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Design
Iconic South African hotel design
Whether you like Tuscan-style accommodation, English country getaways, wine estate spas, inner-city boutique establishments, plush game lodges with all the mod cons or sleek, businesslike international hotels, you’ll find what you’re looking for in South Africa.
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South African airport designs
From the spacious halls of OR Tambo International Airport to the ‘bush lodge’ vibe of Phalaborwa Airport, South Africa is up there with the world's best in airport design. Geared to cater for huge crowds during the 2010 Football World Cup, we now have a legacy of beautiful, functional airports.
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South African urban architectural design tours
Whether it’s the colonial splendour of Herbert Baker’s Union Buildings or the funky vibe of Johannesburg’s Arts on Main or the eclectic mix of design in Cape Town and Durban, South African urban architectural design has much to offer visitors.
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Public space design in South Africa
Public space design in South Africa has moved on since the apartheid era, when such designs were about control and separation. Now the focus is on developing public spaces that can be enjoyed by all. The good news is that urban developers are up to the challenge.
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Cultural Influences inspire contemporary designers
When it comes to cultural influences inspiring contemporary designers, it took some time for many South African designers to find their feet and to develop an aesthetic with an African edge that was not too literal or kitsch. But, once they did, there’s been no stopping them.
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South African urban design spaces
The 2010 World Cup left South Africa with a series of public areas that were built to accommodate the huge throngs of visitors who came to enjoy both the football and travelling around the country. Now South Africans themselves are beginning to appreciate and use those urban spaces.
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Eco-contemporary design in South Africa
Living in a greener world does not mean cheap or nasty. It means a fresh way of designing the space around you, using sustainable materials that have been around for millennia – and sharing ideas in a national creative commons. Eco-contemporary design in South Africa combines innovation and plain common sense.
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South Africa's philosophy of design
When you live in a country where your influences can be African, European, American, British, Indonesian, Chinese or Indian – to name a few – it’s not hard to work as an inspired designer. Design South Africa has become a world brand – its diversity and background gives it the sought-after X Factor.
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South African décor design
From the mud huts of the Transkei to the Victorian homes of small Karoo towns, from the plush apartments of Camps Bay to the high-rise dwellings of Johannesburg, South African décor design takes many forms, follows many trends, ‘borrows’ from here and there - never ceasing to surprise and delight.
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Contemporary South African fashion design
Over the last few years, contemporary fashion design in South Africa has simply exploded. Rather than following overseas trends, local designers are looking inward and making important creative statements about what it means to be fashionably South African with their take on affordable, local and trendy design.
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Textile Design
There’s a new wave of creativity in South African textile design, with artists and designers taking pride in local iconography and the unique cultural idiosyncrasies of South Africa, to create textiles that are vibrant, modern and, most significantly, distinctive to the country.
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The Windybrow Theatre
The Windybrow Theatre was originally a family home, built in 1896 by mining engineer Theodore Reunert. Over the years, the theatre has served as a nursing home and a cultural centre. Despite falling into disrepair, it was declared a national monument in 1996.
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South African flag design
Talk of a new South African flag design first emerged with the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990. In 1993, a national competition invited the public to submit flag designs, but this bore little fruit, and the pressure was on to create what would become the most visible symbol of the fledgling democracy.
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Proudly South African brands
The Proudly South African campaign is modelled on the similarly successful campaign of Made in Australia. Launched in October 2001 by government, organised business, labour, and community organisations, the Proudly South African stamp of approval has taken great strides in placing South African-owned and managed businesses on the map.
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Jewellery Design
Jewellery design in South Africa is a sophisticated art. It reflects aesthetic trends and celebrates the country’s cultural and mineral riches. South African jewellery ranges from simple gold rings and leather bangles to elaborate diamond earrings. Designs are inspired by western as well as indigenous South African jewellery-making techniques and traditions.
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