Decorex SA isn’t just a décor show. It’s a stimulating, thought-provoking celebration of creativity that has once again proved to be a pioneer in the country’s interior and design landscape. And Decorex Cape Town was no exception.
Held from 26 to 29 April, the event allowed creative minds to introduce and flaunt new concepts, global style trends and innovative ideas to thousands of visitors. The theme, “Real”, was inspired by local and international trends, and served as a striking contrast to the notion of a lavish, impressive style of living. Streamlined upholstery, industrial lighting, edgy colours, raw timbers and hand-crafted ceramics resonated with the message of a commitment to simpler living, a back-to-basics design approach and a natural merging of rural and urban lifestyles.
As a main event sponsor, Plascon showcased the 2012 Endless Possibility colour forecast, inviting four top designers to interpret one palette as part of the Plascon stand. Here’s what each designer did…
Porky Hefer
Against a tranquil backdrop from the Plascon Memory palette, this concept designer created a “bird’s memory of his first bedroom”, filling the stand with an oversized nest woven out of Kubu cane. The display proved to be a big hit with visitors of all ages, as they clambered in and out of the nest. “I usually come up with a concept and then find the appropriate material to execute it,” says Hefer.
Aiden Bennetts
This product and interior designer and self-proclaimed analytical thinker walked away with an Excellence Award for his mysterious take on a study. The design took its cue from a 1950s detective novel, portraying the dark, moody Mystery palette. The entire back wall of the study comprised a library of repurposed detective novels painte
d in the full Mystery range. “Be bold, don’t be afraid to splash out with colour and break all the rules,” says Bennetts. “Humans are idiosyncratic by nature and your home should reflect this.
James Mudge
Inspired by the earthly colours of the Plascon Origins palette, this top furniture designer and architect graduate displayed raw wood pieces alongside spray-painted pieces, “in order to show how the absence of presence of colour can have a profound effect”. His talent did not go unnoticed and Mudge scooped an Excellence Award for his interpretation of the palette.
Laurence Brick
Not only did Brick curate Plascon’s stand as a whole, but he also curated the Contemporary Country, which was such a strong contender for Best on Show that the judges gave it the following special mention: “It should be shouted from the rooftops just how well-curated, inviting, cutting edge and chic this modern installation is. It is a world-class interpretation of mega-trends that will sit comfortably in any of Europe’s top design shows.”
Words by Damian Cupido.
