The Pulse Lounge was a temporary lounge designed for the 2025 RMB Latitudes Art Fair in Johannesburg, South Africa. This custom-made installation for the fair’s centre court was conceived of as a temporary indoor pavilion within the fair’s main marquee. It offered visitors and exhibitors moments of stillness and calm for refreshment, conversation and connection amid the vibrant energy of the fair, while encouraging a deeper appreciation of the surrounding art.

With its visually arresting presence and energetic, colourful palette – drawn from the fair’s branding and visual identity – the lounge established a beacon visible from multiple vantage points across the centre court: a destination within a destination.

Its form was composed of three ovoid pods characterised by organic curves, flowing lines and overlapping forms, which generated a visual rhythm and established pathways that encouraged the natural flow of movement into and through the space. This arrangement intuitively guided and oriented visitors and choreographed moments of movement and pause.

The interior spaces were defined by sheer fabric panels and custom-coloured and shaped rugs that delineated the space without enclosing it. These diaphanous boundaries offered glimpses of the interior and invited curiosity and engagement. The layering of materials and transparency naturally drew people in, while maintaining openness and a sense of connection with the surrounding fair.

Varying in colour, volume, material and lighting, each of the three pods had its own distinct character and atmosphere, and were furnished with seating purpose-designed to accommodate different group sizes and types of interaction.

The two outer pods – positioned to embrace the energy around the entrances – prioritised standing space and casual networking with high-top tables. The central pod offered a lower, intimate seating area for more focussed and private discussions.

The lighting scheme gently shifted in tone and intensity, enhancing the sensory atmosphere within each pod. Specially made sculptural botanical installations echoed the tones and textures of each pod.

All textiles were developed in-house and drew on the visual languages of the fair, its sponsor, and the design studio. Graphic elements from all three brands were abstracted and overlaid, transforming words into expressive patterns. This layered approach reinforced the identities of all three at the event without detracting from the visitor experience.

All elements of the lounge were designed to be reusable, and have found new lives incorporated into other projects or stored for reuse at other events.

The Pulse Lounge offered a multi-sensory experience that deepened connections between visitors, art and the event itself – transforming the centre court into a memorable and immersive destination.