Just like a piece of jewellery completes a look, buildings and physical spaces also benefit from that final refinement. These details enhance the experience of being in a space, making it as distinct and delightful as possible. Working in concert with the major or fixed structures such as walls, furniture and lighting, certain experts specialise in the complementary additions that take aesthetics to their pinnacle.
Increasingly, art is one such way that hotels, homes, and restaurants achieve a polished look. Michael Jacobs, art concierge for The Silo Hotel in Cape Town, sees his role as that of a storyteller for guests; someone who acts as an interpreter and bridge-builder between the beholder and the beholden.
More than meets the eye
From the lobby and hotel rooms to a dedicated subterranean art gallery called The Vault, The Silo Hotel boldly and unapologetically displays many artworks. This is designed to enhance being inside the hotel, says Michael. “Art deepens the experience; it roots people in the spirit of place. At The Silo Hotel, guests are not just surrounded by beauty; they’re invited into a narrative of South African creativity, history, and hope. It creates emotional resonance that translates into how people feel when they stay with us. The art becomes part of their memory — not just of the hotel, but of the country.”
Michael also runs tailor-made art and design tours spanning The Silo Hotel’s private art collection of over 300 pieces of contemporary African art and the iconic Zeitz Mocaa, located in the same historic grain silo building.
“There’s something deeply intimate about walking a guest through the collection, seeing them pause, reflect, shift,” enthuses Michael. “I love watching people discover artists they’ve never heard of or feel something that surprises them.”
Witnessing this is particularly moving for Michael as it somewhat mirrors his own experience and exposure to the world of art. “I think my love for art revealed itself through a deeper curiosity about people and the worlds they carry. Growing up, I was always drawn to storytelling — oral traditions, music, photographs, things passed down that weren’t always documented but deeply felt. Art, to me, is just another form of storytelling, one that can hold memory, resistance, beauty, and spirit all at once. It wasn’t about galleries, at first; it was about presence. That realisation grew stronger the more I travelled, learned, and listened.”
Connecting to multiple senses
With art being a feast for the eyes, additional ways to enhance a guest experience draw on the other senses. Biophilic design has become a modern practice of an ancient philosophy to connect spaces to nature and light, and then by extension imbue them with the sights and sounds of the natural environment.
Design Scape Architects is a proponent of this approach and prides itself on an acclaimed project where a barren concrete courtyard at FNB Bank City offices in the Johannesburg CBD was transformed into a green oasis with indigenous plants and natural materials to give employees a natural escape in the city.
“To incorporate earth banks and vegetation into the stark concrete landscape, we introduced wooden planters allowing medium-sized perennial trees to be planted,” note the architects. “The result is an organic, natural green pocket, contrasting with the colder urban landscape.”
Even small details, such as the hand-picked translucent beach pebbles strung across the beams, create the ambience of a vibrant urban park.
Other ways to incorporate biophilic thinking include open skylights and atriums to bring some of the outside world indoors, as well as indoor plants and water features. These not only look pleasing but purify the air while also creating a sense of tranquillity.
Particularly in spas, sensory pleasure is imbued through more than a great massage. The environment is cultivated to be as calm and serene as possible. Michaela Baaitjies, operations director for Sanctuary Spa, says they include bespoke nuances in each of their spaces.
“Each signature journey starts with our welcome touch, creating a deep sense of tranquillity. We have a special fynbos massage, using essential oils and herbs only found in the Western Cape. These are included to unlock the path to inner peace and rest.”
Appealing to all the senses, guests are also offered refreshments such as a cup of Cape Chamomile Scent of Africa tea. Other touches that delight multiple senses include geranium oil for relaxation, jasmine room and linen sprays, and a continuous playlist of calming meditative sounds.
Across different spaces and areas of expertise, these creative inputs transform spaces into luxurious havens of sensory pleasure.
