Some years ago in Kenya I stayed at the lodge that had been developed from a ranch owned by Saudi arms dealer / financier Adnan Khashoggi. Ol Pejeta (place of the meat-eaters) is set against the spectacular backdrop of Mount Kenya in 24 000 acres of the Sweetwaters Conser vancy.

Khashoggi, who previously used the ranch house as his private hideaway, is by all accounts a small man. And yet his furnishings at Ol Pejeta were huge: oversized sofas, chairs and beds (his in particular) were mandatory. These dimensions obviously reflected his instructions to his designers and decorators, and likely his ego.

New York-based and South African-born Geoffrey Bradfield works for some notable clients and celebrities, i.e. the director Oliver Stone (Habitat issue 222). Yet , Bradfield’s skill is in the detailing and finetuning. His attention to colour, texture, accessories and artworks is legendary and it is this that makes his interiors so very special.

Mozambican-born and SA-based architect Luis Ferreira da Silva is another proponent of detailing. His structures are evocative of Africa in colour and form, reflecting his life and upbringing here. The work of Sylvio Rech and Lesley Carstens goes further in projects that synergise with their environment , employing local indigenous materials in innovative ways (Habitat 221 ).

Our Autumn FOCUSES showcase Seating and Climate Control and we’ve included informed comment from leaders in these fields. Winter is almost upon us and comfort and warmth come high on the sensory agenda; so curl up and enjoy this issue.

Colin Ainsworth Sharp – colin@habitat-mag.com
April 2011

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