Design meets hospitality at Hallmark House in the heart of Johannesburg. The design-led hotel is designed to satiate the appetites of art lovers while providing African luxury with the quintessential Joburg edge. The crown jewel of the hotel is now the Penthouse Suite, a collaboration between the Grammy Award-Winning DJ and South Africa’s Most Awarded Interior Architect, Tristan Du Plessis, it is elevated luxury that celebrates local design, art, and music.
“Black Coffee and I have a shared passion for design and a friendship that has grown from that, the penthouse suite was aimed to be representative of the African dream in a contemporary context, and there was no better person to collaborate with than Black Coffee,” says Du Plessis.
The suite celebrates the international icon’s first love, music, with slick CDJs strategically ensconced in marble. Tristan explains the design intent behind the double-volume two-bedroom suite, “we used a myriad of textures including hand-picked viola marble, charred solid wood panels, and gold to elevate ordinary spaces like the kitchen. But, one of my favorite parts of this collaboration is the incorporation of local art in unexpected ways. Working with Nathi deepened my appreciation for cross-disciplinary collaboration and a real desire to seek out and elevate local talent.”
The fundamental collaboration between two heavy-hitters in their respective industries is bolstered by the inclusion of artwork from Nelson Makomo in the lobby, flooring by MOOOI x African ginger, and soft furnishings by internationally acclaimed designer MaXhosa. “As a multi-functional space we aimed to infuse Black Coffee’s fundamental taste while bringing through larger messaging – that the South African creative scene is a force to be reckoned with and appreciated in every form,” explains Tristan.
“Music is my passion but moving into other forms of creative expression has broadened my horizons, especially working with Tristan who shares my vision. Everything I do is fundamentally underpinned by a simple message – that every African child who has a dream of excelling in anything they envision can make it a reality. Incorporating celebrated South African talent at different touch points for my first design project, reaffirms this on every level,” says Black Coffee.
Living up to true penthouse expectations the suite boasts; a gym, cinema room, bespoke hand-crafted furniture by the best local and international designers, two open-plan living spaces, and two sumptuous rooms. Whether you want to host the birthday celebration of dreams or simply treat yourself to a few nights living like a star, you can book here.
