South Africa Is a Feeling
I try to spend a good chunk of time in South Africa each year, to hang out with family and reconnect with my homeland. From the moment I step off the plane, it just feels like home. It’s hard to describe this feeling: I get it when I experience the intense warmth of the African sun on my skin, see the twinkle of humor in people’s eyes, hear the unrelenting cackle of the guinea fowl, feel the kindness of the restaurant server as she calls me “my baby”, smell the parched fynbos plants, etc. etc. This is certainly not an easy country to live in for most, but warmth pours out of people in a very special way. South Africa is a feeling.
As I’m getting ready to head back to California, I thought it would be nice to reflect on my time here. This trip was full of inspiration: I strolled through South Africa’s most photogenic town, swam in tidal pools and swimming holes, spent quality time with friends I haven’t seen in over a decade and hiked and camped and laughed. Below are some moments that inspired me and filled my cup.
In February I participated in Cape Town Furniture Week with a walnut version of the Corrugated Side Table. CTFW is a 4-day fair for contemporary furniture, lighting and homeware, and a platform to foster engagement and build community. There is a lot of excitement around the South African furniture industry right now and I had the opportunity to chat to quite a few makers here in Cape Town. Learning about the unique challenges and benefits of designing and manufacturing products in South Africa was very insightful. If you’d like to find out more about the design fair and this year’s participants, click here.
When I released the Corrugated Collection about a year ago, I couldn’t shut up about how corrugated iron is being used all over South Africa as an affordable building material—please see the proof below. I love all the different applications of these squiggly metal sheets and seeing how it ages over time.
The one thing South Africa is not, is bland. I got so much good colour inspiration during this trip! Featured below you’ll find the Bo-Kaap, Prince Albert, Woodstock and Khayelitsha (clockwise).
This tidal pool near Bantry Bay is on the Atlantic side of Cape Town, which means the water can be painfully cold. The good kind of pain though! A walk, a tidal pool cold plunge and breakfast—all with good friends—made for the perfect Cape Town morning.
I spent a morning taking a jewelry class and made a cactus and a tiny hammer bracelet. I could have spent at least a few more hours tinkering with these guys, but eventually ran out of time. Who knew working with metal could be so fun?
A couple of weeks ago I joined an architecture tour of the New Rest Valley Crèche designed by Cape Town architecture practice, The Maak. Constructed in 2023, the crèche is the first completed formal public infrastructure in the informal community of New Rest Valley near Riebeek-Kasteel. The building was designed to be aspirational, without being arrogant, and stands tall above a setting of one story self-built homes. The facility provides education and meals to over 60 kids and is a landmark feature in the community that offers valuable civic pride. To read more about this incredible building and The Maak’s social impact architecture, click here.
These are just some of my reflections of a good trip home. If you haven’t been, I hope this gives you the nudge to put South Africa on your travel list for the future.
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