geometric design Archives | Visi

New Furniture Collaboration: Fabrica X Stokperd

Gina Beretta — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 06:00:38 +0000

WORDS Palesa Kgasane

Fabrica design studio’s Kirsten Townsend (whose Citymapmats are featured in the latest issue of VISI) and Stokperd furniture’s Monya Eastman have merged their creative expertise to create a range of desks.

Kirsten’s interest in the bright and bold geometric designs of the Ndebele homes is what gave birth to the range. More than that, the traditional significance of each painted house as having historical meaning for the Ndebele people pushed both collaborators to do the project. The Ndebele Desk, which features an Afrocentric, slim-line design, is hand-crafted by local craftsmen.

The chosen palette adds a bright pop of colour to the geometric designs, which are made from a combination of powder coated metal and birch plywood. Available in white, pink and yellow, the desks retail at R6 700 each.

The Ndebele Desk will be available to view in Paris in June/July 2017, as part of the South Africa exhibition at Le BHV Marais.

For more information about the desks, visit fabrica.co.za or to shop online, visit stokperd.com.

The post New Furniture Collaboration: Fabrica X Stokperd appeared first on Visi.

African-Inspired Design: Gold Bottom Pots

Gina Beretta — Thu, 18 May 2017 06:00:58 +0000

WORDS Palesa Kgasane

Striking the perfect balance between minimal and bold, Gold Bottom Pots designs are an ode to Africa’s rich cultural landscape and a beautiful addition to any space.

Gold Bottom Pots is a Cape-Town based brand that specialises in hand-cast and hand-painted African planters, which we first caught sight of on their Instagram page. Whether you are a minimalist or a prodigal print lover, this brand offers the best of both.

Mixing innovation and design right down to the manufacturing process, we were immediately interested to know who the people behind the brand are and how it all came to be. We spoke to Nikki Schomer to find out more.

What’s in the name?

The name is very literal, since all our pots have a gold bottom. Why? Well, partly because this unique finishing touch lets you know you’re holding the real deal. But more importantly, it reminds you that when you purchase a Gold Bottom Pot you have invested in a product that took time to be carefully handcrafted and was made to last, with respect to human dignity and the environment. We like to think of these qualities as the golden lining that sits at the bottom of everything we do… and we hope you will too.

What is the main inspiration behind the designs of the pots?

The latest Fields of Gold collection was inspired by the symbolic and expressional elements found in South African culture, resulting in original distinct designs that carry individual meaning and symbology.

Tell us about your history in the design world and how the idea for these beautiful pots came about.

The products were born out of my love for plants and my frustration of not being able to find pots for them that weren’t the same old shape and made out of terracotta! My goal was to create an alternative that helped people rethink how they “dress” their plants, giving them the opportunity to turn them into statement pieces that make their homes beautiful and their plants proud.

My background is in fashion, having studied Clothing Management. I went on to spend almost a decade in the fashion industry, as a Buyer and Production Manager. The work exposed me first hand to the terrible reliance we have on imported goods. I later found this is also true to planters – with almost all products sold in SA coming from Asia. So when starting my own business I felt it of utmost importance to grow the South African economy and people by producing a product locally, from start to finish.

Who makes these pots? Walk us through the team and decision makers.

Our planters are cast entirely by hand in small batches in an artisan workshop in Cape Town. The process is time consuming and requires exceptional craftsmanship and artistry, but results in minimal waste and environmental impact and perfect, beautiful products. They are then painted and finished by hand – hours of meticulous sanding and polishing.

I still very much play a part in the production but am fortunate to now have some support on board: artist Songezo Zantsi. Songezo assists in meeting the growing demand. As for me, I juggle a few roles: I manage the business and also straddle the role of creative director – developing new designs as we extend our range. As the business grows, I am excited to employ more South Africans and bring more energy and inspiration to the Gold Bottom team.

What exciting things can we expect from you this year?

We’ll be showcasing our full range at 100% Design SA in Johannesburg this August and we are so excited to visit the City of Gold! A collab with another South African designer is in the works and we will also be launching a new collection and a larger 40 cm planter soon. Watch this space! Our website will hopefully also launch in the next few months allowing for purchase and delivery.

For more information, visit goldbottompots.co.za or email info@goldbottompots.co.za.

The post African-Inspired Design: Gold Bottom Pots appeared first on Visi.

Nova Obiecta CREATION Collection

Gina Beretta — Fri, 27 Mar 2015 06:00:42 +0000

WORDS Lindi Brownell Meiring

Well known for its geometric furniture pieces, French design studio Nova Obiecta has unveiled their latest collection for the year.

“My partner and I are kinetic art lovers,” says co-founder Axel Chay, on the inspiration behind the new designs. “For these new creations, we tried to create objects made from interlocked pieces. We also wanted to create furniture as sculptural objects, using different materials to create geometric shapes and visual illusions.”

The Elev(A) armchair is made from a combination of acrylic and stainless steel. It’s covered with Merino wool felt pads “to contrast with the coldness of the structure’s materials.”

The Flu(C) console is made up of seven separate elements, while the Varia(T) chair (the only piece that is welded and not mechanically assembled) creates an optical illusion through its nine, laser cut steel parts.

The Disti(N) valet is made from aluminium and concrete and the Asce(N) side table combines stainless steel with transparent hexagonal glass.

For more information about Nova Obiecta’s fascinating work, visit novaobiecta.com.

The post Nova Obiecta CREATION Collection appeared first on Visi.