South African décor magazine VISI announced the winners of their annual Absolut VISI Designer of the Year awards on Friday. The awards, which aim to recognise and reward South Africa’s top designs, were handed out at a jungle-themed ceremony and party held at Wembley Square Two in Cape Town. Follow the link to see who the winners were!

This year, for the first time, VISI has introduced four different categories instead of an umbrella award covering all design disciplines. The categories are Design, Interiors, Architecture and Emerging Designer. The winner in each category receives a R10 000 voucher from Paul Smith in South Africa. Industry peers, along with members of the VISI editorial team, as well as internationally renowned trend forecaster Li Edelkoort, judged each category.

And the winners are…

In the Design category, Pierre Cronje beat out the finalists with his Simply Pierre range. The range has made Pierre’s signature craftsmanship more accessible without compromising on quality. “It is honest and giving,” said international judge Li Edelkoort.

Former magazine editor turned farmer and hotelier, Karen Roos won the Interiors category with Babylonstoren farm hotel.

Judge Shelley Street, stylist and creative consultant to Weylandts, remarked that Karen’s work is timeless, considered, simple and sensual – always with an unexpected edge. “Unique references to nature and history permeate her interiors and I find the conservatory particularly special as it recaptures in a fresh way an era of elegance, beauty and nostalgia so lacking in many designs today.”

The Architecture category went to Nina Cohen, Fiona Garson and William Martinson for the WITS Art Museum, recently opened in the burgeoning Braamfontein district in Johannesburg.

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INCLUDING PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT!