Who says a garden hose can’t be glamourous? Well, okay, they never are really to be fair. But there’s one exception.

As winner of the Swedish Design Award, this is surely the ultimate garden accessory. Made in Scandinavia and distributed by Durban-based Wrapt Objet on behalf of Garden Glory, the hosepipes are available in a range of pretty colours, with names like Black Swan, White Snake, Candy Crush, Graceful Rock and Gold Digger, and retail at R2 775 each (which includes a classic nozzle set in a matching colour).

Classic wall mounts are available in each colour (R950 each ex VAT), as well as the Deluxe wall mount (shaped like reindeer antlers), which is available in black, white, grey and gold.

The Deluxe garden hose in gold with brass nozzle retails at R4 575 ex VAT and the Deluxe wall mount (antlers) at R4 750 ex VAT.

The hosepipes are 20m long and come with a five-year guarantee.

For more information, visit gardenglory.se/en/ or email maxine@wraptobjet.co.za to order.

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This modern barn on Jacobsdal wine farm in Stellenbosch is home to Koba and Cornelis Dumas and their two young sons.

At the southwestern edge of the Stellenbosch wine region, on the vine-shrouded slopes overlooking a gleaming False Bay, is a silver-grey barn. A barn filled with beautiful furniture and books and photographs and laughter. A barn that’s actually a house. And in the house lives a little boy called Pieter, and his father and mother and baby brother, Stefan, and their two dogs, Suki and Simba. Happily ever after.

Pieter’s parents, Cornelis and Koba, built the house on Jacobsdal, Cornelis’s family farm. Here the Dumas family has been living and making wine for almost 100 years. It’s a stone’s throw from Pieter’s grandparents’ house, separated by a jungle-garden where many an afternoon is spent exploring.

Unlike the house that Jack built in the popular nursery rhyme, this house was not randomly assembled. Nor does it have any stray malt, a cat that killed a rat, a priest all shaven and shorn, or a forlorn maiden who milked a cow with a crumpled horn.

The house that Pieter’s parents built was meticulously designed by longtime family friend and Cape Town-based architect Francois du Toit. His brief from Cornelis and Koba was centred on needs rather than definite ideas: lots of light, generous cooking and entertaining spaces and, above all, it needed to be practical and accessible for the constant visits from people, animals, kids and cowboys. It is Pieter’s house, too, after all.

Francois’ design philosophy is driven by an analytical approach, not a predetermined style. He borrowed extensively from his background in industrial architecture and applied similar designs and construction techniques. He also decided to keep the structure free of any ornament and decoration, letting the lush farm exterior and eclectic decor tell the story instead.

The result is an ultramodern abode, consisting of two parallel barn-like buildings – a single-storey living space and a double-storey unit housing the bedrooms and study – that are connected by a glass box. The structures comprise a series of prefabricated steel portal frames, bolted to concrete foundations and clad in corrugated Zincalume sheeting. They are a striking sight on the farm, even more so if one considers that the method and materials used resulted in reduced construction costs and time – the steel frames were literally erected on site in a few days!

The house has an abundance of enormous windows, Scandinavian larch flooring and flawless white walls. A perfect blank page for the tales that are told by the furniture and faces in and around it.

So yes, the house that Pieter’s parents built does, like Jack’s, tell the stories of people past and present, of family and friends, of love and loss.

Not that it was really planned. It just happened, like all good stories do. The furniture and fixtures are a combination of inherited, bought, restored and handmade pieces. Pieter’s family is very sentimental, and has passed on exquisite pieces from generation to generation, such as the white baby grand piano his mother started playing when she was eight, the antique cutlery from the days his great-grandfather served as a Member of Parliament, and the 12-seater Rhodesian teak table from his great-great-grandfather.

It also helps that Pieter’s father is a furniture designer with a particular penchant for good-looking leather chairs. His work is scattered throughout the house but is best enjoyed while sitting next to the fireplace in the lounge, sipping a glass of pinotage, gazing through the bay window at the garden. If you’re lucky, you might spot a suikerbekkie drinking nectar from the flowers of the Cat’s Whiskers plant.

Filling the gaps and white walls is mostly left to Pieter’s mother. Between being a part-time accountant and full-time mother, Koba carefully curates the bounty of her smart shopping trips alongside heirlooms, and Pieter and Stefan’s toys. She says it’s a work in progress. An evolution. Like building a peculiar puzzle, where no piece has a definite place and no-one knows what the final picture will look like.

The picture at this stage is breathtaking. Light, airy rooms where the decor is a perfect blend of country chic, Scandinavian simplicity and non-hipster retro. It’s one of those homes where you instantly feel welcome.

fd-a.co.za
jacobsdal.co.za

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Children dream beyond what they see, believes Deánne Viljoen, the owner and designer of De Steyl, a furniture design and manufacturing company in George. They are interested in the things that surround them, they see beauty in tiny details, they are little people who grow up, change and adapt over the years in the spaces of the homes they share with their parents – just like the lovely range of furniture, Play Play that Deánne, an architect by trade, designs for them.

Inspired by the 1950s Scandinavian furniture she grew up with, as well as that odd quirky piece she thinks we all remember from childhood, Play Play is a modular chest range made from sustainable birch plywood with removable drawer boxes laminated in white, blue or grey, and various leg options.

For Deánne, it’s really about putting the fun in functional design and excellence in quality when considering furniture that grows with the child. Not only is it environmentally sustainable, but it saves money, too.From storing nappies to stationery supplies and, if one day your teenager has simply grown out of love with a piece, it should be good enough to use anywhere else in the house.

Adding even more play, Deánne has collaborated with pattern designer Renée Rossouw to create some bold motifs for the new range.

desteyl.co.za

See more of our designs for kids here.

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It’s difficult to imagine a more inspiring and endearing young couple than Luke Pedersen and his wife Jen. Their renovated Scandi-Victorian home in Woodstock, Cape Town, is a true labour of love. The result of their shared vision is an oasis of contemporary comfort befitting a designer and an artist.

Having lived in Woodstock for most of his adult life, Luke Pedersen always knew that he wanted to drop anchor in the suburb. From an investment point of view it made sense – Woodstock still retains pockets of affordable property in the midst of its meteoric return to glory – but it was a yearning to live in an area that “felt like home” that ultimately catalysed his decision.

The higgledy nexus of backstreets in the immediate vicinity undoubtedly retain the essence of the “real”  Woodstock. Sure, the tagged walls could use a lick of paint, and here and there crystalline remnants of backseat windows sparkle at the curb, but women on foot still sell toffee apples on sunny days, and children while away the afternoons with bicycles and soccer balls. “I live here because I love the area for what it is,” Luke maintains.

A mere shot-put away from the gaatjie cacophony on Sir Lowry Road, double-glazed windows nullify the din entirely. The rhythmic clinking of a teaspoon stirring tea provides the only sonic ambience as we sit across the table (a Pedersen + Lennard original, of course) and discuss the mammoth undertaking involved in remodelling their home. “Remodelling” is perhaps an understatement: there is barely a square centimetre between (and including) the ceiling and the floor that doesn’t bear the thumbprint of its inspired inhabitants.

First came the lists. Before they began, Luke and Jen each jotted down their ten priorities for the renovation, after which they compared their ideals and settled on a shared manifesto. Having spent two years in Sweden where Luke completed a Master’s degree in design, the Pedersens were inspired by the Scandinavian penchant for converted barns. They certainly achieved the sense of vertical space and wooden cladding that typifies the rustic aesthetic but agreed it was important to retain a sense of the vernacular, exemplified by a handful of original fixtures including the fireplace and teak front door. Jen’s compulsion for collecting beautiful objects completed the look, infusing the minimalist space with personality and evidence of a shared history.

Built in an era before “light”, “spaciousness” and “flow” had entered the architect’s lexicon, the original home was a warren of dim, poky rooms. Phase one thus entailed a massive structural redesign. The couple recalls afternoons sitting in the empty living room, charting the sun’s trajectory in order to best position the skylight. Drawing on the expertise of associates in the know, Luke and a revolving cast of workers wielded sledgehammers, hacksaws, power drills and wheelbarrows. The sweat from his brow is literally baked into the concrete floors.

Every weekend ushered in a new project: the staircase, the bookshelves, the kitchen counters, the bicycle rack, the dining-room table, the plunge pool… virtually every aspect of their home was discussed, designed and executed accordingly. As one half of the design studio Pedersen + Lennard, Luke was able to put his professional skills to good use. Interestingly, the ideas flowed in both directions as many of the materials and methodologies meted out on this personal project have subsequently been incorporated into some of the coveted items in the Pedersen + Lennard showroom.

Before I depart, Luke points out with pride the number “11” on the exterior wall, cut from the same wood that adorns the deck he built, emblazoned on the wall he painted, beside a steel letterbox he designed. It was last weekend’s project, along with raising the threshold and priming the soil for a tiny front lawn. He spends a few minutes elucidating the thought process behind the decision: the font, the kerning, the wood, the varnish. I marvel at the depth of consideration for something that might seem quite trivial to most of us. Those two slender numerals represent far more than a reference for the postman. They encapsulate the essence of the Pedersen household.

Read about Luke’s love of cycling here and more about Pedersen + Lennard here.

Pedersen + Lennard 021 447 2020, pedersenlennard.co.za

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A world-class high-performance training facility, featuring a Scandi-inspired modernist design scheme by Richard Stretton of Koop Design, is hidden in the heart of Durban.

It’s quite fitting that a gym that’s like no other in Africa is situated in the heart of Durban’s sporting district at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Yet, despite its significance, the Prime Human Performance Institute goes almost unnoticed in its location beneath the cableway of the stadium. 

This is a world-class high-performance training facility supporting South African and international athletes, both professional and non-professional, by providing access to the latest specialist equipment (and corresponding professionals) in a set-up that includes laboratories, ultrasound facilities and Africa’s first high-altitude training room.

The Scandi-inspired design of the interior also reflects something a lot more special than you will encounter at your average gym franchise. Timber finsishes, soft reflected light, clean shapes and gently offset angles give the place a warmth and Zen-like calm. 

“Karate dojos and Alvar Aalto,” jokes Richard Stretton of Koop Design, who developed the interior. “The material, structural and spatial resolution of the environment reinforce the institute’s brand and identity. There’s no secondary layering of services, function or design – you build only once,” says Richard.

It’s an expressively structured interior, with a limited palette of materials. A central double-volume area houses the gym and other movement-orientated facilities,  while treatment rooms, labs and other accompanying cellular spaces overlook the activity areas. In concept, it’s really a stadium. 

Materials such as recycled rubber, vinyl, powder-coated steel and ash certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) were selected for their performance, sustainable credentials and aesthetic appeal, while the concrete shell was left unadorned. Another feature is the simple navigation: different flooring, strip lights and colour-coded peripheral rooms orientate users, with barely any signage.

Most impressive is that, for a world-class facility, the institute is not at all intimidating. It’s a friendly, open and inviting place achieved with a light touch and human understanding.

Koop Design 031 201 2415, www.koopdesign.co.za

Read more of our articles about design, decor and architecture in Durban.

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Matt Allison is an urban farmer, SAMA-nominated singer-songwriter, one-time engineer, design connoisseur and the brains behind the play-play office that he built his two-year old son Nathan, featured in the new VISI 66 The Office. VISI.co.za went behind the scenes to see how Matt himself lives and found an idiosyncratic pastiche of mid-century Danish and American collectables, handmade one-offs, and vintage keepsakes from friends and families.

That Matt is by nature a perfectionist, collector and curator who will go to the ends of the Earth to make his home just right is evident in the description of his lounge: “The brass sconces were sourced from Trifon of Palm Springs Vintage in California. You can see them on the set of the first few seasons of Mad Men. I tracked Trifon down through the set designer and had him make these ones in brass to fit the rest of our decor. The Masketeers ducks were a classic 1960s centrepiece in American homes and they still pop up from time to time, but it’s rare to still find a complete set. I bought this set from an Etsy seller in Oregon, who graciously shipped them halfway across the world to me. The atomic clock I purchased from a store online in New York. The chair was a shabby Gumtree find, which I had stained and reupholstered in a burnt orange dralon fabric. The atomic lamp was also a Gumtree find, though I had the drum shade rebuilt by The Lampshade Studio and covered in Skinny LaMinx’s Orla fabric.”

And don’t even get him started on his love for Danish design, as he describes his dining room: “The collectable wall unit is by Danish designer Poul Cadovius and was purchased from a retired couple who were scaling down, who in turn bought it from the Danish consulate in Durban 15 years ago. The dining room table, chairs and sideboard were locally made by Duros in the 1950/60s, sold as the ‘Dane’ set through Garlicks department stores. I bought the entire set from a family in Parow for R1 500, they just wanted it out and I was more than happy to welcome it into our home! The Louis Poulsen PH 4/3 pendant is an original I bought from an antique dealer in Denmark. It’s hard to believe that it looks so contemporary, but was designed in 1925.”

VISI covered the launch of Matt’s design blog, Curate This Space, here.

Get VISI 66 The Office to see Nathan’s kid-office. Featuring over 20 workspaces that are pushing the proverbial envelope, this issue is a must-have collectable. Get it in stores until 10 July 2013 or subscribe to the digital edition. 

Follow Matt’s design passions on his blog www.curatethisspace.com.

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The Stockholm Design Week 2013 has come and gone, and the all the stops were pulled out this year. Showcasing the hottest Scandinavian designs, the city of Stockholm came alive with radical events, as well as their annual light and furniture fair.

We were blown away by Kustaa Saksi & Gert Wingårdh’s installation of a pavillion for guest speakers at the fair. Mirrored tabletops were arranged below the some 700 000 pieces of paper, doubling the way in which the speakers and guests could admire the wave of colour above them.

In furniture and lighting, the trends point to simple, sleek designs with natural finishes and restrained splashes of colour.

www.stockholmdesignweek.com

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“You are banned from drawing cars for a week. Draw sculptures instead.” An unusual instruction for automotive designers, perhaps, but one that Volvo’s strategic design manager, Jonathan Disley, insisted had to be followed. 

Eight thousand hours later, the luxurious hand-built Universe Concept was born, its fluid lines and sculptural quality the result of Jonathan’s order. 

“It still honours the beautiful lines of classic Volvo models but without the edges; all lines are infinite, marking distinctive inspiration from Scandinavian furniture design, as well as Chinese writing,” he said. 

A striking feature of the car’s interior is the decor- and fashion-inspired design details. The leather seats have backrests made from first-class wool usually reserved for bespoke suits. When opened, the pockets reveal fine stitching and lining fabric in a strong accent colour. The walnut centre panel features a design in hand-painted blue-and-white china – a nod to Volvo’s new owner.

The Concept Universe luxury sedan was unveiled with a bang at the Shanghai Motor Show to reveal the Volvo design team’s answer to the question they set out to answer: a beautiful car should feel handcrafted, sparking a feeling of eternal beauty – an artful, timeless blend of design and technology. We’d love to take it for a spin.

www.volvocars.com

The post What is a beautiful car? appeared first on Visi.

Early Rider has one main, unwavering goal: to design products that make an adventurous life easy for young children to embrace. Their commitment to quality manufacturing methods and uncompromising design standards ensure every child’s first bike experience is a memorably cool one. The bikes are unique in that they have adjustable everything (steering, seat height, reach), so that they can support the rider whatever their level.

Over and above these practicalities, the predominantly wooden construction gives the bikes a distinctive look, and they are probably the most eco-friendly you’ll find. To top it off, they have a 2-year warranty. The question now is, why don’t they make them for adults?

Suitable for ages 1.5-5

Prices range from R1699-R2099

More info: www.analogmedia.co.za

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The Fair took place during Stockholm Design week, where Alma witnessed how the Nordic regions are interpreting 2012’s trends.

Here are her top picks:

Spin by Staffan Holm for Swedese flirts with the classic Alvar Alto three-legged stool. The nifty reinpretation is also stackable.

www.swedese.se

Kaleido by Clara von Zweigbergk for Dannish design house Hay is a collection of gorgeous geometric steel containers.

www.hay.dk

Thomas Bernstrand’s Kajen Planka for Nola. The idea is that the Kajen Planka doubles-up as a fench but also as street furniture. Clever and beautiful.

www.bernstrand.com

Inga Sempé designed a new light for Swedish production company Wästberg. The w103 suspension light can be used as a single hanging shade or as a combination of shades.

www.wastberg.com

Inspired by the materials and forms of traditional showshoes, Jonas Lyndby Jensen’s Snowshoe chair is a real ode to what we have come to expect from Scandinavian design.

www.jonaslyndbyjensen.dk

South African’s are also currently picking (local) favourites. Design Indaba’s hunt for the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa is in full swing, have you voted for your favourite yet?

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