There is a quietness to Shepstone Gardens that feels increasingly rare. Hidden among Johannesburg's rocky ridges, the estate unfolds slowly through stone passages, courtyards and gardens, each space revealing itself in its own time.
At its centre is one of Johannesburg's oldest surviving stone houses, built shortly after the Anglo-Boer War from quartz quarried on the ridge itself. Over the past three decades, the property has been carefully expanded by the Rayner family, who have restored the original buildings while allowing the estate to grow organically around them. Architectural elements collected over many years from India—carved doors, stone columns, timber and antique fragments—have been thoughtfully woven into the landscape, creating a place that feels layered rather than designed.
It is this sense of accumulation that gives Shepstone Gardens its character. Nothing appears hurried. Every material carries a sense of permanence, and every room feels connected to the one before it.
It was here that we photographed Various Positions and the Riviera Plinths, both designed by Yaniv Chen. The warmth of oak sat naturally against weathered stone, while the restrained forms echoed the rhythm of the architecture without competing for attention. As the winter light moved through the house, each room offered a different conversation between furniture, material and space.
Under the creative direction of Kevin Frankental, the photographs sought to capture these quiet relationships rather than construct new ones. Photographed by Inge Prins and styled by Sanri Pienaar, the series embraces the character already present, allowing the architecture to frame the furniture with a sense of ease.
Some places leave an impression through scale or spectacle. Shepstone Gardens does so through patience—a place shaped over time, where architecture, landscape and craftsmanship exist in quiet conversation.
Credits
Furniture — Various Positions Nightstand & Riviera Plinths, designed by Yaniv Chen for Lemon
Creative Direction — Kevin Frankental
Photography — Inge Prins
Styling — Sanri Pienaar
Location — Shepstone Gardens, Johannesburg