Cape Town – South African designer Thebe Magugu has extended his creative reach beyond fashion, unveiling a signature suite at Cape Town’s historic Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel. The project, announced this week, marks the tenth anniversary of his brand and his first venture into interior design.
The suite, officially named Thebe Magugu Suite, forms part of Belmond’s new Designer Residence concept. It will sit alongside a second branch of Magugu House, a cultural space that will serve as a boutique for his fashion collections, a platform for African designers, and a gallery for local artists.
Magugu, who hails from Kimberley, worked with interior design firm StudioLandt to craft what he describes as an “Afro-English” aesthetic. The design merges British colonial architecture with contemporary African influences, featuring pistachio and terracotta tones, stone and timber finishes, and hand-carved furniture.
The two-storey suite includes a private lounge, dining area, en-suite bedroom, and curated artworks from the Southern Guild gallery, with contributions from artists such as Mmangaliso Nzuza, Lulama Wolf, and Trevor Stuurman. Magugu said he wanted the space to offer visitors “a snapshot of African culture” for those unable to explore the city’s museums and galleries.
The project also carries personal touches. Magugu has collaborated with the hotel’s kitchen to develop a menu inspired by meals from his childhood, while custom tea blends and in-room amenities are being designed exclusively for guests.
Neal Ludick, Belmond’s director of interior design, described the collaboration as an attempt to bridge colonial heritage with the identity of today’s African clientele. He said Magugu’s work brought fresh layers to the hotel’s century-old architecture without erasing its historic character.
Since winning the LVMH Prize for Young Designers in 2019, Magugu has collaborated with Dior and Moët & Chandon. His partnership with Mount Nelson began in 2022 when he was guest designer for the hotel’s Confections x Collections fashion showcase.
Bookings for the Thebe Magugu Suite are set to open in December.
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