THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS – 1 Collaboration, 100 Designers, An Infinite Future
On the 27th of October, 100 discerning design minds made their way to a stunning setting, with a vista across the gorgeous Springvale Country Estate. Curated by Infinity Surfaces and SCAPE Magazine as a collaboration event, it was clear on arrival that these esteemed developers, architects, and interior designers were at the epicentre of design events in KwaZulu-Natal – one which was unlike anything seen on these shores before.
The stage was set; the most inspirational speakers were waiting in the wings to inspire an edge-of-your-seat experience and mingling had already begun amidst the most beautiful setting at the estate’s pristine new Clubhouse, thoughtfully mirroring the day’s forward-thinking intentions. Even the seating was awe-inspiring, with hand crafted, exquisite furniture pieces built just for this auspicious occasion by Ballito-based Kipekee Studio. To guarantee that the day ahead was going to be incredible, all of this was set against a backdrop of the finest Italian slabs and superior surfaces by Infinity Surfaces.
Thought Experiments was a trendy new take on Continuing Professional Development Accredited industry events, presented from an innovative perspective that will be remembered by the guests as a remarkable experience.
As delegates from across the province poured in to take their places, Humble Coffee ensured that the aroma of the finest coffee in KZN filled the air. It was then time to journey through three thought provoking talks and an engaging panel discussion, hosted by seven of the biggest local industry icons.
To start the string of excellent discussions, Greg Gordge from the award-winning Elphick Proome Architecture kicked us off with First Impressions, an intricate exploration of the cutting-edge advancements, creative possibilities, and transformative potential of contemporary building envelopes. Gregory Katz then brought the heat with Provocative Paradigms – an investigation into how buildings channel the unique power to evoke an arresting, visceral reaction, and how disruptive design thinking reaches beyond the norms while simultaneously contributing to problem solving. Rounding up the morning’s stimulating selection of seminars, Interior Designer Lisa Twyman looked at how design thrives when weaving a thoughtful narrative in her talk Starting with the Story.
Everyone’s minds brimming with ideas, it was time to take a break and indulge in a Mimosa from the wine bar sponsored by Spier Wine Farm, and to prepare for a carefully curated brunch, soundtracked to the groovy beats by local musicians Matt Davies and Tim Lewis.
Now for the main event, a gripping Trends and Forecasts Panel titled Experimenting with the Future created a never-before-seen space on stage for an architect, a developer, an interior designer, and an artist to uncover the next big thing. Here renowned industry movers and shakers Nathan Iyer, Dean Young, Victoria Wood, and Kay Kay Ribane endeavored to forecast the future, from design trends and materials to what clients might want in the decades ahead. As the start of great things to come, Infinity Surfaces’ inspirational Thought Experiments set in motion a path to something new and revolutionary. After a day that is bound to launch infinite brilliance, everyone departed with both an exquisite gift bag brimming with local treasures and goodies, and a critical question left in their mind: How will you embrace the experiment and use your future-forward ideas to influence this bold wave of industry-altering momentum?
