Page 16 - Designing Ways 282

IID

Living It Up

In The City

The Menssink

Penthouse Story
Author: CHRISTOPHER

DE BOD

s a n interior designer, I am always
on the lookout for inspiration,
Aideas and just fabulous stuff that
inspires me. That is how I came to know
about the Menssink Penthouse project.
While checking my Instagram feed one
evening in February, my attention was
captured by a video which popped up on
my feed of a young lady sharing a walk-
through video of the two-week progress
of their renovation project. I was first
intrigued by the beautiful views from
the apartment’s large windows. Then I
realised that the iconic Union Buildings
in Pretoria were on their doorstep and my
heart was stolen. I immediately followed
the account daily to see if there were
any updates. With urban or city living graduating. Her work at Elevate Studios The couple purchased their first home
amongst young professionals it is quite hits the sweet spot between design and together in Sinoville, then moved to another
the norm in places such as Cape Town, her love of working with people. home in Rietondale while renting out the
but is less so in Pretoria. After following After working as a pastor at Hillsong Sinoville apartment. After a while in this
the entire process, I had to understand Church for ten years, while chasing home, they found a beautiful apartment
the psychology behind the project. That his passion for art and working on in Villieria which they purchased and
is how I got to sit down with Simon and commissions and orders from interior renovated. Their connection to the city
Anna-Lize on a sunny afternoon in late designers and decorators, Simon has however was never lost. In 2020, Simon had
April to learn about their story. taken a year to follow his dreams and a dream that he was living in the penthouse
Born in Pretoria the second oldest passion for fine art, music, and, as it of a skyscraper in Pretoria CBD. He woke
of four daughters, Anna-Lize went on worked out during the penthouse, a up and immediately started searching for
to study Information Design at the passion for creating beautiful spaces. penthouses to purchase in the city. They
University of Pretoria. Simon, born The couple fell in love with Pretoria viewed many penthouses around the city
in Kempton Park and growing up in while studying at the University of before viewing this specific one in 2020,
Pretoria East, is one of four brothers, also Pretoria and always yearned to live in the and fell in love with it immediately. With
attended the University of Pretoria where city. They shared a love of old buildings the largest footprint of all the apartments
he studied Fine Arts. This is where they and period architecture. A trip to New they had viewed at 180 square metres,
initially met before he left for New York York last year reignited their desire to the balcony at 60 square metres alone,
for a couple of months. After his return live in a penthouse apartment in the and the views from the apartment were a
they reconnected and eventually started Pretoria CBD. Anna-Lize’s self-confessed key influencer in their decision that this
dating. It wasn’t long before wedding bells obsession for the city inspired her to was the one for them. The asking price,
filled the air when they married nine years create a photo journal of city living and however, was beyond their budget and
ago in Anna-Lize’s final year of studies, a people in the city while at university, with consideration of the amount of work
few days before both of their birthdays which she shared with me during our that the property needed, they made an
which are a day apart from each other. interview. This beautiful book contains offer lower than what the seller was asking,
Anna-Lize, always knew that a nine-to- the most striking photographs that she and their offer was rejected. This, however,
five job at a corporate or agency was never took in and around the city. Their journey did not deter them and they knew that the
going to work for her, so she co-founded however has taken them on a more scenic right place would come along at the right
Elevate Studios with her sister right after route to this destination. time.

16 Issue 282 • dw