Lighting in Design Q3 2024

Salsify at The Roundhouse unveils a bold new interior

A coming of age and testament to the continuous pursuit of excellence.

S alsify at The Roundhouse, a cornerstone of Cape Town’s fine dining scene - situated within the 300-year-old walls of a historic Camps Bay building - has revealed its third interior transformation in just four years. This latest evolution marks a significant milestone in the restaurant’s journey, reflecting its growth into a mature and sophisticated institution in the Mother City. Chef Ryan Cole, executive chef and co-owner of Salsify, has once again collaborated with designer Jean Francois de Villiers to bring his fresh vision to life. The redesign remains rooted in Salsify’s three guiding pillars: history, seasonality, and sustainability. These elements continue to be the backbone of the space, ensuring a cohesive and immersive dining experience. Deliberate dining In addition to the new design, Salsify has introduced two new rituals designed to slow guests down upon arrival, engaging all senses and deepening the connection with the restaurant’s ethos. These rituals emphasise the importance of taking time to savour the experience, an extension of Salsify’s commitment to thoughtful, deliberate dining. “It’s been six years to get to where we are now – a considerable amount of time, and with time comes evolution. This year, and with this iteration, it really feels like a coming of age for the restaurant. We’re constantly striving to elevate the experience, and we can’t wait to share this new season of

Salsify with our guests,” says Cole. Among the highlights of the new design is the transformation of the old private dining room to the Preservation Chamber. A space rooted in the preservation of time, history, stories and of course ingredients. The chamber boasts the original masonry of the historic building which is contrasted with rebellious graffitied murals by international street artist Louis de Villiers aka Skull Boy. The work narrates the story of one of the building’s earliest inhabitants, Dr James Barry, told through an anarchic style of art which tussles with the building’s history. Using space to illuminate local design and art Within the Preservation Chamber, Chef Ryan showcases the pickling, fermentation and preservation of South African ingredients and flavours. Here, guests are welcomed in to begin their Salsify experience with the first gifts from the kitchen and a welcome cocktail. The Sea Room has also been reimagined, featuring art from emerging South African artists, curated in partnership with EBONY/CURATED. Old menus to lighting spectacle The centrepiece of the redesign is undoubtedly the Origami ceiling installation in the Seasonal Room. This space, known for its modular nature, has undergone several changes over the years. The current installation features thousands of old Salsify menus, some dating back to the restaurant’s opening, meticulously folded into flowers that now

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LiD Q3 - 2024