Vol. 3 : Breathe
A modular moment
Honouring the nomadic spirit, these industrial and furniture designers turned ‘pod’ creators, have morphed their static designs into something mobile
Summer 2021
Compiled by LOOKBOOK Studio Words by Margot Molyneux
With all the changes the world has lived through over the past two years, it’s no wonder people are seeking out alternative ways to live. Whether it’s working from home, scaling back for a simpler life or spending more time in the great outdoors, these well-designed spaces may be our answer. Local industrial and furniture designers have taken note and created unique, South African-made, modular spaces. Varying is size, form and design – with some requiring on-site assembly, others needing only a plug point – these ‘pods’ have all been developed with sustainable living and ever-changing versatility in mind. Using minimal electricity, largely made from locally-sourced materials and all manufactured within South Africa – whether to live, work or play – these modular structures prove that bigger isn’t always better.
Above and below Imagined and then brought to life during the Covid-19 lockdown, RAW Modular originally designed Stilts as a solution to the compact living of student accommodation. The precise, modular furniture system is designed to be manufactured and scaled easily, making it the perfect fit for the Cabin structures.
Raw Modular
Cabin (available in various sizes)
RAW Modular believes ‘the future is fuss free’, working with the philosophy that finds function, flexibility and efficiency in their design. Beginning by developing Modular Furniture, the brand has gone on to design Modular Structures and innovative systems, such as Stilts, ensuring that our future is indeed fuss free.
With a focus on the quality of space and the relationship between humans and the outdoors, the team have used restrained, efficient
and refined design – along with some of their other incredibly clever modular products – to create a unique space that uses sustainably-sourced materials, is easily relocated, very versatile and beautiful to look at all at the same time. With the option to customise your Cabin to fit your needs, the possibilities for this ‘pod’ living seem endless.
Above and below Imagined and then brought to life during the Covid-19 lockdown, RAW Modular originally designed Stilts as a solution to the compact living of student accommodation. The precise, modular furniture system is designed to be manufactured and scaled easily, making it the perfect fit for the Cabin structures.
Above and below Imagined and then brought to life during the Covid-19 lockdown, RAW Modular originally designed Stilts as a solution to the compact living of student accommodation. The precise, modular furniture system is designed to be manufactured and scaled easily, making it the perfect fit for the Cabin structures.
See more of RAW Modular’s work at rawmodular.com. Photography by Mighty Fine Productions.
David Krynauw
PodStudio (8.6 sqm)
A part of the furniture designer’s ‘Build’ range, alongside green houses and low-cost housing solutions, David Krynauw and his team have developed PodStudios (right). Centered around self-sustainability, these versatile structures offer a reconnection with nature as well as the opportunity to appreciate a slower life. Using timber that is grown locally on David’s family farm in Piet Retief, and specifically built without concrete footings, the PodStudio design is not only self-sustainable, but environmentally concious too. With a choice between two structural shapes and a ‘cozy’ or ‘deluxe’ floorplan, within 8-12 weeks you could own a customised pod – and it only takes a day to construct! The structure is easy to relocate and repurpose as needed.
Above Take a tour of David Krynauw’s ‘Cozy Pod’ at Kleine Rijke Park.
To see more of David Krynauw’s work, visit davidkrynauw.com.
Pedersen + Lennard
Cabin One (6 sqm)
After numerous iterations and refinements, the team at Cape Town-based Pedersen + Lennard have achieved one of the 15 year-old furniture brand’s goals – to design and manufacture a unique modular space, CABIN ONE. Using the same approach as with their furniture design, the focus was on small details, robust construction and refined detailing, selecting materials for their longevity and ease of fabrication – including locally-grown timber for the exterior cladding. CABIN ONE is currently on display at Pedersen + Lennard’s Maitland factory, where it was designed and built in its entirety.
Above CABIN ONE pictured at Hope Distillery’s Lucy and Lee Beard’s Scarborough home.
Visit the Pedersen + Lennard showroom to take a peek inside CABIN ONE or visit pedersenandlennard.co.za.
Above With a specifically designed steep pitched roof, the POD iDladla can be fit with solar panels, adding to the sustainability of this small structure.
Visit Gauteng’s NIROX Sculpture Park to experience the POD iDladla for yourself or visit pod-idladla.com. Photography by Lisa Johnston.
Clara Da Cruz Almeida x Dokter And Misses
POD Idladla (20.52 sqm)
Leading the charge in 2014, and previously featured in House and Leisure, the POD iDladla is still as well-designed and relevant as the day it was released. Conceptualised and designed by architect Clara da Cruz Almeida with interiors and product design by Johannesburg-based Dokter and Misses, the POD iDladla is a modular, prefabricated nano-home. Options for your own iDladla pod span from ordering the pod as a bare shell, fully kitted out with interiors and products by Dokter and Misses, or, the choice to position multiple pods together, extending the ‘living’ area to make a larger home or work space.
Left above With a specifically designed steep pitched roof, the POD iDladla can be fit with solar panels, adding to the sustainability of this small structure.
Visit Gauteng’s NIROX Sculpture Park to experience the POD iDladla for yourself or visit pod-idladla.com. Photography by Lisa Johnston.
Visit Gauteng’s NIROX Sculpture Park to experience the POD iDladla for yourself or visit pod-idladla.com. Photography by Lisa Johnston.
