A new capsule collection by TheUrbanative reminiscent of early garden furniture brings a sense of nostalgia to the outdoors.

Capturing the essence of summers spent on lawns, stoeps and patios, the range consists of steel and wire mesh chairs that were prevalent in South Africa during the 80s and 90s. “This is a love letter to those sweet summer memories in Mme’s (Gran’s) garden, catching up on the day’s events and listening to the sounds of the day winding down,” says the brand.

READ MORE: The Homecoming Collection by TheUrbanative

A few years in the making, TheUrbanative did extensive research in materials and manufacturing, to ensure a product that looks chic and lasts long through tough outdoor conditions. The collection includes soft seating inspired by the Pumzika couch and Akaya chair (also reworked into a dining chair). The team joined forces with local makers for the release of the Iziqhaza Mat – made from recycled rubber. Adding a playful element, the Wambo Swing, first designed in 2019, is now part of the stable.

Using fabrics from international fabric house Sunbrella and local brands The Mill Fabrics and Hertex, the pieces offer breathability, mould mildew, water, stain and UV resistance. 

READ MORE: Design Journey: Mpho Vackier of TheUrbanative

Each piece is available in a range of colourways that embody local summer feelings including coral, sand, palm, and ocean.

Orders are available through theurbanative.com and take 6-8 weeks for production. 

Looking for more on design? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here.

The post TheUrbanative Outdoor Capsule Collection 2022 appeared first on Visi.

Minimalist metal furniture is getting its time in the sun and these trend-defying classics are as comfortable to sit in as they are beautiful to gaze upon.

1. Circo Furniture Series

German designer Sebastian Herkner found inspiration for his Circo furniture series in the traditional travelling circuses of Colombia. The handcrafted designs, which feature powder-coated steel tubular frames and colourful recycled plastic wicker, are produced by Colombian artisans in a small factory for Ames. As a result, all of the items in the collection reflect the spirit and traditional craftsmanship of Colombia.

2. Acapulco Chair

Named after the coastal town of Acapulco in Mexico, the hot destination for the jet set in the ’50s and ’60s, the Acapulco chair has a slightly pear-shaped tubular frame and brightly coloured vinyl cord body. First produced in the 1950s, it is an icon of Mexican design and has given rise to a plenitude of replicas.

3. Fermob Luxembourg Collection

The Luxembourg range of outdoor furniture, originally created in the workshops of the Paris parks department in 1923 for the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, has become a legend in its own right and is still manufactured for the city’s public gardens. The entire Fermob Luxembourg Collection range has the same distinctive lines and forms, combining the lightness and resistance of aluminium with the comfort of curved seat slats.

4. Buit Outdoor Furniture

Buit (that’s not a typo) is a new line of outdoor furniture in aluminium mesh designed by Mayice Studio for the family-owned Spanish design brand Gandia Blasco. The Madrid-based Mayice Studio, founded by architects Marta Alonso Yebra and Imanol Calderón Elósegui, works with local craftsmen and women to execute their designs.

5. The Palissade Hot Galvinised Bench

The Palissade Hot Galvinised bench, designed by the French brothers Rohan and Erwan Bouroullec for the Danish design company HAY, is made with standard tubes of steel – round for the frame and rectangular for the seat slats. The hot-dip galvanised steel range was developed to supplement their existing Palissade collection of outdoor furniture.

The post 5 Minimalist Metal Furniture Designs appeared first on Visi.

The Design Tree’s architectural screens can be used both inside and outdoors in a variety of ways, as decorative wall art, room dividers, privacy screens, cladding and outdoor fencing. They can be cut from brushed stainless steel or powder-coated in a variety of colours.

The outdoor firepits feature clean-cut geometrical blades, a wide opening for maximum effect and an additional fitting for a potjie. The firepits, which are assembled by hand and cut from 5 mm steel, are sprayed with a heat-resistant spray for longevity.

The Design Tree’s customised steel furniture collection will add a modern finish to any space.

“We aim to provide a specialised service to our customers with unique, high-quality steel products, customised and adapted according to their requirements,” says Co-owner Caryn Baard.

For more information, visit thedesigntree.co.za or follow The Design Tree on Facebook or Instagram.

The post The Design Tree appeared first on Visi.

A retired Port Elizabeth couple sold their 1940s home at the top of their property and bravely built a modern, eco-friendly treetop hideaway in the city.

The built-in bed is made of oriented strand board (OSB), a type of engineered wood that is cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Ardmore wallpaper adds a playful touch.

When Fiona and John Whitfield moved back to the Port Elizabeth suburb of Fiona’s childhood in 2001, they were so smitten with the 1940s house at the top of the property that they scarcely took note of the tantalising treasures below.

They would later explore the tangled River Road garden and discover neglected stone pathways amid the milkwoods and white stinkwoods – evidence of landscaping from when the original property stretched right down to the base of Baakens Valley.

“With thick gloves up to our elbows and gumboots up to our knees, we set about clearing creepers and vines that had snaked their way up the trees and lay knee-deep on the ground,” Fiona remembers.

A decade of clearing later, the Baakens, rich in indigenous plant- and birdlife, now offers the Whitfields an envy-inducing view, with virtually no houses to be seen thanks to their elevated position.

Their steel-and-concrete “tree house” is light years away from its bricks-and-mortar granddad higher up. “Once we realised how much property we had, we got the ball rolling to subdivide it,” Fiona says. But the process took years and interest from buyers proved lukewarm given the gradient and associated costs of building. Fiona and John were also nervous their view from above would be marred and so decided to sell their home and move downhill themselves.

They remembered a promising architectural student named Dal Venables, who’d assisted them with a project a few years before. Dal now had his own successful firm, DMV Architecture, but had never forgotten the Whitfields’ unique if challenging property.

“Dal and Neal [Fisher, who’d joined DMV as a director and senior architect] bravely took on the project,” Fiona says. Briefed to create a one-bedroom home with a guest suite below, they gave the architects carte blanche. “Neal did the design and, because we’d given them a lousy budget [a non-negotiable R1,5 million], also had to project-manage everything.”

The only option, Neal says, was to separate out every trade and get it priced, then manage each service provider and their time on site. A primary structure was made from galvanised steel, and a light-gauge steel-framed “box” – clad inside and out, then filled with concrete containing polystyrene balls for insulation – was slotted into the main frame. Many of the building components were pre-manufactured and assembled on site. One year later, in May 2016, the Whitfields could move in.

“Living here is a privilege,” Fiona says of their low-maintenance home with its lush wild fig canopy. “The birdlife is astonishing, with loeries and a resident African goshawk gliding through the trees along with orioles, paradise flycatchers, guinea-fowl and other birds too numerous to mention. I am chuffed that at this age [Fiona is 63 and John is 64] we are living in such a modern-looking and exciting home.”

The guest suite under the house has become a popular Airbnb rental – with two of the couple’s three sons based out of town, “the boys” have to book if they want to visit. “We have a tent in the garden and they’ve all slept in there at some point!” Fiona says.

The post Modern Port Elizabeth Home appeared first on Visi.

Cape Town-based design and interiors studio OKHA has launched a new collection entitled Stellar and SUPER STELLAR, featuring a group of candleholders that draw on both cosmic and cultural references.

Inspired by the idea of opposing forces, the range is for designer and OKHA Creative Director Adam Court, “the emotional evocation of starlight, movement, combustion and constellation.”

“These forms are Simplex objects, simultaneously simple and complex, in mathematical terms they represent the principal that 1 + 1 = 3,” he says.

For depth of colour, both the blue and green Stellar candleholders, which are made from mild steel, have undergone an oxidization and patination process. The SUPER STELLAR golden candleholders are made from solid polished brass.

For more information, visit okha.com.

The post OKHA’s New Candleholder Collection appeared first on Visi.

Hertex’s homeware brand HAUS recently launched an occasional furniture range, which sees the role of the side table grab the spotlight.

The collection of side tables are made using an elegant mix of marble, wood, steel, with delicate enamel-coated tops. Depending on your vision for a space, these can be placed next to a bed or sofa. The collection includes pieces titled Jakarta, Hanoi, Tokyo, Moscow, Budapest, Taipei and Doha.

HAUS has also launched a luxurious line of four oversized poufs, made in India from materials such as super-soft handwoven chenille viscose and handwoven wool.

The side tables range between R1 195 and R3 995. For more information, visit hertex.co.za.

The post The HAUS Occasional Furniture Range appeared first on Visi.

Father and daughter duo Chris and Anna Weylandt have collaborated with Caesarstone to design a stylish new furniture collection.

The textural Convivium range, which was recently launched at 100% Design South Africa, contrasts simple, slick contours with raw wood, steel and the classic, marble texture of Caesarstone. “We love juxtaposing textures,” says Chris and Anna. “The resulting tension forms the path to new ideas.”

The collection includes the Luna drinks cabinet and a trio of sure-footed side tables.

For more information, visit blog.caesarstone.co.za.

Click here if you missed our round-up of winning designs from this year’s 100% Design South Africa.

The post Cool Collaboration: Chris and Anna Weylandt X Caesarstone appeared first on Visi.

Take a look inside Summit Haus – one of the most energy efficient houses in America.

In this beautifully shot video, homeowners Taylor Rees and Renan Ozturk, together with designer and builder Chris Price of Park City Design+Build, explain the processes and evolution of this special home to get it where it is today.

With 90% less energy emitted than a regular house in the neighbourhood, this home proves that with careful planning and dedication, you really can drastically lower your carbon footprint.

The post WATCH: Summit Haus appeared first on Visi.

Need an additional room? An office? Guest accommodation? Man cave? Take inspiration from these unique spaces and transform your garden shed into a backyard getaway.

ARTIST’S ESCAPE

With its oak flooring, cladded walls and deck, this contemporary garden room in the Scottish Highlands is a lesson in smart living.

Originally designed as a private art studio, this space has evolved into a play area for the whole family. “We built this garden room using the same principles we would use to build a house,” says John Langley, managing director of JML Garden Rooms, Scotland. ‘The main structure is made from structurally insulated panels so that it is as airtight as possible, with triple-glazed windows and doors.’ While the cladded walls add character, natural stone, concrete or textured plasters will look equally stylish.

The addition of the deck creates an indoor/outdoor flow that gives the illusion of more space and also serves as an entertainment area. To further extend the use of your outdoor living space, consider installing a fixed or retractable awning, says Craig de Necker, managing director of award-winning South African garden design and installation firm The Friendly Plant, based in Johannesburg.

“An awning will provide much-needed shade during the hot summer months and a little protection against the wet weather, so you can make use of the garden room all year round,” he says. According to Craig, most South Africans buy timber or plastic sheds, as they are convenient and cost-effective. If you’re looking for a custom-made garden shed, The Friendly Plant can assist.

POOLSIDE LUXURY

The conversion of this shed into a chic pool lodge complete with a small kitchen, bar, shower, toilet and sauna is a clever utilisation of space.

While its position next to the pool would have you think it’s used exclusively in summer, the underfloor heating and LED lighting make it equally inviting during the winter months.

Sliding doors bring in maximum light and create a lovely flow out to the pool. The real standout feature, however, is the eco-friendly sedum roof, which doubles as a low-maintenance garden that attracts plenty of birdlife. “Aside from providing a good view from the main house, the garden roof absorbs large quantities of rain and slows down the rate of runoff into the drains,” says Janine Pattison, director of Janine Pattison Studios, a leading landscape and garden design practice in the UK.

Craig agrees that a garden roof improves the aesthetics of the building but warns that the growing medium (especially after rains) adds substantial weight to the roof, so ensure that the underlying structure is designed to carry the load. Alternatively, consider decorative timber structures, skylights, or even a retractable roof.

CLEAR VIEW

A pitched roof, glass doors and clever illumination by UK lighting design company Victoria Jerram transform this ordinary shed into an urban oasis. The accordion-style doors opening onto the deck maximise the space and allow natural light to flood the room, while the washed-out cedar floorboards contrast well with the clean, all-white interior – a well-appointed area that embodies modern minimalism.

Versatile use of LED lighting highlights the vaulted ceiling, adding a sense of extra space.

LED lights last longer than regular incandescent bulbs, making them a more affordable (and eco-friendly) choice.

COUNTRY CHIC

Modelled on a traditional shepherd’s hut, this bespoke version is ideal as a guesthouse, or bed and breakfast.

Designed by Riverside Shepherd Huts in the UK, this space is fully insulated, keeping it both cool and warm.

Constructed using a steel frame and chassis, the hut is raised off the floor on cast iron wheels, which, says Craig, allows for water to pass underneath, and also creates additional storage space. The interior is boarded with tongue-and-groove wooden panels, which provides a lovely blank canvas on which to decorate.

“Huts are made to the customer’s specifications, so the decor really depends on the use,” says Jean Richmond of Riverside, whose kitchen design makes this a perfect place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon lunch.

While space is limited, the options are endless when it comes to designing a kitchenette, says Craig.

“The easiest way to outfit a small kitchen is to look at the galleys on yachts. Because space is tight, they use every inch of it in the best possible way – think fold-out countertops and elements that serve a dual purpose, such as a microwave that doubles as a convection oven.”

ENCHANTED FOREST

This former garden shed is proof that limited space doesn’t have to mean limited ideas when it comes to architectural design. “Small spaces don’t feel small if there are lots of windows, and the ceilings are reasonably high,” says Jeff King of Jeff King & Company in San Francisco.

Remodelled as an art studio, this shed is clad in wire trellis material to really make the greenery sing. “As you can see, the ivy transforms what is really just a shingled box into a beautiful display of greenery-articulating structure,” says Jeff, who recommends choosing an evergreen plant that is not too aggressive and can be shaped and trimmed so that the structure can still be seen.

To create synergy between the main house and the shed, the wooden windows have been painted black to mimic the steel windows of the home. As with any piece of architecture, positioning the structure is important. “Take advantage of the natural elements – the light, air, view and shading,” says Jeff. Allow the interior to echo the exterior detail by opting for contemporary timber furniture, suggests Craig.

PHOTOS courtesy of Riverside Shepherd Huts; John Sutton Photography for Jeff King & Co. Janine Pattinson Garden Design Studios; Victoria Jerram Lighting Design, Garden Building

The post 5 Backyard Spaces We Love appeared first on Visi.

Talented young visual artist Adriaan Diedericks has been impressing people here and abroad with his sculptures.

After a chance meeting with local artist Adriaan Diedericks, VISI deputy editor Annemarie Meintjes was captivated. And with good reason: This 24-year-old Stellenbosch University art graduate is one to watch. He tells us more about himself and his work.

Why art?

Growing up in rural Piketberg, I loved playing with wood and stones, which I think cultivated my interest in three-dimensional forms. During my first year as a graphic design student I decided to change to fine art, and I haven’t looked back.

What did you do after graduating?

I started an apprenticeship under Lionel Smit in 2013 and took part in group exhibitions. This year, I went solo.

Who inspires you?

I have always been fascinated by the old masters who were able to work realistically, such as Rodin and Michelangelo. They inspire me to push my boundaries.

What are your greatest accomplishments to date?

I am especially proud that my first work at university – a 2,2 m-tall plastic-and-steel horse – became a public sculpture in Jan Marais Park in Stellenbosch. I am also proud of the fact that in 2014 I was invited to participate in Art Cologne in Germany, the second-largest art fair in the world.

What makes your work special?

It’s honest and raw; it relies on itself to hold ground rather than a deeper concept. I work in wood and bronze and subvert the medium, toying with the viewer’s perception.

The post Artists We Love: Adriaan Diedericks appeared first on Visi.