One of the outcomes in our 3rd year Practical Interior Design module is that the students design, detail and build a furniture prototype. Last year, the students were given a brief that restricted their use of chosen materials and the results were amazing, so we decided to do the same this year. This year, the students were required to design a side table, magazine rack or coffee table. Their design had to incorporate concrete as a product choice, but could use any other material of their choosing, as long as it was white.
The process started with some inspirational image selection, which moved into sketching and finally mini scaled white model prototypes. Once these concepts were approved, they could get into the final design presentation stage.
Scaled white models
As part of the process, we set aside some time for the students to cast concrete objects in studio, so that they could become familiar with the process and try out different mix options. It was very much ‘trial and error’ but some of the items turned out beautifully.
Concrete prototyping in studio
Although the students are allowed to have external help in the final building of their prototype, a lot of the students choose to build their furniture items themselves. Although furniture design is an awesome creative exercise, this process is also a great opportunity for the students to get some hands-on experience on creating workable designs as well as managing budgets.
Seton Escudero’s concept design
The final 1:1 prototypes will be handed in at the end of September and will be on exhibition in November.
To continue the roll that our students are on with their involvement in designing for real clients, the 2nd year students have recently handed in a project for the proposed renovation of a cottage in Greyton.
The Old Barn
BHC alumni, Ricardo Dias and his partner, Lee Greene, approached Stephen, the 2nd year studio master, to have the 2nd years do a design proposal for a renovation of their cottage in the historic town. The challenge was 2 part: to create a self-contained unit in the old barn as well as a bedroom en-suite addition to the main house. Their brief was to bring in a bit of “contemporary” into a “Grand Old Lady” design, whilst keeping true to the heritage of the existing architecture.
Surveying the site
The students took a field trip out to Greyton to visit the site, where they split into teams to survey the barn and the main house. Whilst on site, they were able to get insights from Ricardo and Lee on their likes and dislikes.
Getting briefed by the client
In true BHC tradition, they turned the trip into an overnight social, staying in the local Eco Lodge.
Socialising at Eco Lodge
It was then back to college to get started on the projects. The students worked individually and were given the opportunity to choose the space they were going to work on. They were required to come up with mood direction and finishes boards that would direct their design; space planning layouts, elevations and lastly interior 3D visuals of their chosen space. The students were required to work on Revit for the first time to create the 3D visuals, which was a great learning curve.
Next term, the students will be presenting their projects to Ricardo and Lee – we are excited to hear their feedback on what they have put together.
This week marks the last week of term before our 3rd year students go off into the big wide world for their internships and the 1st and 2nd years start with midyear exams. In preparation for this gruelling week of late nights to get everything handed in on time, BHC hosted their annual “Who Wants to be Set Square?” quiz show on Friday.
Who Wants to be a Set Square? Trophy
As with Boeresport, “Who Wants to be Set Square?” is a social event hosted by the college for the students to interact and collaborate with their peers. The premise of this event is that the students get into teams with students from the different years and compete in a décor and design related quiz.
Each year the students get a theme, for which they dress up accordingly. This year’s theme was Proudly South African Brands so teams dressed accordingly to brands such as Black Cat Peanut Butter and Sasko. Even the staff got involved as brand Chappies.
Themed Teams
The quiz itself was, as expected, a hot mess of chaotic fun, with a lot of jumping up and down, yelling out and guessing.
Quiz Action
The winners of this year’s quiz went to Team All Gold, for which they win “street cred” within the college, as well as the coveted “Late Hand-in Vouchers”. They also won “best Dressed”, also winning “Late Hand-in Vouchers”, which they graciously gave to the runners up, Team Black Cat. Because that’s the kind of spirit we pride ourselves on at BHC.
Team All Gold – Winners of the Day
But everyone was a winner, really – hopefully picking up a design fact or two!
BHC School of Design is once again hosting their Winter Workshop. This workshop is aimed at current grade 11 and 12 learners who have an interest in the field of interior design and interior decorating, but are not too sure about what it entails.
The workshop will combine activities as well as talks delivered but our academic staff and the following topics will be covered during the day:
Function of Design
Mood boards
Space planning & Ergonomics
Digital Design
The workshop is being held at BHC’s campus, so the participants will have an opportunity to walk around the school, meet the academic staff as well as see the work that the current students are working on.
Some further information:
Date: Wednesday 29th June 2016
Time: 09:30am to 15:00pm
Where: 72 Salt River Road, Woodstock
Cost: R450 – refreshments and lunch will be included
If you are interested in attending the event, please click here to RSVP by Friday 17th June. We look forward to see all you future designers and decorators soon!
It’s been 2 weeks since Aimée de Villiers, our 3rd year graduate from last year who won the 2015 Caesarstone Student Design Competition, and her lecturer, Donna Wills, returned from their trip to Italy to visit the Salon de Mobile in Milan. Now that they are back and settled, we though it time to get a report back on what happened in Italy.
Donna Says:
Wow. Where to begin? We had the most incredible experience; saw and did so many awesome things. Let’s start with numbers. 31 hours on a plane. 3 hours on a train. 2 nights in Rome. 4 nights in Milan. 3 days spent at Salone del Mobile. 6 days in Italy. 171764 steps taken, which is equal to 105km (thanks Polar Loop).
We landed in Rome on a Sunday morning and after making our way to the hotel, figuring out the bus system (which turned out to be not so successful) and lots of walking around, we made it to the MAXXI – Italy’s national museum of 21st Century Art and Architecture, designed by Zahah Hadid. We were both really glad we were able to visit the museum, – the architecture is striking and like so many other contemporary buildings we saw in Italy, it is beautifully juxtaposed to the historic buildings which surround it.
MAXXI by Zaha Hadid
After getting lost again that evening on an impromptu Roman walk-a-bout, we were rewarded with a night time view of the Colosseum; and so began our “sight-seeing tour of Rome”. There is just so much history and so many things to see in Rome! On Monday, we tried our best to take in as much as we could on a bus tour before making our way to the Vatican for a tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. If there is one thing you have to see in Rome (and there are many), it is St Peter’s Basilica. I was lucky enough to be visiting it for the second, time but it still took my breath away.
Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon
The Vatican; Inside St. Peter’s Basilica
On Tuesday we made our way by train to Milan. And once again, on arriving in Milan, we were hit with the most amazing history and architecture. We arrived in the afternoon, so decided to get some sight-seeing in that afternoon before hitting the Salon del Mobile the next day. The first stop – Milan’s Duomo. It’s the largest Gothic Cathedral in Europe and looking at the detail on the marble work, you can see why it took many centuries to build. We climbed the 250 steps to the roof of the Duomo and from there we could see the Milan city scape in all directions. We also walked through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle, a high-end shopping arcade and past the famous La Scala Opera House.
The Duomo
Our Wednesday morning began with a “packed-like-sardines” metro ride to the Fiera Milano, home of the Salon del Mobile. We didn’t really have a plan when we arrived, other than to see as much as we could. With 24 halls to get through, as well as all the incredible exhibitions, installations, events and spaces to see throughout the city, it proved to be a tough challenge. We spent the next 3 days walking around the halls of the Salon del Mobile as well as the city. Apart from the sheer design sensory overload of the fair itself, these are some of the my highlights from the Milan Design Week:
Thonet; Kartell
COS x Sou Fujimoto
For me, I was really excited to see this, having seen Sou Fujimoto speak at the Design Indaba earlier this year. COS and Sou Fujimoto collaborated to create a “Forest of Light” – an installation of multi-sensory experiences.
Nendo’s Chairs
Japanese designers Nendo, created a series of 50 chairs, inspired by Manga-style comic books. Once again, these contemporary chairs were displayed in a contrasting space – the historic cloister of Chiostro Minore di San Simpliciano.
Nendo’s Chairs
The Restaurant – Tom Dixon x Caesarstone
Set in Rotonda della Besana, the installation was made up of 4 kitchens with 4 complimenting dining experiences, each one based around the 4 elements of earth, fire, water and air. We were lucky enough to be part of a VIP guided tour with Tom Dixon. It was great to hear his insight into the concept behind the installation. We also got to taste some of the delicious food that was conceptualized by Italian studio Arabeschi di Latte.
The Kitchen by Tom Dixon and Caesarstone
Ice Cream Socials
To say I have a slight obsession with ice cream would be an understatement, so when I read about Hem’s collaboration with gelato maker Gelateria Rigoletto to celebrate the launch of their new stool, Splatter, we had to go see what it was all about. We were not disappointed. Along with seeing some great furniture designs, we also got to taste the gelato. Prosecco Gelato with Peach Splatter or Pistachio Gelato with Strawberry White Chocolate. I had both.
Ice Cream Socials with Hem
I could go on and on, so I will stop there, but not before mentioning some other inspiring stops we made: Moooi – who doesn’t love what they do? Israeli design duo, Raw Edges and their colour experiments; Fondazione Prada and Bar Luce, designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson – the Italians can make a building this gold look this stylish!
Fondazione Prada
We had the most incredible, memorable time. I certainly came back feeling inspired by all the design energy that pulses through Milan and I hope that I will be able to go back to Milan to experience the Design Week again in the near future.
Once again, I would like to say thank you to Caesarstone for running this amazing competition and thereby giving young students and graduates to the opportunity to have an experience like this one.
The year has flown by! The students are already back into the swing of things after a nice 2-week break; two weeks in which the BHC staff spent finalising the marks for the assessments completed by the students in the first term, as well as planning for the new term. We thought we would take a moment to share some of the amazing work that the students have produced this year to date.
After the initial theory overload for the new 1st year design students, involving colour theory, principles and elements of design and all that goes with that, they ended off the first term with designing their first interior – The Living Capsule. Part of the process was to create a 3D “journal” conceptual model exploring ergonomics and space planning. From there they moved on to drawing up the space.
3D Conceptual Models by Carly Moffat & Danelle van Wyk
Drawings, based on their models – Carly Moffat & Danelle van Wyk
We are so proud of the progress they have made in 8 short weeks. The second term will see them putting these skills into practice again as well as introducing perspective drawing and rendering skills into the mix.
The decorating students started off the year by collaborating with the 2nd Years on a holiday apartment solution for a client in the Cape Town CBD. The design students were responsible for the layout and visualization of the space, while the decorating students put together sample boards to accompany the designs. Following this project, they moved onto surveying, planning and creating a studio apartment in Rondebosch. It was their first exercise in drafting as well as rendering.
Moodboard – Shari Fuchs
Rendered Floorplan – Shari Fuchs
The 2nd years spent the full first term working on actual client briefs. The 1st brief, as mentioned above, was a group project on which they collaborated with the decorating students, while the second one was a showroom for Cannata and Sons, a leading Marble, Granite and Engineered Stone supplier in Cape Town. For this project, they worked individually and it was great to see the results.
The 3rd years have also been busy working on a group project for a client – they designed and presented concepts for a car showroom for an advertising executive in Cape Town. They were able to go visit the existing space, see the cars and meet with the client.
Car Showroom – Courteney Reitz, Savannah Negra & Jene Kester
We are only 1 term into the year already and we are so proud of the work that all our students have produced. We look forward to seeing what else they have up their sleeves!
After 5 weeks of hard work, late nights and amazing design results, we felt it was time to get the students out in the fresh air to get their blood pumping. This past Friday, we did just that by hosting our annual Boeresport Competition at the Camps Bay Primary School fields. Not only are the views from these fields incredible, but the Cape Town weather was really showing off.
Check out that view in the background! Cape Town, you beauty!
Boeresport (Afk., boere + sport = sport, games, amusements) is one of the many social events BHC hosts for the students throughout the year to get the students to take time out of their demanding work schedules to interact, collaborate and generally just have fun. They divide themselves up into teams, come up with a theme, get all dressed up and then partake in some seriously silly events, all for the title of BHC Boeresport Champions.
The Wheel Barrow Race; 3-Legged Race & Sack Race
After some stiff competition in the tug of war, 3-legged and wheel barrow races (among others), the Awe-Sims emerged as the overall winners, with The French Maids claiming the prize for best dressed on the day.
The Awe-Sims from the 3rd Year class took home 1st place
Best Dressed on the day went to the French Maids in 1st Year
Well done to the winning teams and thank you to all the students who came out for a bit of a run-around and a laugh. These social events are what really give BHC the awesome culture that we pride ourselves on.
Team work!
For most photos of the day, check out our Facebook page.
After a long and restful December holiday, BHC is back in full swing. The 1st of February marked the first day of the new academic year as well as the first day for all our new 1st Year Design and Decorating Students.
1st Years and Decorating Students hard at work in their first week
It has become a bit of a tradition at BHC for the new students to ease their way into college by designing and making storage boxes for the children at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital as part of BHC’s Social Awareness drive. This year, the Design and Décor students worked in groups, creating themes to work around and the outcome was really special. We are so looking forward to dropping them off at the hospital.
The completed storage boxes, ready to be delivered to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital
Another tradition at the college is the 2nd year class hosting an orientation party for the new students at the end of their first week. The new students did an awesome job of rising to the challenges that the 2nd Years put them too; none of them seemed too embarrassed!
Cheering on the new students during the orientation challenge
The party is also an opportunity for the rest of the college to get to know the new students as well as an opportunity for all the students to catch up, mingle and have a laugh.
Spirits run high during a “friendly” game of Pictionary, during the Orientation Party
Now that Orientation Week is over and the students are in the swing of things, we are incredibly excited to see what the amazing bunch of BHC students will produce this year.
Last week Thursday, we officially wrapped up the academic year with our 2015 graduation, held, for the first time, at our Salt River Road campus. We are extremely proud to announce that we had 17 Diploma of Interior Design students and 12 Higher Certificate in Interior Decorating students graduating this year.
Students getting ready for their big moment
After all the hard work that the students have put into their studies over the past few years, especially leading up to their final portfolio hand-in, it was an emotional moment for them. We were lucky to have Adri van Zyl and Vincent Clery from Atelier as our guests of honour, who delivered an inspirational and insightful talk for the graduates on entering the real world of design.
Vincent & Adri of Atelier
As per tradition, we hosted an Industry Evening later that same day. Each year we host this event at which we exhibit the students’ final portfolios of work, giving the industry an opportunity to look for potential employees. It also gives the students an opportunity to meet, mingle and network with past graduates, suppliers and other designers. And of course it also gives us an opportunity to have a party!
Industry Evening
Both events were a success and the day was really the perfect to wrap up what has been a jam-packed year of rebranding, high quality work and victory.
To all our graduates – congratulations on your amazing achievement and we wish you all the best for your next adventure into the fun, thrilling, slightly scary, but mostly incredible world of interiors.
Last night Caesarstone hosted its 2015 Student Designer Awards in Sandton. BHC is very proud to announce that not only did we have 2 finalists in the top 9, we also took home the top prize. Congratulations to Kyla-Val Azar, for being a top 9 finalist and to Aimeé de Villiers for being named the winner of this years’ competition.
Kyla-Val, Donna and Aimeé
We are incredible proud of both of our young ladies for all the effort they put into their entries. They are both truly inspiring and we certainly hope this achievement inspires our future 3rd years students.
Aimeé and her lecturer, Donna, are looking forward to their international design trip in 2016.
Kyla-Val’s entry
Thank you to Caesarstone for running this competition – we certainly look forward to entering it next year.
