The Pulse Lounge
RMB Latitudes Art Fair invited acclaimed architecture and interior design studio Boogertman + Partners – one of Africa’s largest architectural firms – to design the lounge in the centre court at this year’s fair.
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Drawing on extensive experience in shaping the flow of people through a wide range of environments – from stadiums, retail centres and airports to more intimate interior settings – the Boogertman + Partners team has conceived a temporary pavilion that encourages interaction, connection and a deeper appreciation of the surrounding art.
Titled The Pulse, the installation offers visitors and exhibitors moments of stillness, refreshment and conversation amid the vibrant energy of the fair. With its visually arresting presence and warm, earthy tones – inspired by the fair’s visual identity – the lounge establishes an eye-catching destination within the centre court.
Diaphanous drapes and distinctively patterned floors – created in collaboration with Belgotex – subtly define the space without enclosing it, and offer inviting glimpses of the interior. Organic curves, flowing lines and overlapping forms generate a visual rhythm that intuitively guides and orients visitors.
The interior is arranged around three softly defined pods, created in collaboration with X-Furniture, who also provided purpose-designed seating that can be reconfigured to accommodate different group sizes and types of interaction.
Varying in colour, scale and lighting, each pod possesses its own unique character and atmosphere. The two outer pods prioritise standing space, embracing the energy and movement around the entrances, while the central pod offers a lower, more intimate seating area. This interplay of movement and pause is enhanced by subtle changes in lighting, material and spatial volume, creating a natural flow around and through the space.
Lighting by Regent Lighting adds a layered sensory dimension, modulating the ambience within each pod. Textural details and sculptural botanical installations by Johannesburg-based floral designer Loulou D – each echoing the palette of its respective pod – further enrich the experience. Audio equipment from Bang & Olufsen and scent diffusers by Frédéric Malle complete the immersive, multi-sensory environment.
Custom textile designs – developed in-house by Boogertman + Partners’ graphic team in collaboration with Fabric Bank – draw on abstract elements inspired by the visual languages of the fair’s branding, its sponsor and the studio itself. This layered approach reinforces the identities of all three without detracting from the visitor experience. The textiles will be available for purchase via Fabric Bank’s online store.
All elements of the lounge have been designed to be reusable.
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