INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
“ In 2026, design is less about novelty and more about orchestrating a considered way of living, where experience, wellbeing and the inherent ageing of materials matter far more than the next fleeting trend,” says ARRCC Principal, Mark Rielly.
Travel, work and life are interlaced
According to Rielly, stepping into a resort lobby is a good example of wellbeing in action, as the atmosphere gently loosens the tension you carry.“ That moment is never just one thing,” he explains.“ It’ s the amber dusk settling over the room, the quiet hush of a wool rug beneath, the scent threading through a corridor, and the soft sound of water shaping the atmosphere. All five senses are engaged.”
He notes that hybrid work has blurred the lines between business and leisure travel, exposing people to uniquely designed hospitality destinations worldwide. This, he says, has ignited a desire to emulate that calm in the rhythm of home.“ Not as imitation, but as a curated narrative shaped by family rituals, culture and art. That is the distinction between decoration and design,” Rielly adds.
Glen Villa, nestled at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town, embodies this philosophy.“ Its design harnesses the power of the juxtaposition of contemporary, cleanlined architectural forms and the powerful organic presence of the mountainside, softened by the horizon line of the sea,” Rielly explains.
Materials: patinated beyond the trend
“ Trend-driven materials age quickly both visually and emotionally,” observes Rielly.“ Today, people seek longevity, making choices that endure and deepen with time.” He points to timbers elevated into furniture and art, metals left to patinate, and stone that is hand-finished for an artisanal edge, all adding layers of narrative and design authenticity to a home.
Looking at the award-winning Wave Villa as an example, he suggests:“ Light oak panelling softens its iconic roof, exposed concrete adds grit, and Cape Granite anchors the design to its mountainside setting. This isn’ t nostalgia; it’ s intentionality that grows more elegant with time.”
Colour palette inspired by surroundings
Rielly notes that Pantone colours come and go, but many homeowners now turn to their immediate surroundings for inspiration.“ Coastal blues, herbal greens, mineral neutrals create the design base and allow curated art to be the exclamation point,” he says.“ It’ s a theme echoed across high-end design, where personal curation has overtaken prescriptive minimalism.”
www. tobuild. co. za | autumn 2026 31