Cape Town-based practice Haldane Martin Iconic Design has completed work on Kunjani Wines, a new venue along South Africa’s famed Stellenbosch Wine Route. Embracing both traditional and contemporary principles, the tasting room mixes a African flair with European notes, informed by the characteristics of the company’s signature shiraz.
The structure is crafted with a Cape Dutch typology and an H-shaped layout that draws upon the traditional Afrikaner architectural style typical of the Western Cape winelands. The concept is reinterpreted with a charcoal exterior instead of white, with additional slate stone cladding and red sliding screens inspired by geometric patterns found on West African mud huts. The tasting room serves as the nucleus of the space, with vistas of the vineyards and mountains acting as a backdrop to art and design pieces.
A rounded dining table for eight is topped with a copper disc of timber stained black, while chairs are upholstered in gray leather and red lacquer. A four-tiered brass halo ring chandelier hangs overhead—a modern reimagining of historic farmhouse candle chandeliers. Slatted, wood-vaulted ceilings are accented with red steel tie rods, while herringbone oak floors infuse warmth across the open interior.
The bar boasts quilted bronze cladding, dark wood, and brass foot rails. Slim-ply barstools sit beneath a bespoke, folded steel light fixture. A laser-cut steel wine display is featured against the back wall beside a banquette and tetrahedral-based tables fixed with antique brass-plated steel. An expansive, open deck outside features furniture in bold tones of red and orange.
