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Collection by Kelsey Keith

Design Itinerary: South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa, will be the World Design Capital 2014, which is perfect timing, since the country's design scene is booming. Here is a look at some modern homes, destinations, events, and designers who have piqued Dwell's interest.

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Architect Georg van Gass adds a delicately poised cantilevered exterior wall that appears to slice the deck in half. Photo by: Elsa Young
Architect Georg van Gass adds a delicately poised cantilevered exterior wall that appears to slice the deck in half. Photo by: Elsa Young
Eight years after construction began, this lakeside weekend home 80 miles outside Johannesburg, South Africa, received the long-awaited finishing touch that makes it an eye-catching thermal wonder.
Eight years after construction began, this lakeside weekend home 80 miles outside Johannesburg, South Africa, received the long-awaited finishing touch that makes it an eye-catching thermal wonder.
“One of the goals of Zenkaya was to create employment in a country crippled by [an unemployment rate of over 25 percent],” explains the architect, who likes to call himself a social entrepreneur.
“One of the goals of Zenkaya was to create employment in a country crippled by [an unemployment rate of over 25 percent],” explains the architect, who likes to call himself a social entrepreneur.
Africa Reinvented by Keri Muller for Simple Intrigue and Cape Craft and Design Institute-Considering the high cost of books in South Africa, it's surprising how many are dumped into recycling bins. "There's no resale value for a Geoffrey Archer book from the 1980s," says Keri Muller, adding that she goes weekly to a used bookshop to fish out paperbacks that would otherwise be pulped. She looks for books from the 70s and 80s—classics as well as pulp fiction—that have yellowed into a similar palette. Muller tried folding the pages into various shapes, but says that the iconic continent is the one that resonates. "With Europe, you don't know where it starts and ends," says Muller. "Africa has a definite shape." Photo by: Eric Miller
Africa Reinvented by Keri Muller for Simple Intrigue and Cape Craft and Design Institute-Considering the high cost of books in South Africa, it's surprising how many are dumped into recycling bins. "There's no resale value for a Geoffrey Archer book from the 1980s," says Keri Muller, adding that she goes weekly to a used bookshop to fish out paperbacks that would otherwise be pulped. She looks for books from the 70s and 80s—classics as well as pulp fiction—that have yellowed into a similar palette. Muller tried folding the pages into various shapes, but says that the iconic continent is the one that resonates. "With Europe, you don't know where it starts and ends," says Muller. "Africa has a definite shape." Photo by: Eric Miller
Dokter and Misses, a husband and wife design team based in Johannesburg, was included in Dwell's New Guard round-up for 2012. This year, they opened a new home goods shop at 44 Stanley where visitors can buy their colorful, accessible pieces that merge industrial and graphic design.
Dokter and Misses, a husband and wife design team based in Johannesburg, was included in Dwell's New Guard round-up for 2012. This year, they opened a new home goods shop at 44 Stanley where visitors can buy their colorful, accessible pieces that merge industrial and graphic design.
Diana Moss, who created design blog Miss Moss, writes from her home in Cape Town, South Africa.
Diana Moss, who created design blog Miss Moss, writes from her home in Cape Town, South Africa.
Jewelry hand-made by artisans, including Ndebele bracelets and necklaces by Katherine-Mary Pichulik and a capstone piece, a necklace by Beloved Beadwork that Fab founder Bradford Shellhammer points as one of the items that best encapsulate the Fab x South Africa collection. Bracelet ($12.50), necklace ($25), and Thousand Hills beaded necklace ($135) available through fab.com.
Jewelry hand-made by artisans, including Ndebele bracelets and necklaces by Katherine-Mary Pichulik and a capstone piece, a necklace by Beloved Beadwork that Fab founder Bradford Shellhammer points as one of the items that best encapsulate the Fab x South Africa collection. Bracelet ($12.50), necklace ($25), and Thousand Hills beaded necklace ($135) available through fab.com.