Each year South Africa engages with the question: what constitutes beauty? Think about it…
Beauty is not simply about taste or sight, but also social significance, economic impact, usability, sustainability and even humour. Over the duration of the Design Indaba conference and expo, objects that are deemed beautiful are entered into a competition to decide which is most worthy of the title MBOISA – the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa.
The public is asked to vote for their favourite object from 12 inspiring nominees, and after thousands of SMSes this year, the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa is Kirstenbosch’s Boomslang. The suspended walkway was a collaborative project between architect Mark Thomas and structural engineer Henry Fagan, and soon after its launch became a must-do activity in Cape Town, for locals and tourists alike.
Inspired by a snake skeleton, the walkway is a steel and timber bridge that curves and winds its way through the trees. It’s a breathtaking journey through nature with panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains, gardens and Cape Flats.
See the 12 designs that define beauty here.
Photography HSMimages.co.za, Design Indaba