,” says Laurie. “A product such as our outdoor cork birdhouse is a good example of a piece that can be used in museums and parks.”

Looking for more on local design? Take a look at MurrMurr’s new Flourish range.

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Up-and-coming designer Khosi Leteba is behind the design of the Bodulo Bench, created in collaboration with Wiid Design and Nando’s Clout.

The bench is a striking interpretation of Basotho culture, with the influence evident in the patterned illustrations and curvature of the design. When conceptualising the bench, Khosi drew on his heritage and ancestry, keeping culture, architecture and agricultural practices top of mind.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBlBlL4J2P8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Initially part of a trio, the bench forms part of the larger Bodula collection, which Khosi pitched at the inaugural Clout Industry Days Fired Up by Nando’s at 100% Design South Africa 2019. His work caught the attention of the judges, including Tracy Lynch of Nando’s Clout and Studio Lee Lynch, and prototyping for the Bodulo bench began.

Tracy thought that designer Laurie Wiid van Heerden of Wiid Design would be the ideal collaborator for the project, where he brought in his distinctive cork furniture style to complement Khosi’s design.

The final piece is a fusion between tradition and contemporary design and will be available globally through the Nando’s Portal To Africa.

For more information, visit clout-sadesign.co.za.

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Manufaktur Eins is a space-saving beehive system designed by German illustrator Maria Emmrich.

Aimed at young, city-based beekeepers, the hives can be used in gardens, on balconies, roof terraces and even at the workplace.

Each hive is made from light-weight cork-polymer composite for maximum insulation and weather resistance and the lid of the hive is cleverly sealed with a planter.

(h/t) designboom.com

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Love Milo’s latest range ‘Cosmos’ draws inspiration from galaxies and the night sky.

The contemporary design focuses on accidental spacing to encapsulate the universe and the patterns seen in nature.

“This range plays with spirited composition, aimed at adding something completely exclusive and eye-catching to a table and home,” explains Nicki Ellis, founder and senior designer at Love Milo.

The range is currently available in cork and textile, printed onto 100% cotton using sustainable and eco-friendly hand printing techniques and ink. It includes napkins, bags, scatter cushions, purses and cork placemats.

For more information visit lovemilo.com.

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Indigenus is collaborating with local designers and architects to create planters that are works of beauty.

The use of planters as an interior and exterior design feature got a major boost when Peter van der Post launched Indigenus in 2014 with a collection of contemporary planters by three top South African designers. In 2015, he has added designs by two renowned architects to the curated collection, which was exhibited at 100 % Design South Africa and 100 % Design London.

“It’s becoming more and more important to find ways of bringing nature into our spaces,” says Peter, “yet the planter has long been overlooked as an item that can really elevate the aesthetic of an interior or exterior landscape and create a seamless transition between the two. I think this is why the architects and designers that have collaborated with us have been genuinely excited by the prospect of reimagining the planter.”

Made of materials such as iroko wood, cork and glass-reinforced concrete, the planters are designed to look beautiful indoors and engineered to withstand the elements.

Visit indigenus.co.za for more information.

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Dark exterior walls can appear ominous, but when successfully executed, they exude mystery. In Cape Town’s Observatory we entered a newly painted black building that’s home to Wiid Design, and found beauty.

The stark black façade is the first thing you notice from outside the 645 m² two-storey home of Wiid Design. If the roller door on the right is open, you might get a peek inside at the assembly line, the machinery, the forklift, and conclude it is a factory space. You’d be right, but that would be less than half the story.

“The building is designed so there are two parts to it. It is more industrial on the right, and the left side houses the offices, the studios and the gallery. It’s more quiet,” says Laurie Wiid van Heerden, the 27-year-old designer and owner of Wiid Design, who shares this space with designer Elsje Burger’s EB Design & Manufacturing House.

The property, which took eight months to renovate after Laurie acquired it about a year ago, is very different from the 100 m² he had rented in Woodstock since establishing Wiid Design five years ago.

“I scouted out this building,” Laurie says. “It was never for sale, so I just kept nagging the owners until we reached a deal. The renovation was a huge challenge.”

We enter on the left side of the building, through the mirrored front door and into the clean lines of the minimalist reception area. It feels more like an upscale studio than a factory. A little further in, carefully arranged shelves featuring a selection of ceramics and furniture reinforce that image.

On the top floor there are four offices, including Laurie’s, which, like everything else behind these black walls, received the full benefit of his eye for design, “This used to be two offices, but we broke down walls and added a bathroom.” He’s referring to one of three trendy bathrooms, tiled with tiny monochromatic tiles.

And then there’s the building’s crown jewel, the gallery. Since he started using this space to display his designs, sales have increased, says Laurie. “This is where I take photos of the products and display the products for clients. Ultimately, I want to host exhibitions here, showcasing various collaborations between artists and designers.”

On display are some of Laurie’s most well-known designs, such as his benches and a particularly striking cork pendant light, as well as pieces he has created in collaboration with artists.

“This is one of an edition of five,” he says, pointing to a colourful bench. “It was painted by the artist Lionel Smit.”  In a corner is a striking carved black bench that Laurie created as a dedication to artist Wim Botha, whom he assisted for almost three years and considers his mentor.

So next time you spot the distinctive black building in Observatory, know that beyond the walls and mirrored windows lie not only a new beginning but also a complete solution for a designer driven by attention to detail.

“I don’t just pay attention to detail; I’m obsessed by it both in my own world and in the world around me.”

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From contemporary design to fun accessories, here are 10 cool cork items to add to your space.

1. “Corkabitation” Dark Cork Pendant R4 840 (excl. VAT), Wiid Design X dhk architects

2. Triangle + Striped Cork Placemat Sets R400 (sold as separate sets of 4), Love Milo

3. Cork Globe R1 189, Suck UK at Superbalist.com

4. Hexagonal Pin Board Tiles R30 each (100mm tiles), R25 each (75mm tile) and R20 each (50mm tile), Get Cork

5. “Mr. Wobbles” Table Lamp R1 499, snapp at Hello Pretty

6. Cork and Steel Bench R6 200 (excl. VAT), Wiid Design

7. Krane Desk Lamp R1 490 (including SA delivery), Mr. Fox

8. Kikkerland Hedgehog Cork-board Magnet R90, Big Blue at Spree.co.za

9. Cork Family R5 785 each, Vitra at Crema Design

10. Toast Coasters (set of 4) R150, Utique

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Nuts and bolts, brass and pressed cork, and the shiny shape of sunflowers… Look out for these in the form of divine new designs by Haldane Martin when next you visit Zonnebloem wines, or your favourite restaurant, pub and wine shop.

When Zonnebloem decided it’s high time their brand got a new tagline – crafting contemporary classics – they set their sights on Haldane, one of SA’s best-known industrial and interior designers (read more about him here), to also give their merchandise a new makeover.

And what did Haldane do? He went straight to the roots of wine making for inspiration and presented Zonnebloem with a snazzy multi-functional cork-topped table, a wine-tasting table with a screw reminiscent of traditional wine presses, and two different freestanding display units, also featuring dark cork and finished off with brass fixtures. In fact, we can’t help wondering if his steampunk interior for Truth coffee (see it here) was a bit of an influence? The name Zonnebloem (the Dutch name for sunflower) inspired the spiral brass design feature of one of the tables, as well as the sparkly petals doubling up as bottle holders on a display unit.  

Says Zonnebloem’s global brand manager, Dè-Mari Kellerman: “He has reinterpreted the traditional in a pleasingly modern and original way that corresponds with Zonnebloem’s approach to winemaking. His designs reflect the cardinal principles of harmony and balance evident in our well-crafted wines.”

But it’s not only appearances that matter to these heavyweights in their respective fields; there’s caring about the good green stuff too. Dè-Mari continues: “Haldane works with materials in a way that is kind to the planet and to people. In the same way, all our wines are made by following the principles of eco-sustainability.”

Phew! All this good design combined with fine wine, what’s there left to say but cheers!

zonnebloem.co.za, haldanemartin.co.za

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