Shweshwe and bendable flexi-ply provided inspiration for local lighting designer minima’s seven new styles of timber ceiling lights.
Simplicity has been a major trend for some years now and Scandi influence is evident everywhere at airports, restaurants, hotel lobbies and residential lounges around the world. In South Africa, while it remains strong, its universal, sophisticated style is beginning to evolve into a new era of minimalism underpinned with a touch of Africa.
So says Jacques Cronje from bespoke timber lighting design, minima. Releasing its 2016/17 range of ceiling lights in South Africa and Europe this Spring/ Summer, its seven new styles reflect a layer of warmth and texture that is inspired by local influences.
“Scandinavian design is a mainstay in modern living and is fuelled by an antithesis to our increasingly over-stimulated and cluttered lives. While there is no sign of this style abating, minima has introduced an independent twist to its popular mid-century simplicity,” he says.
Integrating bamboo and FSC-certified (Forestry Stewardship Council) African Mahogany with birch ply-wood, the result is a range of so-called Afri-Scandi styles.
Adding a translucent veneer shade to its classic timber ribs shape, the Radiant, Flare, Lucent and Lumen project a new dep th of understated light that elevate commercial and lifestyle spaces.
The feather-light Serene and Aura meanwhile are a departure from minima’s classic look and are variations of tapered cylindrical forms that offer a whisper of Morocco and other North African inspiration.
“Shweshwe provides the perfect pattern around which to design a column of light,” explains Cronje. Created using finely-tuned geometric principles, the once 2D graphic becomes a tangible 3D object once assembled. Unlike its previous ranges, that use no glue or screws, it is held together with hidden rivets, giving the illusion of a continuous curved piece of wood. “Called flexi-ply, it has been produced by cross-laminating three layers of fine 0.6mm veneer. This creates a bendable yet firm material.”
Available at stockists across the country, or at its recently opened retail store Studio 18 – that it shares with other local designers in Woodstock, Cape Town – all minima lights are available pre-assembled or can be flat-packed on request.
