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VISI 117 is Here!

Gina Beretta — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

That was my first-ever holiday. I must’ve been about four years old, and my recently divorced mom took me off to this little KZN South Coast town for a week.

For a boy who, until that point, thought the rest of the world looked like Benoni, Scottburgh was unimaginably exotic. One of my mother’s most oft-repeated stories is of her young son running straight into the sea, enthusiastically shouting, “Hello, big water!” – before being flattened by the rolling surf and fished out by the local lifeguard.

Subsequent travels may have changed my perspective on Scottburgh’s ranking among the world’s most desirable holiday destinations, but its Blue Marlin Hotel still holds a special place in my heart. Until the two of us moved down to Cape Town five years later, Scottburgh – and its slightly worn-out hotel – was the place I looked forward to the most every year.

I’ve enjoyed many summer holidays with my own family, and my daughter no doubt has her own foundational memories, but it’s been a long time since I’ve looked forward to the festive season break as much as this year’s.

The last 18 months have presented us all with both personal and professional challenges – some of them resulting in necessary, often innovative change; others requiring patient endurance to get through. Either way, I’m looking forward to a holiday with the kind of enthusiasm that propelled me into Scottburgh’s warm ocean all those years ago.

I hope that you’re reading this while enjoying your own well-deserved holiday, and that this sun-soaked issue of VISI inspires your summer.

On behalf of the VISI crew, thanks for your support during 2021. We look forward to showcasing more exceptional local and international design in 2022!

– Steve Smith, Editor | info@visi.co.za

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Not sure where to find the magazine? Here is a list of stockists. You can also buy previous issues via shop.visi.co.za.

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VISI 116 is Here!

Gina Beretta — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 05:59:00 +0000

There’s a Virginia Creeper that grows in our courtyard. It has pretty much colonised the entire road, and become the stuff of legend among our neighbours. From a trunk about as thick as my leg in our small flowerbed, it has spread its leafy vines all the way up and down a shared servitude, clothing several property walls with a lush green collar. Some have even strung trellises across their courtyards to enjoy its cool shade in summer.

Virginia, as she’s now affectionately called, is also the first sign of spring in our ’hood, and each year it’s like someone’s flipped a switch. One day the plant is its dormant, wintry, brown-thicket self … then, within a week, there’s a dappled pattern of green everywhere. Looking out of the kitchen window now, the first green shoots have appeared – just in time to celebrate the Spring Issue of VISI.

Virginia is also a potent reminder of seasonality and change – the force that through the green fuse drives the flower, as Dylan Thomas writes in his beautifully dark poem. It’s been a long and unusually cold winter, with chills brought on by more than just the dip in temperature. More than ever, I’m looking forward to the segue of spring through to summer – and I trust that, like Virginia, VISI 116 signals exactly that.

– Steve Smith, Editor | info@visi.co.za

Want the print magazine?

Call Media24 Subscriptions on 087 353 1300
WhatsApp “VISI” to 087 353 1333
Email subs@media24.com

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Not sure where to find the magazine? Here is a list of stockists. You can also buy VISI 115 (as well as VISI 107, VISI 108, VISI 109, VISI 110, VISI 111, VISI 112, VISI 113, VISI 114 and VISI 115) via shop.visi.co.za.

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VISI 115 Is Here!

Gina Beretta — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 06:01:00 +0000

I’ve always liked old stuff. From furniture, decor and art to clothes, cars and even bicycles, my tastes lean towards the classic. There’s a mid-century collectables vibe to my home, ’60s abstractism on my walls, vintage tweed in my wardrobe, and a fintail Merc and steel Colnago in my garage. I’ve nodded in agreement whenever anyone puts forward the argument that there is no such thing as a new idea, and that anything that’s presented as such is really just a reworked mashup or progression of what’s gone before.

To my surprise, however, over the last year or so there’s been a bit of shift in my sensibilities. What’s even more surprising is that, rather than grudgingly accepting the change, I’ve found myself embracing the compass-needle swing. It’s now wobbling to the future.

So what the hell is going on? Two things, is the conclusion I’ve reached.

One: the pandemic. A deep-seated desire to be done with this damn virus, and the repeated blows it’s rained on our physical, mental and financial health, has left me firmly focused up the road, rather than back down it.

Two: local design. There’s such incredible creativity and energy in product and interior design at the moment, and it’s propelling a bright and upbeat Afro-modern aesthetic beyond southern African borders to global applause.

And that pretty much sums up this Future Forward edition. It’s time to not just embrace a bright new world, but to encourage it. (I’m still keeping the Merc and the Colnago though.)

– Steve Smith, Editor | info@visi.co.za

Want the print magazine?

Call Media24 Subscriptions on 087 353 1300
WhatsApp “VISI” to 087 353 1333
Email subs@media24.com

Want the digital magazine?

Not sure where to find the magazine? Here is a list of stockists. You can also buy VISI 114 (as well as VISI 107, VISI 108, VISI 109, VISI 110, VISI 111, VISI 112 or VISI 113) via shop.visi.co.za.

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VISI 114 is Here

Gina Beretta — Fri, 28 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000

I’ve fallen in love with colour.

Hard to believe, given that my monochromatic personal wardrobe and home-decor aesthetic (beyond the odd bright splash of the Barbara Hepworth print behind me) have usually followed a neutral palette.

As it did for many, that all changed over the last year. After enduring months of lockdown, and the social, economic and emotional pressures brought about by the pandemic, we’ve shared a global chrysalis moment. I’ve felt a natural pull towards the positivity and encouragement of colour. It feels stridently forward-looking – and a crucial energy to tap into as the world rejuvenates and reinvents itself.

A lot of that reinvention went into our homes: the place where we spent so much time both working and living. Lockdown was also an unexpected but wonderful opportunity to witness nature’s cycle and
its seasonal explosion of colour – one that previous life perhaps took for granted. It’s a zeitgeist that I think intersects perfectly with the inherent vibrancy of South African design: it’s amplified the work created by our talented local designers, not only placing it confidently among current global trends, but setting them too.

So yes, I may still be monochromatically attired… But in my house, bedrooms have turned yellow, walls have turned pink, tables have turned green and carpets have become emboldened. A look at VISI over the past 12 months makes it clear that colour has captivated us all – and in this issue, the transformation is complete.

– Steve Smith, Editor | info@visi.co.za

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VISI 113 is Here

Gina Beretta — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 06:00:23 +0000

A thing can be just a thing.

Pure functionality is its reason for being. Nothing CAN wrong with that. But with some creative thought, the addition of considered aesthetics to basic BE useability transforms a thing into something more. That’s essentially what design is all about – and this issue is packed with examples.

VISI 113

VISI 113, the sixth issue of the magazine created remotely, includes features on beautiful homes, luxe lodges and inspirational objects from furniture and homeware to jewellery and art. Add it to your collection!

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JUST A Micro-apartments… We’re seeing many of those sprouting up in cities here and around the globe, most with the generic look of the moment that THING. usually involves plenty of 90o angles, along with swathes of glass and steel frontage. Now have a look at our Uxolo Apartments feature on page 134. Same basic concept; totally different approach. It’s bold and unlikely to be to everyone’s taste, but its designers have brought a unique and thoroughly modern Afro-futurist aesthetic to it that sets Uxolo apart. It’s also a great example of how design doesn’t have to be expensive. It’s not necessarily about high-cost materials – creative and inventive design has given relatively low-priced apartments a rather special feel.

Lodges… We see a lot of those too, and there’s a lovely Out Of Africa luxury aesthetic that many faithfully adhere to. Again, nothing wrong with that, and it no doubt fulfils the African fantasy holiday that many of their Savile Row-khaki-wearing international guests expect. And then there’s Xigera lodge on page 56. Not only does this new luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta house one of the largest single collections of contemporary African design anywhere in the world – and it’s totally off the grid – but it has been put together to create a space that is appropriate to both its environment and purpose, yet undeniably innovative. Xigera will change the way people design luxury lodges.

And farm shops/delis… It’s no surprise that it’s the Bosjes estate in the Western Cape’s Breedekloof Valley that’s upended the notions of what this should look like (page 68). Its exquisite and highly acclaimed chapel set the tone for the striking new shop and pantry, with folded roofs and trellises that are inspired by traditional matjieshuis and kaphuis structures.

Considered design is also why I’m such a fan of VISI creative director Mark Serra’s work. Look at the way he approaches our features – and especially the headline. Rather than just employ a chosen font, he crafts and manipulates it until it’s not merely about words but an intrinsic piece of the story’s design. And every feature in every issue is different. That’s design. It’s one of the reasons VISI lives up to its pay-off line. I hope you enjoy the latest issue of SA’s Most Beautiful Magazine.

– Steve Smith, Editor

info@visi.co.za

Want the print magazine?

Call Media24 Subscriptions on 087 353 1300
WhatsApp “VISI” to 087 353 1333
Email subs@media24.com

Want the digital magazine?

Not sure where to find the magazine? Here is a list of stockists. You can also buy VISI 113 (as well as VISI 107, VISI 108, VISI 109, VISI 110, VISI 111 or VISI 112) via shop.visi.co.za.

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VISI 112 Is Here

Michaela Stehr — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 06:00:22 +0000

I recently read a story about a chair. It caught my eye for a couple of reasons.

Its classic mid-century aesthetic was one; the other was the fact that we’re doing a piece on designer chairs for this issue (page 24). I liked it for its thin beech legs and spindle-back design, but what I loved was the story behind the chair’s origins. It’s a story that’s relevant to the world we’re living in – a story about design in adversity.

The Ercol chair – popular among design-minded homeowners in the 1960s and highly collectable now – has its roots in the austerity of post-World War II England. With much of Ercol’s manufacturing capacity taken up by the war effort, the company emerged after 1945 constrained by limited raw-materials supply and construction capabilities. And the simple, minimalist Ercol chair was the result. Like all design, it took what went before – in this case, the centuries-old Windsor chair – and created something fresh. Something sleeker and simpler; something that transformed country craft into minimalism.

It’s going to be fascinating to see how our current designers respond to these Covid-affected times. We’ve already seen some innovative re-imaginings of home spaces – our page 30 story on home-office pods is an example of that – but I’m really interested to see what kind of design comes out of what is clearly a fundamentally changed global zeitgeist.

Will commercial architecture turn away from high-rise corporate vanity projects? Will homes mirror a need to welcome the outside into the interiors we will now be spending far more time in? Will we see interior design reflect the need to simplify these spaces with a return and reinterpretation of minimalism? And will we see an enduring adoption of local design … and an African story like that of the Ercol chair?

– Steve Smith, Editor

info@visi.co.za

Want the print magazine?

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VISI 111 IS HERE

Gina Beretta — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 06:00:57 +0000

So hands up, who needs a holiday?

Given the year we’ve all had, I’m pretty sure you’re holding VISI in one hand and have the other in the air.

Me, I’d go back to the Greek islands in a heartbeat. We’ve had some of our most memorable holidays there: Kefalonia, Lefkada and Asos in the Ionian Sea; and Naxos and Santorini in the Aegean.

But – yup – that’s not going to happen this festive season, so like most South Africans, we’re planning to spend our time off in a local setting. And that’s not a bad thing: we live in a beautiful country with a diverse array of holiday options that even the most indifferent of us could not take for granted.

We’ll be taking a seaside holiday – renting a house in Arniston – then heading inland to do some camping in the Cederberg. You’ll see there’s a bit of a camping vibe in this issue. Of course there are the usual inspirational homes – getaways both coastal and inland – but we’ve also got great tips on where you can live your best van life or pitch your tent (page 32). Have a look too at the beautifully designed tents on page 20, and at the incredible roving luxury of Angama Safari Camp in the Maasai Mara on page 70.

Happy holidays, folks. See you in 2021!

– Steve Smith, Editor

info@visi.co.za

Want the print magazine?

Subscribe to VISI now and receive a 25% discount off your one-year print subscription. You’ll pay just R337.50 for six issues delivered directly to your post box. Use any of these methods to subscribe or renew your existing subscription:

Call Media24 Subscriptions on 087 353 1300
WhatsApp “VISI” to 087 353 1333
Email subs@media24.com

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Special Edition: VISI Kitchens

Gina Beretta — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 06:00:54 +0000

No other room in your home influences your lifestyle as much as a kitchen does.

Whether large or small, the kitchen has become an oasis among the modern, busy lives we all lead. Where it was once merely a place where food was prepared, it’s now as much the centre of your family’s day-to-day living – cooking, eating and socialising – as it is an expression of your own taste in decor and design. With a cup of tea or coffee, your day probably begins here and will likely end here too, preparing the evening’s meal … and that means having a kitchen space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing is key to how you experience your home.

Whether you are looking to spruce it up or completely redesign your kitchen, in this special issue, the VISI team has compiled the ideal resource to begin that exciting journey. From the latest design trends and appliances, to some of our favourite kitchens seen in the pages of VISI, this special edition will inspire your dream kitchen.

– Steve Smith, Editor

info@visi.co.za

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VISI 110 IS HERE

Gina Beretta — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 06:00:19 +0000

As winters go, this one was pretty long and bleak.

And particularly cold, right? It was like the physical effects of a more distant sun and the psychological chill of lockdown combined for a cold front greater than any weather radar could pick up.

“This too shall pass” is one maxim I’ve always relied on, though – and one that this painting has been a constant reminder of. It hangs on my living-room wall and was always there, in my peripheral vision, during the many lockdown months spent working from home. Painted in 1980 by local artist Penny Layland, it recalls balmy late afternoons warmed by a big, low African sun. It was a source of hope – that seasons change; that from dark comes light, and with it we are renewed.

Welcome, then, to our summer issue. It’s one of resurgence and the promise of possibility; where we shine a big, bright light on some of South Africa’s inspirational design, architectural and artistic talents. From the positivity of yellow (page 18) to our featured homes, hotels and lodges, a chronicle of John Vogel’s iconic furniture (page 132) and Puleng Mongale’s evocative self-portraits (page 166), VISI 110 is about stepping out into the glorious summer sun. Here’s to our revival…

– Steve Smith, Editor

info@visi.co.za

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VISI 108 IS HERE

Gina Beretta — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 06:00:09 +0000

So. A lot has happened since the last issue of VISI. That one was made pre-lockdown. The issue that you’re holding in your hand, however, was created without any of the VISI team being in the same building. Not that you can tell, right?

In terms of production, it was completely doable – and in terms of quality, I think we’ve put together an issue that would make its predecessors nod in appreciation. Which all points to one of the trends that has been on the lips (and in the tweets) of modern soothsayers: “Our enforced isolation shows that the work environment has changed forever, and that we can look forward to a future where we spend much of our time working from home.”

This sentiment is often conveyed as a good thing. But not for me. I didn’t like it much. Scrolling through the news may not currently corroborate this, but we humans are a fundamentally social species, and most of us truly value spending time together. I have genuinely missed those VISI team members you see on our masthead. And it’s not only the general chatter that is woven throughout our working day that I miss, or our Friday-afternoon NikNaks-and-wine-pairing decompress; it is also our creative process, which on VISI is very much collaborative. Yes, you can do it via Zoom, but it’s not nearly as fulfilling – or as fun. Of course, there are going to be folks who enjoy working at home, and those for whom a flexible home/office arrangement will be ideal – and we have some design tips for this on page 124. But I, for one, cannot wait to get back to the office.

And not just that. I want to have a delicious meal at a restaurant with my family. I want to have a beer at a bar with my mates. Granted, this will most likely involve a facemask (initially, at least) – but I want my sense of community back. I suspect most of us do.

– Steve Smith, Editor

info@visi.co.za

Want the print magazine?

Call Media24 Subscriptions on 087 353 1300
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Email subs@media24.com

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