Jacki Curates

Ever at the forefront of design in South Africa, Haldane Martin’s studio and showroom in Woodstock is always a pleasure to visit and a real inspiration - a combination of his own world-class designs and a collection of other local designers who’s pieces he supports and showcases in his space. Make sure to visit next time you’re hunting for a contemporary treasure or have something special in mind you’d like to commission. I am dreaming about his Riempie collections…..

photography by Jacki Lang

Renowned South African artist, Frank Van Reenen, needs no introduction and I have been a fan of his dark humour and quirky pop culture sculptures for years. His latest solo show at the prolific contemporary art gallery, Salon 91, in Cape Town’s Kloof street entitled “Happy Endings” is a collection of his new sculptures and paintings that is not to be missed. Here are a few images from the show which ends next week. It’s difficult to pick a favourite….

photography by Jacki Lang

A new hub is sprouting up at 66-68 Albert Road, Woodtsock, where 3 neighbouring buildings have been joined to create a dynamic mixed-use complex filled with incredible talent in the worlds of art, design, interiors, entrepreneurs and businesses and is slowly filling up with places to meet, shop, eat and explore. The Woodstock Exchange, previously called The Woodtsock Industrial Centre, has such a great flow of space between the new shops coming in and the surrounding decks and courtyards. I popped in last week to peek at the work in progress and am so excited about watching it grow.

In this, my first post on the Woodstock Exchange, I bring you a glimpse at the outside meeting spaces and architecture, the Starling and Hero Bicycle Cafe, Pedersen + Lennard’s new studio space and A/Space street art gallery. More to follow…

photography by Jacki Lang

With Spring on the way and cycling culture taking Cape Town by storm, more and more people are taking to the streets and braving the trip to work and play on two wheels. The Starling and Hero Bicycle Cafe is the perfect spot to rest those weary calves and have a delicious coffee and treat inside the workshop/coffee shop or on the sunny deck outside in the Woodstsock Exchange, while your bike gets a work-up at the same time…

photography by Jacki Lang

I am sure you are no strangers to local designers Luke Pedersen + James Lennard’s gorgeous pieces. And now you can visit their studio and see where all the real magic happens: One of the first visionaries to open their showroom and work space in the Woodstock Exchange, they have also now opened a second branch of their renowned coffee/eating/meeting spot, Field Office, adjacent to their workshop. Pop in for delicious freshly squeezed juices and pastries and a chat to the team behind this brilliant South African design venture.

photography by Jacki Lang

Over the past 4 years, A Word Of Art has been connecting the worlds of local and global emerging artists and creative communities through a range of projects, exchanges and experiments. Their new gallery, /A Space, set up on the ground floor of the Woodstock Industrial Centre, is a platform from which to show innovative work, and also houses a project space next door to allow artists to experiment on more personal and less commercial ventures. The gallery is such a fabulous place to spend some time browsing their print collections and chatting about the new street artists they’ve sourced from around the globe. The space itself, with its black brick walls and magnificent floor tiles, is also so beautifully curated with a cool and eclectic collection of furniture, lights, and accessories. Pop in and snatch up work by these emerging creatives while you still can.

I couldn’t think of a lovelier way to spend a sunny early morning in Cape Town than in Kalk Bay, and especially when the time is spent exploring Thomas Leach’s architecture and furniture design studio, Woodenstate, a beautiful little house in a small cobbled side street minutes from the beach.

Thomas showed me the plans and boards for exciting new local restaurants and private home renovations he’s working on, from the architecture itself to the interior details and finishes and everything has such a wonderful sense of light and play between inside and outside, texture and natural materials. Inspired by utilising local alien timbers, we also looked at all his furniture design samples in his studio, from stools to beautiful folding deck chairs and his simple and gorgeous steel and timber boardroom/dining table.

We then took a stroll down to the beach front, as you do in Kalk Bay, to admire the timber structure that he built to encapsulate Sirocco restaurant on the main road. Sirocco is part of the Harbour House family and Woodenstate also designed their new restaurant and its interiors in the V&A Waterfront. With many more exciting local projects coming our way….watch this space:

http://www.woodenstate.com/

One of the delightful things about Cape Town is the ease with which young creatives open their doors and welcome you into their studio spaces - eager to share whatever they’ve been making and experimenting with. I popped into Sara Benjamin’s studio recently, of Sessi Bee ceramics, to buy a gift for a friend and was so taken with her many many quirky bowls packed full of character, each one more gorgeous than the next:

http://www.facebook.com/SessiBeeCeramics

When talented Capetonian store owner, Debbie Goldstein, opened a shop in Plettenberg Bay in arguably the best location in town, I couldn’t wait to eye her curated selection of local design and interiors treasures when I popped in to take some photos this weekend. Alongside gorgeous, fresh hand-picked South African design there are also covetable items from Morocco and a container from Bali on the way.

Splitting her time between Cape Town and her new shop in Plett, Debbie will be transporting new stock with her every time she comes. Aptly named, Love Actually, this space is a testament to her passion, vision and love for all things local. So even if you’re not planning on driving up the Garden Route this Spring, come up here anyway and pop in to this lovely space in the best courtyard in town. (The coffee and almond croissants from the bakery next door are famous too, by the way. In case you needed convincing…)

The Lookout centre, Main Road, Plettenberg Bay tel: 04453 33161

When my friend, Stacy, suggested we meet at Tamboers Winkel to discuss some new design ideas I was so pleased I had brought my camera. This little local gem is such a treat - tucked away at 3 De Lorentz Street in Tamboerskloof - it’s the perfect local spot for coffee and deli deliciousness, surrounded by a quirky and eclectic collection of paraphernalia. See you there… 

Photography by Jacki Lang

Intrigued by design-driven developments that bring communities together in cultural hubs and motivate urban regeneration - it was off to Arts on Main for me on a Sunday morning in JHB…

Photography by Jacki Lang

After what feels like years since I last updated this blog, I thought I would kick it all off again with some of the photographs I snapped on a recent weekend trip to JHB.

I was so taken by the contemporary urban feel of the city’s design and architectural developments and the way in which lifestyle, culture and the spirit of its people mixed and spilled out onto streets, markets, cafes and boutiques.

First up: Braamfontein on a cold but sunny saturday morning, and its rooftop Neighbourgoods market, energetic Juta street and a delicious brunch at Post, with 70 Juta street’s progressive, industrial courtyard opening onto galleries, shops and design studios where I immediately felt very at home…

Neighbourgoods Market:

70 Juta Street:

Co-op on Juta street:

44 Stanley:

I was completely taken with the 44 Stanley. The perfect spot to spend a Saturday afternoon browsing in and out of courtyards, popping into design spaces boasting both vintage and contemporary treasures, and soaking up the sun and JHB’s infectious energy.

Photography by Jacki Lang

An early Sunday morning stroll down busy Columbia road flower market and a still-sleepy Redchurch Street in Shoreditch and I’ve had my little fix of my London. Some coffees, some cakes, some print and poster galleries, some flowers, some time with my friends, and I’m (almost) ready to make my way to Heathrow and back home to Cape Town. Thank you, London. Till next time….

First up, Columbia Road Flower Market:

That Sunday was the 1 year anniversary of the devastating tsunami in Japan and this beautiful family was handing out origami flowers at the market to thank the UK for all their support….

Time for coffee and a stroll in Redchurch street… 

I featured my hairdresser at The Lobby recently in Cape Town, and here’s a cool little brother I found for him in Shoreditch:

Next time, from Cape Town…

In yesterday’s Paris post, I focused on one particular space.

Today it’s all about the city’s other details that make her who she is: the people, the places, the food, and the Bensimon shoes and their Home Autour du Monde store…

I was unbelievably lucky to spend a day passing through Paris earlier this month and with seven whole hours to spend there I carefully mapped my routes I intended to take through various arrondissaments - visiting friends, galleries and concept stores. However, careful laid plans were thrown to the wind when I actually arrived there and ended up never leaving the radius of the Marais district. It was the most indulgent and delicious time – whiling away all of my seven hours wandering around the streets getting lost, getting inspired, people-watching, taking photographs and pausing for coffee and treats at any given opportunity.

My first stop, right off the Eurostar, was into the doors of Merci – a concept store I had been looking forward to visiting for years. I cannot express how worth the wait it was. I literally spent hours there with jaw-on-the-floor trawling through the best curated space I had ever been in, running my hands and eyes over every piece from vintage to Vitra. Here are a few photographs I took inside.