Dutch artist Carla Kranendonk wanted to change her abstract style to fit in. Thankfully she didn’t know how.

“I stumbled on an illustration of a painting by Carla, fell in love with it, contacted her, and we had a totally rushed exhibition of her work at our gallery.”

This is how Stephanie Hoppen, owner of Stephanie Hoppen Gallery in London, describes her first encounter with Dutch artist Carla Kranendonk’s mixed-media work.

It was while cycling to school in the village Steggerda in the north of the Netherlands one day that Carla, 12 at the time, decided to embrace her passion for art. The reason was simple: Drawing and painting made her happy.

After school, she first studied at the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Constantijn Huygens in Kampen  and then at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. It was during her studies that she discovered her abstract painting style did, in fact, fit the traditional Dutch mould.

“During my time at the academy, I often thought about Africa, although I had never been there,” Carla says. “In 1992 I travelled to Senegal and I loved it! I was so impressed by the beauty and pride of Senegalese women, the colours and the atmosphere.”

These are the elements you can expect to find in Carla’s work. Inspired by West Africa, the Caribbean and the influence of colonisers on formerly colonised nations, Carla aims to capture the beauty, pride, strength and humour of the people who live there.

Working in mixed media, Carla prefers using different techniques and materials because of the possibilities they present and the tension it creates. She uses paints combined with fabrics, beads, found objects, photographs and photocopies to create works that are loaded with detail.

The post Artists We Love: Carla Kranendonk appeared first on Visi.

We love being surprised by the creative use of contrasting materials in objects that put the “fun” in functional. That’s why we were happy to learn the Universo Positivo range is available at La Grange Interiors.

Originated by Ethnicraft and the design duo Jan & Lara of Belgian company Serax in 2012, Universo Positivo was created with the aim of providing affordable quality and European-made design, showing that you can create timeless pieces with simple materials.

Universo Positivo is a collection of collaborations. Jan & Lara worked with well-known designers Hertel & Klarhoefer, David Caspar Schäfer, Thomas Merlin and Jonas Wahlström to create a range of more than 30 pieces that surprises with its blend of solid oak and lacquered metal. The pieces are both refined and simple, with a dash of colour to give them a playful edge.

The collection consists of furniture, accessories and lighting such as the beautifully simple but statement-making Moon and Turtle tables, the rather inconspicuous Totem and Merlin lamps, and the thoroughly charming Pencil Tray and Pencil Holder, to name a few.

Universo Positivo makes it easy to look at (and live on) the bright side.

The post Universo Positivo Range appeared first on Visi.

The first essential accessory to set the mood as the sun disappears at the end of the day is perfect lighting, and the Vibia Meridiano collection – outdoor floor lamp, stool and table rolled into one – perfectly meets this requirement.

Designed by Jordi Vilardell and Meritxell Vidal, these beautiful pieces of furniture look like elegantly crafted wire seating during the day. Come nightfall, the centre becomes a lamp, emitting light through the wire frame and creating sundial-like shadows that fade into the dark.

“At the basis of the Meridiano project lies the contrast between the light emitted and the shadows projected,” explains Jordi in an interview with Italian architecture and design magazine Domus. “They offer the opportunity to create luminous compositions that produce highly alluring indoor spaces and outdoor areas.”

So before you send out invites to your next outdoor celebration, make sure you have two (or more) of these in the garden or on the balcony. They come in khaki, matte green and off-white lacquer.

From R15 811 at establishment.co.za.

The post Vibia Meridiano Collection appeared first on Visi.

Read in English.

It’s A House is een van daardie plekke wat waarskynlik nie jou oog sal vang as jy net vinnig verbyry nie, maar die binnekant is ’n wonderwêreld wat enige skeppende mens in die wolke sal hê. Maciek Dubla gesels met David Dix, een van die vennote, oor wat It’s A House a ware kreatiewe tuiste maak.

Drie vrae duik dadelik op wanneer ’n mens It’s A House se drumpel betree: Is dit ’n kantoor? Is dit ’n kroeg? Is dit ’n winkel? Om die waarheid te sê is dié weggesteekte plek in De Waterkant, Groenpunt, al drie, en hoewel die konsep aanvanklik effe verbysterend is, begin ’n mens gou ontspan met ’n drankie in die hand terwyl jy na klere van plaaslike ontwerpers kyk en ’n sakevergadering op die bankies skaars 2 meter van jou af plaasvind. Dis presies waaroor die skeppers van It’s A House gedroom het.

It’s A House is die breinkind van Scott Paterson Morris, ’n model en fotograaf, wat terwyl hy gewag het om oorsee te gaan vir ’n modelkontrak, besluit het om te belê in Suid-Afrika se jong skeppende kunstenaars. Hulle is immers belangriker as ooit noudat Kaapstad sy vere regskud as die Wêreld-ontwerphoofstad in 2014.

Scott se sakevennoot, David Dix, vertel meer oor hulle kreatiewe saamwerkprojek: “Die konsep het Scotty en ’n vriend te binne geskiet terwyl hy op die rusbank ’n fotosessie gekonseptualiseer het. Omdat hy al in omtrent al Kaapstad se koffiewinkels en restaurante was, het hy gevoel nie een van hierdie plekke plaas mense en dinge met mekaar in verbinding nie. Hy het hom toe ’n ongeïnhibeerde ruimte voorgestel waar mense met dieselfde denke en ingesteldheid kan ontmoet en blootstelling kry vir wat hulle doen.”

Hierdie gaping in die mark het Scott aan die dink gesit. Hy het gou ’n ruimte opgespoor wat nie net as die ideale platform kon dien om blootstelling vir jong kreatiewe siele te verseker nie, maar wat ook ’n ruimte kon wees waar enige en alle skeppende velde kan byeenkom, saam werk en mekaar se kreatiewe energie as inspirasie kan gebruik.

Die ruimte in ’n smal systraatjie in Groenpunt was die perfekte skoon skilderdoek. Dit was voorheen ’n leë stoorfasiliteit en daarna ’n wassery, en in die spierwit interieur kon die twee hulle wildste drome laat botvier. Die konsep van “die huis” was uiteindelik ’n vanselfsprekende gedagte.

“Die idee van ‘die huis’ is gegrond op ’n huisagtige omgewing omdat ons glo mense is die minste geïnhibeer in ’n ruimte waarin hulle gemaklik voel,” som David dit op. “Ons wou hê mense moenie net gemaklik voel nie, maar ook aanklank vind by die voorwerpe in die ruimte wat bydra om die gevoel van familiariteit en tuiste te skep. Die huis is waar ’n mens se hart is; dit vorm as’t ware die middelpunt van al die ander koel goeters wat ons doen.”

Die totale hout-interieur van It’s A House is geïnspireer deur Scott se Finse agtergrond, maar hy wou ook ’n verbintenis met die natuur bewerkstellig omdat albei glo dit help om ’n mens se voete plat op die aarde te hou. Hulle wou oorspronklik ’n ruimte hê waar alles kurwes het, maar met hulle knap begroting was dit heeltemal buite die kwessie. Daarom het hulle die fokuspunt van die ruimte ’n volsirkel gemaak: ’n sirkelkroeg met alles om dit wat ook in sirkels werk en ’n gevoel van kontinuïteit bewerkstellig.

Die meubels is ’n interessante mengsel van oud en nuut. Albei vennote het wyd gereis om al die regte stukke vir die ruimte te kry – party kom selfs uit ander mense se huise uit! Elke item het dus sentimentele waarde vir hulle, maar vind terselfdertyd aanklank by almal wat die ruimte betree en daar werk.

Integrasie. Interaksie. Samewerking. Hierdie drie woorde omvat die atmosfeer wat binne It’s A House geskep is. Kortom: It’s A House is eerder ’n tuiste, ’n ruimte waar mense gemaklik en geïnspireer voel en oor ’n koue drankie en goeie kos hulle groot idees deel terwyl die lewendige musiek in die agtergrond af en toe hulle aandag aftrek.

Maak ’n draai vir ’n koppie koffie of ’n drankie by Jarvistraat 20 in De Waterkant, Groenpunt – dit is oop van Maandag tot Saterdag van 8 vm. tot middernag. Bel hulle by 021 418 2411 as jy ’n saamtrek daar wil reël, of besoek die webwerf itsahouse.co.za

The post Binneshuise kreatiwiteit appeared first on Visi.

Lees in Afrikaans.

It’s A House is one of those places that you probably wouldn’t notice on a drive by, but inside is a hub of connectivity that would have any creative buzzing. Maciek Dubla chats to partner David Dix about what makes It’s A House a home. 

The first time you step into It’s A House, you’re going to ask yourself three questions. Is it an office? Is it a bar? Is it a shop? In fact, this little hideaway in De Waterkant in Green Point is all three and while a little bewildering at first, you’ll soon find yourself relaxing, having a drink and taking a look at some local designer clothing while a business meeting happens at the benches just 2m from you. And that’s exactly how the creators of It’s A House wanted it. 

It’s A House is the brainchild of Scott Paterson Morris, a model and photographer who, while waiting to go overseas on a modelling contract in 2012, decided that investing in South Africa’s young creatives was important now more than ever with the world’s eyes on Cape Town as World Design Capital 2014.

Scott’s business partner, David Dix, sheds some light on their creative collaboration. “The concept came to Scotty and a friend of his as he was lying on a couch conceptualising a shoot. Having gone to all the coffee shops and restaurants in Cape Town, he was saddened at the fact that no one in these spaces was connecting and he then imagined an uninhibited space for like-minded people to connect as well as gain exposure for what they do.” 

This gap in the market got Scott thinking and soon he managed to find a space that would not only serve as the perfect platform to give young creatives exposure, but also for a space where any and all creative fields could come together and collaborate and feed off each others’ creative energies. 

The space, in a small side street in Green Point was the ideal blank canvas to work with. Previously an empty storage facility and then a laundromat, the all-white interior allowed them to let their imaginations run wild and the idea of “the house” seemed to be the most obvious setting.

“The concept of ‘the house’ was based around a home-type environment, as we believe people are least inhibited by being in a comfortable space,” David sums up.  “We wanted people to feel comfortable and resonate with objects within the space as it also gives you a feeling of belonging and familiarity. The house is where the heart is so its the hub of all the other cool shit we do.” 

The entirely wooden interior of It’s A House is inspired by Scott’s Finnish background as well as a want to feel a connection to nature as both feel it helps to keep them grounded. Originally wanting to create a space in which everything was curved, their tight budget wouldn’t allow for it so they made the centre point of the space a full circle – the circular bar and everything else around it works in circles – creating a feeling of continuity. 

The furniture is a mix of old and new. Both partners travelled extensively to find all the right pieces for the space, some even from other peoples’ homes. So every item has a sentimental value to each of them, while resonating with just about everyone who walks into and works within the space.

Integration. Interaction. Collaboration. These three words are what encapsulate the ambience that has been created within It’s A House. Quite simply, It’s A House is really more a home, a space for people to feel comfortable and inspired, allowing them to share their big ideas over a cold drink and some good food while occasionally distracted by the live gig going on in the background. 

Pop in for a coffee or a drink at 20 Jarvis Street, De Waterkant, Green Point, they’re open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 23:30pm. For regular updates on their events, like itsahousect on Facebook and follow @itsahousect on Twitter. If you want to book an event, give them a call on 021 418 2411, itsahouse.co.za 

The post Bringing creativity inhouse appeared first on Visi.

Read in English.

Talle van Kaapstad se openbare groen ruimtes word nie na behore gebruik nie, maar nou het Sheryl Ozinsky ’n plan om gemeenskappe met behulp van selfvolhoubare stedelike plase te verenig en op te voed. Maciek Dubla het met haar gesels oor die Oranjezicht-stadsplaas (OZCF), die proefprojek wat as’t ware die eerste saadjie plant vir nog vele plase in die stad.

Op internasionale vlak is stedelike of stadsplase beslis g’n nuutjie nie – jy sal dit aantref op enigiets van die dakke van geboue in Bangkok, San Francisco en Londen, in etlike buurte reg oor die VSA en selfs langs besige spoorlyne in Australië. In Suid-Afrika het die gedagte van stadstuine ietwat langer gevat om wortel te skiet en te groei, maar die konsep het ’n groot hupstoot gekry met die ontwikkeling van die Oranjezicht City Farm (OZCF) – die eerste stap van ’n groter projek wat hopelik uiteindelik tot die vestiging van 20 stadsplase reg oor Kaapstad sal lei. 

Sheryl Ozinsky, een van die aanvoerders van die projek, ontmoet my op die plaas wat tussen Sidmouth-laan en Bo-Oranjestraat geleë is. Hoewel hulle nog besig is met die uitlegwerk, is die basiese ontwerp klaar en in die beddings saai Johannes, een van die boere, ’n voormalige mynwerker van Limpopo, reeds groentesaad. Plaaslike inwoners het reeds ’n paar jaar gelede met die idee vorendag gekom, maar Sheryl se onblusbare passie vir die OZCF ken duidelik geen perke nie.

“Ons visie is baie ambisieus, maar as jy ’n saadjie plant en die gemeenskap koester dit en gee dit water, kan jy absoluut engiets regkry,” verduidelik sy terwyl sy oor die plaas uitkyk. “Dit gaan vennootskappe, sweet, vuil stewels en groen vingers verg, maar dit is alles die moeite werd.”

Die OZCF is ’n projek sonder winsbejag wat daarop gemik is om kos en die gemeenskap te vier, vandaar die slagspreuk “From Bowling Green to Bowl of Greens”. Die terrein van die OZCF vorm deel van die oorspronklike plaas Oranje Zigt wat in 1709 uitgemerk en  een van die talle erfenisterreine in die Moederstad is. Met hulp van opvoeding, ontwerp en groentetuine sal die projek hopelik as katalisator dien vir die ontwikkeling van verskeie vaardighede en opvoeding oor kos en omgewingskwessies, maar terselfdertyd as toonvenster vir wat moontlik is met die talle openbare groen ruimtes in die stad wat óf glad nie óf nie na behore gebruik word nie.

Wat vir Sheryl die heel belangrikste is omtrent die OZCF, is die versterking van die “maatskaplike binding”: om inwoners van die buurt weer met mekaar in kontak te bring en uiteindelik ook met ander buurte en gemeenskappe. “Dit gaan daaroor om verhoudings te bou tussen mense uit al die verskillende dele van hierdie beeldskone stad. Dit is wat die projek so spesiaal maak,” sê sy, haar aandag effens afgelei deur die pragtige uitsig oor die stad en ’n tamaai fregat in die hawe. “Die projek is ’n katalisator om verhoudings te bou, ’n ligter koolstofvoetspoor, beter voeding en beter gesondheid aan te moedig en om mense bewus te maak daarvan dat daar wel ’n ander, beter manier is om te leef. Dit gaan oor bure wat mekaar vir die eerste keer ontmoet terwyl hulle saam ’n Marokkaanse mentplant in die grond druk. Is dit nie wonderlik nie?” 

Die ontwerp van die OZCF weerspieël die konteks en tydvak. Mark Stead van Derrick Integrated Communication en Tanya de Villiers van CNdV Africa het ’n sleutelrol gespeel om te verseker dat die bestaande konteks – ’n 16de-eeuse Hollandse tuin – as inspirasie dien.

Die kentekens en simbole van die destydse Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie was nog ’n bron van inspirasie, en daarom is ’n diamantvorm ’n goue draad wat deur die hele projek loop – van die logo tot die fokuspunt op die plaas. Die groentebeddings gaan teen die kwaai Kaapse wind beskerm word met kruieheinings van onder meer tiemie, laventel en roosmaryn, en hulle hoop om die varswaterbronne wat deur die gebied loop te gebruik om die groente te besproei.

Terwyl ons al met die paadjies stap, verduidelik Sheryl dit is net ’n proefprojek en elke gemeenskap sal dit anders aanpak. “Ons weet dalk nou wat vir Oranjezicht werk, maar elke gemeenskap is uniek, en wat eksieperfeksie is vir Oranjezicht, sal dalk nie elders deug nie.”

Hulle is reeds deur die Bo-Kaap en Drieankerbaai genader om ook daar plase te begin. “Passie en entoesiasme is belangrike bestanddele,” sê Sheryl met ’n glimlag. “As tonne daarvan beskikbaar is, hoef jy net ’n bietjie kompos by te voeg om ’n wonderwerk te verrig.”

Besoek die webwerf www.ozcf.co.za of hou hulle vordering dop op Facebook by www.facebook.com/OZCFarm – ook indien jy graag as vrywilliger betrokke wil raak, geld, produkte of toerusting wil skenk of net meer oor die projek wil uitvind.

The post Pure plaas in die stad appeared first on Visi.

Lees in Afrikaans.

January 2014: The Oranjezicht City Farm is an official Cape Town World Design Capital 2014 project, with their successful weekly market flying the flag high. They’re also busy writing a book. Read more about it in the WILD DESIGN issue of VISI now on shelves.

2 November 2013: The Oranjezicht City Farm is turning one-year-old and invites everyone to come share their Charly’s Bakery birthday cake. They will also be planting 16 lime trees, for which they’d love a hand. We’re so proud that this wonderful project is transforming our Mother City!

February 2013: With numerous under-utilised public green spaces in Cape Town, Sheryl Ozinsky hopes to unite and educate communities through self-sustaining urban farms. Maciek Dubla talks to her about the Oranjezicht City Farm, the pilot project that’s planting the seed for many more farms around the city. 

Urban or city farms aren’t a new concept, globally. You can find them on rooftops in Bangkok, San Francisco and London, in numerous neighbourhoods around the US and along busy railway lines in Australia. In South Africa, the idea of urban farming has taken some time to take root and grow, but it’s about to gain momentum with the development of the Oranjezicht City Farm (OZCF) – the first in a project that will hopefully grow into 20 city farms throughout Cape Town.

Sheryl Ozinsky, one of the project champions, meets me onsite at the farm located between Sidmouth Avenue and Upper Orange Street. While still being laid out, the basic design is in place and the beds are being sown with vegetable seeds by one of the farmers, Johannes, an ex-miner from Limpopo. Local residents hatched the idea of the project some years ago, but Sheryl’s passion for the OZCF is still strong. 

“We have an ambitious vision, but when you plant a seed and the community nurtures and waters it, then you can do anything,” she explains while overlooking the farm. “It’s going to take partnerships, sweat, dirty boots and green fingers, but worthwhile it is.”

The OZCF is a non-profit project that aims to celebrate both food and community. Using the tagline “From Bowling Green to Bowl of Greens”, the site of the OZCF comprises part of the original “Oranje Zigt Farm” established in 1709, making it one of many heritage sites around Cape Town. Through education, design and vegetable gardening, the project hopes that it will act as a catalyst for skills development, education about food and environmental issues, and a showcase for what can be done with unused or under-utilised public green spaces in the city.

Most importantly for Sheryl, the OZCF is about building social cohesion, and reconnecting the residents of this suburb and, in time, other suburbs and its communities. “This is about building relationships between people from all parts of this beautiful city. That’s the beauty of something like this,” she says distracted by the view of the city just past the farm and a fregate in harbour. “It’s a catalyst for relationship building, nutrition, health, treading lightly on the planet and seeing that there is another way to be in the world. It’s about neighbours meeting for the first time while bending over to plant a Moroccan mint – how wonderful is that?” 

The design of the OZCF reflects its context in time. Mark Stead of Derrick Integrated Communication and Tanya de Villiers of CNdV Africa played a key role in ensuring that the farm was inspired by its existing context – a 16th-century Dutch garden. 

Looking to the Dutch East India Company markings and symbols for inspiration, they found the diamond shape that runs as a thread through the project, from the logo to the centrepiece of the farm. The vegetable beds will be protected from the wind by hedges of herbs including thyme, lavender and rosemary, and they hope to tap into the fresh water springs that run through the area to irrigate the plants. 

Walking along the pathways, Sheryl explains that this is only a pilot project; each community is different. “We may have found what works for Oranjezicht, but each community is different and what works here, may not work somewhere else.”

They have already been approached by the Bo-Kaap and Three Anchor Bay to start farms in those areas. “Passion and enthusiasm are important ingredients,” Sheryl smiles. “If that is available in tons and mixed with a bit of compost, one can make miracles.” 

If you’d like to volunteer onsite, contribute funds, product or equipment or just want to find out more about the project, visit their website at www.ozcf.co.za or follow their progress on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OZCFarm. 

The post Oranjezicht City Farm for WDC2014 appeared first on Visi.

Design Team have come to Cape Town. Maciek Dubla chats to one half of the textile duo, Lise Butler, to find out what brings them to the Mother City and why so many have fallen in love with their hand-printed fabrics.  

In 2002, Amanda Haupt and Lise Butler, fresh out of Tshwane University of Technology registered DT Designs, a textile design business with a focus on designing and printing South African-inspired fabrics. A decade later and after resounding success in Pretoria, Design Team have now opened a showroom in the heart of Cape Town’s Fringe District. 

Another fabric house you say? Think again. Catching Lise just before Amanda and her hop on a plane for Europe to soak up a bit of inspiration for their winter collections, she explains the secret to the success Design Team continue to enjoy: “Each design we create has a story behind it, something that we have extracted from daily life because we believe you cannot create designs with integrity, without experience or knowledge of what you’re trying to convey.”

That human element of the personal story not only makes the fabrics good to look at it, but it differentiates Design Team from numerous generic fabric houses out there. Lise shares the example of their protea design from their Homegrown Collection to illustrate her point. Here, something so familiar to many South Africans and a symbol of the country, has been translated into a beautiful and simple print that resonates with anyone who lays their eyes on it, local or international. 

Besides the stories, each piece of fabric is printed using freehand silkscreen printing. Using this time-old method of fabric printing, Amanda and Lise have created numerous jobs by bringing in unskilled workers and training them up to produce these incredible textiles. Just in the last year, the Design Team printers have physically produced over 80 000m of fabric for clothing alone – that would be like running the Two Ocean’s half marathon nearly four times. 

So what brings Design Team to Cape Town? A creative spirit that Lise feels differs from that of Pretoria.  “While in Gauteng we are constantly focusing on business growth, dealing with enquiries and obsessing about products. When Amanda and I come to Cape Town once or twice a month, we feel we can get more in touch with the creative aspect, take a step back and engage with the community that we’re in.” 

Further, with Cape Town as World Design Capital 2014, they feel that opening a showroom in Cape Town at this time just felt right because they consider Design Team an intrinsically African textile brand. 

The fabric duo has a lot planned for Design Team this year. Fabric lovers can expect the launch of new and bigger ranges in March as well as the streamlining of their children’s collection, Silly Billy. Those in Kwazulu-Natal better start planning all their fabric needs (and wants) because next month will see the opening of Design Team’s Durban showroom. 

Before she heads off for their whirlwind European trip starting at Maison et Objet in Paris, I ask Lise whether she has a favourite pattern. She responds that with new designs continually created for a range of different products from scatter cushions to clothing and furniture, each design is a favourite for a month or two and then it’s onto the next. There’s simply never enough time to love just one. 

We think Design Teams fans will agree. 

Design Team, 59 Harrington Street, Zonnebloem, Cape Town, 021 462 7707, www.designteamfabrics.co.za

The post CT welcomes Design Team appeared first on Visi.

Just off Cape Town’s infamous Long Street, you’ll find the new Chandler House, a peculiar space that without warning draws you down the rabbit hole of designer, art historian and artist Michael Chandler’s mind.

Without a sign on the street, how is one to know what world stepping through a shop door will take you to? The feeling you get stepping into Michael Chandler’s new venture, Chandler House, must surely be the same Alice felt when she fell down the rabbit hole and landed in Wonderland – complete bewilderment that suddenly transcends into a feeling of curiosity and awe.

While both hapless visitors and dedicated fans will enjoy the ceramics for which he has become known, Michael has imagined Chandler House as more than just a shop, but rather a cultural hub for like-minded people both locally and internationally.

“I don’t want to call this an emporium because I dislike the word and the way it’s been overused. This is kind of like the meek sister of ‘emporium’,” Michael says.

Surrounded by his personal collection of paintings and a table laid out with the ceramic tiles that he paints daily, he goes on: “I want this to be a place where I can be experimental, but also bring in work from other talented individuals, things I have found, liked and believe in. I also want to invite people together to voice their opinions around topics that interest them. I want this to be more of a destination than a shop.”

The decor direction for Chandler House is taken from artists who have influenced Michael’s career and inspired his work. You’ll find some Henri Matisse – his love for fabrics and colours – and Gertrude Stein – a friend of all the great modernists, though for Chandler it’s about the way she hung her art on her Paris walls. Italian artist Giorgio Morandi’s love for light, bottles, ceramics and nude palettes also features greatly throughout the space.

It is quite possibly the building itself, however, that has caught Michael’s heart and his love of bygone eras. “The space is inspired by Sir John Soane and Louis Michel Thibault. They were both architects from the second half of the 18th century and are largely associated with their love for plaster and stone architectural elements,” he explains, modestly showing off his gargantuan historical background.

Describing the plaster pillars specially molded for Chandler House’s office and studio space, he goes on: “When designing our space, I tried to imagine what Thibault’s studio might look like at the time. It has resulted in our shop being a delightful plaster folly. Its really a fantasy of mine come true.”

Just a few weeks old now, Michael’s fantasy must surely be one of Cape Town’s best-kept secrets – although probably not for long. As a space to play and experiment, extinguishing the preciousness of his work and giving people a chance to relax and have fun Michael has created a place for everyone to enjoy a touch of the magical creative past that informs his work. 

Chandler House is not a shop – it’s a rabbit hole!

Chandler House, 53 Church Street, Cape Town, www.chandlerhouse.co.za

The post Michael Chandler’s rabbit hole appeared first on Visi.

Read in English.

Merchants on Long het pas die restaurant Merchants Café geopen waarmee hulle Kaapstad deur middel van verskeie “pop up”-restaurante aan die geure van Afrika wil bekend stel. Die ontwerpers Liam Mooney en Michael Chandler het aan Maciek Dubla verduidelik hoe hulle met badkamerteëls, spaanderbord en 16 000 feeliggies ’n uiters veelsydige ruimte geskep het.

Niemand weet hoekom die Merchants on Long-gebou, een van die oudstes in die Moederstad, oorspronklik in die laat 1800’s gebou is nie. En al het die eienaars deur die jare gekom en gegaan, is die gebou sedert 2010 bekend as ’n tuiste vir kontemporêre Afrika-ontwerp. Nou is die geskiedenisboeke nóg ’n bladsy ryker met die opening van die nuwe Merchants Café in ’n ewe geskiedkundige gebou oorkant die straat.

“Die restaurant is ’n saamwerkprojek tussen ’n paar van die beste skeppende kunstenaars in Kaapstad; ’n plek waar sjefs en ontwerpers besoekers aan hulle styl kan bekend stel,” verduidelik Hanneli Rupert, die grand dame van Merchants on Long. “Dit is egte Afrika-ontwerp, maar ook weelderig, kontemporêr en bowenal eenvoudig sodat ‘pop up’-restaurante maklik hulle intrek kan neem en die ruimte hulle eie maak.”

As jy eers oor die drumpel tree, verstaan jy dadelik waarom die gedetailleerde interieur wat ses maande geneem het om te voltooi, ’n ontwerp(er)-samewerking is in letterlik elke sin van die woord. Die beste skeppende kunstenaars waarna Hanneli verwys, is die ontwerper Liam Mooney en die dekoratiewe kunstenaar Michael Chandler. Liam was verantwoordelik vir die interieur van die ruimte, terwyl Michael die breekware wat besoekers sal gebruik om aan Merchants Café se Afrika-cuisine weg te lê, ontwerp en met die hand gemaak het.

“Hanneli wou ’n baie veelsydige, eenvoudige ruimte hê wat maklik verander kan word volgens die ‘pop up’-restaurant wat daardie week sy intrek neem,” verduidelik Liam die opdrag an hom. “Dit moes die etos van die Merchants-handelsmerk weerspieël en ’n Afrika-gevoel hê, sonder om kitsch of soos ’n temarestaurant te voel. Die ruimte moes gesofistikeerd dog gemaklik wees.”

Omdat hulle die geskiedenis van die gebou wou behou maar terselfdertyd ’n jeugdige energie vestig, is die mure ’n kombinasie van ou stene en klip, met sekere dele wat met mat en blink wit badkamerteëls geteël is. ’n Mens is eers van die sterk kontras bewus, maar dit word gou duidelik hoe goed die teëls die rou teksture van die muur komplementeer.

Die meubels is ’n mengsel van duur en meer bekostigbare ontwerp. Die sessitplek-tafels van poeierverfbedekte staal, spaanderbord met lakvernis en ’n ligte weefmateriaalstof lyk of dit bra min detail bevat, maar dit slaag daarin om die ruimte te versag. Die visuele impak van die 16 000 feeliggies wat die plafon bedek en in die brons spieëls weerkante van die vertrek weerkaats word, slaan die asem weg.

Hoewel die meubels doelbewus teen die agtergrond verdwyn, staan Michael se reeks handgemaakte blou-en-wit ontwerper-keramiekware lieflik uit teen die eenvoud van die spaanderbord.  Hy het meer as 300 houers, vase, opdienborde, grootborde, bakke, bekers, kruike, teepotte en sout-en-peperbakkies versier, en elkeen spog met Merchants Café se aweregse kenteken wat met die hand geverf is. Dit beteken nie ’n enkele een van die stukke is dieselfde nie.

Toe Michael hoor van die duisende feeliggies, het hy besluit om die breekgoed met ’n superglans-afwerking af te rond om die liggies te weerkaats en te sorg dat dit lyk of die kos “rus op ’n glinsterende see van skittersterre”.

Die estetiese is een ding, maar uiteindelik is die praktiese elemente net so belangrik as die versierings en ontwerp. “Die belangrikste ding wat ek moes onthou, is dat al die keramiekware funksioneel moet wees en die aanhoudende hantering in ’n restaurant kan weerstaan,” erken Michael, ’n ware esteet. “Ons het ’n materiaal gebruik wat teen ’n hoër temperatuur gebak word om te verseker die stukke is so sterk as moontlik. Om die ‘harde aard’ van keramiek te versag, het ons ’n mat glasuur vir die die buitekant van die eetgerei gebruik. Dit voel syagtig as jy daaraan raak, amper soos ’n volstruiseier. Ek wou hê mense moet die restaurant verlaat en voel hulle het ’n spesiale oomblik met die kos en die keramiekware gedeel.”

Michael het ook Merchants Café se wynetiket ontwerp. Die Ruperts se rooi versnit word as die restaurant se unieke huiswyn gebruik, en die etiket is geïnspireer deur ’n 17de eeuse etswerk wat Michael in ’n antieke boek gevind het.

Liam en Michael het saam ’n ruimte geskep wat ewe perfek is vir ’n vinnige koffie of om tot ounag toe oor aandete uite span. Merchants Café sit die visie van Merchants on Long voort as ondersteuner en patriot van Afrika. As ’n mens kyk na die verstommende talent in Kaapstad, kan VISI nie wag om te sien waarmee Afrika se smulpape en skeppende siele ons gaan verras nie.

Langstraat 36, 021 422 2828, www.merchantsonlong.com

Die vier wenners van die Merchants Cafe bottel wyn en unieke Michael Chandler-bord is The Nelda van Staten, Jacques Nel, Jayshree Govender en John Maarschalk. Baie geluk!

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