Contr butors
NKULI NHLEKO, ART CURATOR
What piece of iconic design would you love to own? The Sanlorenzo SX112 superyacht is a hallmark of my daydreams. It is a perfect blend of entertainment, adventure and luxury. Picture being cocooned in Egyptian cotton sheets and lulled to sleep by the so swells of ocean waves, then waking to that cool, salty sea breeze. Imagine enjoying a mimosa and eggs Benedict while taking in the ever-changing scenes along the coastline – a montage of pristine forests and old cities built into the cliffs. What better way to process those emotions than seated on premium Italian furniture with a glass of prosecco? I crave the exhilaration of being enveloped by the twinkling sky above and the dark sea below. Nothing ignites existential reflection quite like the sobering thought that you are a pindrop in the ocean. The Sanlorenzo SX112 can accommodate 10 guests and five crew, so it’s perfect for boozy lunches and dinner parties – and “quiet time” too. Guests can scatter, affording me the solitude to retreat to my favourite sun lounger to daydream of my next iconic design acquisition… Design devotee Nkuli wrote the Voices column on page 28.
VEDHANT MAHARAJ, ARCHITECT
What piece of iconic design would you love to own? A high-horsepower piece of classic Japanese machinery may seem obvious and stereotypical for my profile, but I can’t lie about my current obsession. In 1970, Nissan released the Datsun 240Z. It was the birth of a racing-pedigree street car offering for the brand. The rear-wheel drive 240Z has all the elegant lines of the time – the swooping aerodynamic nose, the deep-set eyes, and the chunky rear end with the touches of chrome on the bumpers, windows and exhaust are all things you’d find in the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB or the 1961 E-type Jaguar. But it’s the balance, the price point and the choices that the engineering and design teams made that make the 240Z stand out. It looks like a car longing to be driven. The fact that it’s comparatively utilitarian means that the basics had to be done right – no bells and whistles, just impeccable design. Japan is obsessed with her too, and thanks to many incredible restoration projects, the car is regaining the street cred fitting of a legend. Hopefully, someday soon, you’ll see (and hear) me passing you on the N1 in this beaut.
Read Vedhant’s inner-city sleuthing piece on page 176.
ANNETTE KLINGER, WRITER
What piece of iconic design would you love to own? A first-edition
Mah Jong modular sofa by Argentinian designer Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois. It should come with the adjustable headrests, and preferably be upholstered in a fabric that can withstand the onslaught of a four-yearold, a nine-month-old and two destructive cats – if such a marvel even existed in 1971. And it needs enough units on standby to easily expand into a TV/emergency-nap bed. I love the fact that Hopfer conceived of a couch that was comfortable yet timelessly elegant thanks to the rectangular format of its three components (a seat cushion, a straight back cushion and a corner back cushion). The composition of the couch lay in the hands of the owners, who could combine and stack the units to their hearts’ content. Fun fact: the couch was re-christened as “Mah Jong”, aer the Chinese game – it’s like Tetris with furniture. To me, it’s one of the most illustrative examples of form (and fun) following function.
A regular VISI contributor, Annette wrote the features on page 66 and page 92, and found out more about Gillian Holl’s influences on page 48.