Villaggio II
Villaggio II, one of Accra's premium residential developments was shortlisted for the 2012 Best Tall Building Awards, held by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Completed in 2011, the main tower of the development is an imposing block-like structure that stands at 30 storeys high and is the tallest structure of its kind in Ghana and the West African region.

The Villaggio II complex was designed by UK based architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, and comprises four buildings containing 200 apartments, an office and retail space plus a restaurant and gym. The Tower is characterised by a hard to miss, colourful facade that was inspired by traditional Kente fabrics and makes it a local landmark. Villaggio II was designed to cater to the needs of Ghana's growing middle class and professionals, as well as an increasing number of returnees.

Given Ghana's climate environmental factor's were taken into account and the building was designed to keep cool inside, whilst keeping the heat out. Heavily insulated the buildings have rainscreens and recessed and shaded windows that partially open. The buildings also feature solar panels to provide hot water. The luxury apartments are built around large, semi enclosed sky courtyards providing views over the City as well as shade for when it gets to hot. There is a pool and gardens on the roof, secure unground parking and a lobby with concierge service. Outside the surrounds feature spaces landscaped with local species of trees and shrubs to provide external shady areas; and pools of water set into locally produced interlocking paving provides relaxing areas for residence to sit or wade in.

Trollbeads/Malawi Universal Uniques
Giving their customers the freedom to customise their jewellery as they please, Danish brand Trollbeads is known for its interchangeable beads and charms that come in an array of gemstones, 18ct gold, sterling silver, fresh water pearls and glass in an ever-evolving collection. Trollbeads currently has 600 unique styles, and each bead created has its own look and a story behind it inspired by anything from fairy tales to familiar everyday things. The company was founded in 1976 by Lise Aagaard, when her brother Soren, a silversmith, came up with the first Trollbead having created a bead with six faces that earned it the name Troll and as customers started to request that more beads be added to their bracelets and other jewellery pieces, the name was given to the business. A family run business, up until 2000 beads were designed by the family who made the decision to invite leading jewellery designers to create collections as a way of helping to diversify the collections, and as the collection grew in popularity new locks were added to the designs to allow customers to remove and add the beads themselves. Each individually handmade, glass beads were introduced into the collection in 2002 adding a new look and feel to the brand. 

2010 saw the establishment of the Trollbeads Malawi Workshop which came about when Lise brought together a group of young creative artists and taught them the skill of glass bead making over an open flame, creating the glass beads seen in the Trollbeads Uniques and Universal Uniques collections, which are a range of colourful glass beads using patterns inspired by daily life; from a woman's colourful dress to fruits piled in the market to flora and fauna. Based on a similar project that was set up in India, financial backing was provided to help the business get started, in addition to offering training in running a successful jewellery business that covered areas such as; supply chain, marketing, sales, production and designing. The workshop now employs about 12 people and is moving towards becoming an independent self-sufficient entity. 

The beads made in the Trollbeads Malawi Workshop are designed to fit most leading brands so you can really mix up the beads to create your own look.

Aissa Dione Tissus
Businesses, schools, private residences, galleries, shops, hotels, workshops and studios opening up their spaces to hold exhibitions as part of the Dak'art OFF programme, brought the opportunity to meet with the artists and designers behind the works if you got your timing right. Opening the doors of her home was award-winning textile artist Aissa Dione Tissus, who was displaying the works of several artists in her elegant surroundings. Aissa was very welcoming and I was honoured to meet her; it was one of the many occasions I wished I spoke French, as there was so much I wanted to ask. Aissa is renowned for her luxurious, high-end fabrics that have attracted commissions from the likes of Hermès and Fendi.

Of French/Senegalese heritage, Aissa grew up in France where she studied Fine Arts and started her career as a painter, moving to Senegal in her twenties to develop her art. It was in Senegal where Aissa began to create her innovative textiles; the result of offering to help a client, who wanted to buy one of her paintings, redecorate his office. Aissa did so sourcing local staff, materials and tools; and her fabrics were soon picked up by the local press, which led to a leading international designer who spotted them in a magazine placing an order, and subsequently others followed suit.

Aissa's colourful and beautifully woven textiles combine traditional techniques, such as Mandjaque weaving, with her own brand of style and creativity; reworking the colours, motifs and designs in richly dyed threads and materials like cotton and raffia to create products that have a contemporary classic design aesthetic. The fabrics are gorgeous, beautiful to touch with a smooth silky feel that is contrasted with the texture of the patterns. The fabrics created are also turned into personal and home décor items like bed linen, clothing, bags, table linen, cushions and throws.

Aissa is noted for her professionalism, seen through her products and the way her business is run. Producing and exporting her hand woven fabrics, Aissa has been in the industry for over twenty years and employs over 100 staff in her factory located on the outskirts of Dakar in an area called Rufisque. Aissa insisted I visit her Atelier to see the machines and how everything was done but unfortunately my plans got thwarted just as I was heading out the city...Oh well next time I'm in Senegal! I was told, however that in the factory traditional know-how is combined with modern advancements, Aissa has developed her own looms, adapted from those used for traditional weaving, and some with the help of Dakar Technology. Modern looms are also used.

Supportive of up-and-coming artists Aissa used to have a gallery in the city centre, and is now looking to turn her home into a gallery space. In addition to fabrics, Aissa also produces beautifully crafted furniture like dining room tables and sofas covered with her fabrics. 
  

Shelina Permalloo
A chef who brings '...bring[s] sunshine to a plate' is how Gregg Wallace and John Torode, the judges of Masterchef UK described 2012 winner Shelina Permalloo's cooking. British-born of Mauritian descent Shelina was inspired to cook by her mum and aunty, developing a love of food at a young age as she helped her Mum with the cooking. Having grown-up in the UK Shelina also credits food with helping her to better understand her Mauritian heritage and culture, saying it makes her feel closer to Mauritius, her heritage and her family. Throughout the competition Shelina brought her Mauritian heritage into her dishes the menu winning menu which comprised octopus for starter, mutton curry for the main and mango cannelloni filled with lime curd for dessert, had the judges proclaiming that 'they were the best they had ever tasted on the show', hight praise indeed! Winning the title of Masterchef 2012 also meant that Shelina has become only the second women in the show's eight years to win the title.    

Shelina entered Masterchef to bring a flavour of Mauritian cooking to the UK, and to share her love of mangoes, an ingredient that appeared in many of her dishes. Mauritius is a cultural melting pot, whose cuisine is full of diverse flavours inspired by Africa, Europe, India and China. Mauritian cooking in the home is usually simple and frugal; nothing is wasted, using spices to turn cooking into incredible dishes packed full of fragrant flavours.mShelina's cooking is also inspired by her Italian husband, who has helped her understand European food and preparation. Shelina applied for Masterchef in April 2011, but before she got the call had already made a personal decision to leave work and pursue her passion in the food industry. The dream is to open her own restaurant, but in the meantime if you want to try your hand at Mauritian cooking check out Shelina's website where she shares some of her mouthwatering recipes. 

...it all looks so delicious and heart warming

High Thorn
Taking inspiration from traditional African design and techniques, and combining it with nature and a contemporary design aesthetic, has resulted in a unique range of interior products from South African-based company High Thorn. Handcrafted in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal High Thorn's product range includes lighting, ottomans, tables, leather pots and twig framed mirrors.

High Thorn's lighting designs are a central feature. Leather strips are woven, plaited, twisted or combined with glass beads to form elegant pendants and chandeliers that either hang with a soft sensual drape; or are crocheted and wrapped to form individual organic shaped cocoons. Other designs feature majestic chandeliers made from woven twigs; primarily using Jacaranda twigs sourced from local tree fellers, that are then stripped back and treated with white wash or stains like Mahogany. High Thorn also offers clients a custom design service, and designs have been in the interior of a luxury Lodge and other establishments across the region. In the server and coffee table designs the twigs used as legs, supporting glass and wooden tops.  

Working with skilled artisans, every order allocated to an employee comes with instilling a sense of personal responsibility, a factor that is part if the company's philosophy. The beading work is done by a group of local women who each work for themselves under the umbrella of a central organisation.

Basa Body/ Coast Coconut Farms
I think its fair to say that most of the beauty and skincare products I have featured on African Daydreams lean in favour of using Shea butter as a main ingredient, with others like coconut oil coming in as secondary, well not so in the case of Basa Body whose natural skincare product range is made from Virgin coconut oil that is produced by hand in Mombasa, Kenya. Easily absorbed into the skin Coconut Oil is known for its healing properties and contains natural antioxidants that are anti-fungal and antibacterial, and is said to be good for smoothing the skin and for slowing the ageing process product. Vitamin E, Rosemary and Olive oil are some of the other ingredients that go into in the products; the full list can be seen on the website under each product. The product range encompasses: Scented and unscented Body Lotions, a Coconut Oil Body Stick, Lip Butters and a Facial Serum.

Basa Body was founded in 2007 by American, Troy Holmberg following a trip to Kenya where he came across the Coast Coconut Farms; a small scale enterprise located in the city of Mombasa, that produces the coconut oil used in Basa Body's products. The name 'Basa' is Derived from the name of the city, a nod to the women producers of the Coast Coconut Farms, whom Troy partnered with to produce the skincare line. The partnership has resulted in help with obtaining modern machinery and with operations, in addition to for the women. 10% of all Basa Body profits go towards humanitarian projects across Africa and in the United States.

Gentlemen of Bacongo
Everytime the 'Gentlemen of Bacongo' photographic exhibition came to London, I always managed to miss it, so whilst I was in Dakar I finally got to see some images from book; on display as part of a wider exhibition on contemporary African photography entitled 'Africa See You See Me', that was being held at the Goethe Institute, during the Dak'art 2012 Biennale. Since its release in 2009, the book and accompanying exhibition has delighted and captivated audiences across the world, taking them on a fashionable journey through the streets of Bacongo, Brazzville courtesy of the unique and immaculately dressed Sapeur's, whose colourful and flamboyant yet elegantly stylish dress sense has spread beyond the borders of Bacongo to other local and international areas that include Kinshasa, London, Paris and Brussels.

To say the Sapeurs are passionate about clothing would be an understatement; belonging to their exclusive club, La SAPE, 'Le Societe des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Elegantes'; comes at a hefty price, with discerning fashion houses including Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier being the suits of choice, reputations are said to be staked on designer brand labels, imitations just won't do, and that includes the accessories. Once dressed in their finery informal contests are held as the Sapeurs of Brazzaville go head to head in a bid to 'out 'Sap' each other!'.

The images in the 'Gentlemen of Bacongo', were snapped by Italian freelance photographer Daniele Tamagni, who first came across the Sapeur's style in 2007 when he visited Brazzaville; returning a year later to gather the images for the book. Of the Sapeurs' Daniele says, '...they are masters of style, they create their own style...'

...dedicated to the men in our lives as we celebrate Father's Day this weekend...however fashionable they are, or not as the case may be!

Additional information sourced from:
http://edition.cnn.com

Additional details:
Available on Amazon priced at: USD$35
To purchase visit: www.amazon.com
For further information about Daniele Tamagni visit: www.photodantam.com   

The Afropolitan Shop
Inject a dose of pattern and colour into your summer holiday wardrobe with beaded sandals from The Afropolitan Shop's Summer 2012 collection. A traditional style sandal hailing from the coastal region of Kenya forms the basis of the design which feature leather soles, in a choice of black or brown, accessorised by brightly coloured intricate traditional hand beading on the uppers.

Created by Kenyan-American, Beverly Lwenya; The Afropolitan Shop began life in 2007 as a blog called 'the Afropolitan Network' sharing the stories of Africans across the globe; and what started out as a hobby has now become a full time career with the launch of The Afropolitan Shop; an e-commerce platform celebrating and promoting the work of African designers and artisans. April 2012 saw the debut of The Afropolitan Shop's own collection of sandals and jewellery design by Beverly working with Kenyan artisans and producers.

...a perfect accessory for bikinis to maxi's and everything in-between

Hilton Windhoek Hotel
One of the main features on MSN UK this morning, was the World Architecture News Hotel of the Year Shortlist, and amongst the chosen was the ultra modern, and quite industrialised looking, Hilton Windhoek Hotel. Situated in the centre of the Namibian city, Windhoek, the Hilton Windhoek Hotel was designed by Wasserfall Munting Architects; a local architectural practice that was founded in 2004 by Jaco Wasserfall and Paul Munting.

Heralded as 'a distinctive local landmark', the Hotel features a tall cylindrical glass and steel entrance poised like a beacon to welcome approaching guests, and upon entering leads to an airy atrium of which public spaces branch off, flowing into garden terraces that in-turn allow natural light to flow back into the centre spaces of the building. Designed to embrace the digital age and local culture the Hotel, other defining characteristics of the hotel include lots of glass to maximise the opportunities for natural light to enter; and a specific focus on sustainability and climate responsiveness was employed throughout the building seen through the incorporation of thermal glass, intelligent lighting, passive solar control and ventilated walls. The Hotel's interior carries the theme of water, achieved through the use of illuminated glass boxes that have varying degrees of transparency to allow for different levels of privacy depending on where you are.

[Image credits: Hilton Windhoek Hotel top, Lobby - Hilton; 
bottom group, Interior and Exterior - Wasserfall Munting Architects]

In a co-ordinated balance of nature and technology, the palette of the exterior walls is neutral allowing for the building to reflect the shades of the local landscape when viewed during the day; at night, however, technology takes over as strategically placed LED lighting adds a touch of modern day drama transforming the building. Comprised of 150 rooms and suites, the decor throughout the Hilton Windhoek Hotel is quite neutral in a contemporary African style, highlights of which include the Raindrop chandelier, a spectacular feature of the reception area, whilst the Ekipa Restaurant, specialising in Namibian cuisine, features a show kitchen where guests can watch the preparation. Spectacular views of the city and surrounding mountains are provided courtesy of the Skybar located around an 18m lap pool, the Kalabar, Centrum Restaurant and D'vine, a glass wine cellar. The property also includes a luxury spa, and fitness centre. The Hilton Windhoek Hotel is situated close to the Nampower Convention Centre making it ideal for the business traveller.

...a touch of contemporary urban style to Windhoek's skyline

Papa Ibra Tall
Several months ago I coveted a dress made out of gorgeously colourful clashing prints, alas no available size meant it remained on the hanger, but was reminded of the distinctive print when I saw some stunning tapestries by renowned Senegalese artist Papa Ibra Tall, whose exhibition opening was one of the first I stumbled upon during Dak’art 2012. Held at the Place du Souvenir, the event was a retrospective of sorts celebrating the artist's long career, a lively well attended occasion that saw guests milling about observing the art and enjoying the warm evening, serenaded by the jazzy sounds of the National Orchestra. Displayed alongside paintings and photography, for me the tapestries were the highlight; rich in detail, colour and pattern; and at several metres in length and width covered large expanses of the exhibition room’s walls. Each tapestry was accompanied by a framed A3 painted sketch that showed the basis of the final piece. Woven in wool, the tapestries had a heavy sumptuousness about them and featured vivid, intricately themed imagery, the bright colours, mostly used against dark backgrounds for added contrast. The artistic style called to mind the highly decorative Art Nouveau characteristics of depicting nature, flourishes and rich colour; in particular that of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt; with hints of Picasso’s Cubism structure.

In a career spanning back to the mid-1950’s Papa Ibra Tall studied architecture and fine art in Paris and it was here that he started designing and weaving his tapestries, inspired by the designs and colours he had seen in a local exhibition of carpets and rugs. Paris was also where Papa Ibra Tall developed a love for Black American Jazz - referenced to in the music he chose for the opening of his exhibition - and during the same period he was also instrumental in organising an exhibition for Black artists living in Europe. Following independence in 1959 Papa Ibra Tall returned to Senegal, and began experimenting with ceramics, screen-printing and tapestry; eventually setting up a loom and began working to develop the modern art of weaving within the country. Between 1974-1991 Papa Ibra Tall’s work was part of a major traveling exhibition showcasing contemporary Senegalese art in America, Europe and Asia. Involved in major world cultural events, Papa Ibra Tall has also receiving various honours that include Commander of the Academic Palms of the Republic of Senegal; the Knight of the Order of Rio Branco from Brazil; and in the USA he has been awarded Freeman of the City of New Orleans and the City Atlanta. Tapestries always remind me of old grand stately homes given how they can dominate the rooms they are hung in, but despite the fact that the ones shown date back to the 1970's they have a timelessness about them and would work in contemporary interior spaces.

...a pioneer of contemporary African art, Papa Ibra Tall's tapestries are fine examples of modern classics