“A MULTI-BRAND ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WORLDS WITHIN WORLDS EXHIBIT DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE MODALITIES, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN PERSONALITY”
I find it interesting that Khanyi chose John for this mammoth task. After all, he’s never created the interiors for a retail environment before. But for a retail environment before. But John’s reputation does precede him, it was earned through exquisite, unique residential environments so varied and so beautiful they take my breath away as he shows them to me on his iPad.
John’s creations include the interiors of a privately commissioned Gulfstream jet and he guest accommodation at the historic Cape Dutch Homestead, the 18th Century Vergelegen. He is also creative director of Studio H, the new lifestyle brand of Hertex Fabrics and has launched a series of exquisite fabric collections. His projects cover the globe, with clients in South Africa, the US and Europe returning time and again for his expertise. And his range is as diverse as his clients….offering everything from contemporary classic to Belgian haute décor , avante garde rock star to West Coast chic.
What strikes me about every space that John has created is not only its beauty but its individuality. No two interiors are the same, and as he explains, that’s because he approaches each project as something new and transforms it according to the structure of the architecture and the personality of the people who will be using it.
Khanyi wanted this vast store to feel like a home, John tells me, although I’m not so sure that’s the only reason Khanyi Dhlomo chose him. His passion for conceptualising spaces into magnificent works of art and his rational clarity of vision match Khanyi’s. “The way we perceive the world is similar,” he admits with another disarming smile.
John’s vision for Luminance is a perfect interpretation of what Khanyl required in a space. The architecture is bold and stylish, and what makes it so exciting is the ease with which it can be transformed, like a theatre set, to suit the seasons and the objects on display.
As John explains, “It’s not about what you like. The point of embellishment is to accentuate the architectural elements. It’s about the importance of appropriateness of the item to the concept.”
He has taken the responsibility of designing this space very seriously. And yet John Jacob has managed to retain his creative bent and achieve a synergy that translate into something quite spectacular. I have no doubt that when the store is completed, I will find much to surprise me. Much of what John how shown me today was definitely lost in translation. But the essence is there.
I know, that when it’s finally open and I visit Luminance, I will remember the excitement of having its creator describe it to me, as we wandered through the bare bones.
Read more John Jacob Interiors Magazine features here…