When Rupert & Rothschild reimagined its visitor experience, the commission was about more than documenting a beautiful new space.
What interested me was the relationship between the architecture, interiors and landscape — and finding a way to photograph it that captured not only how the space looked, but how it felt to be there.
More than a renovation
Physical spaces have become such an important part of how we experience a brand.
At Rupert & Rothschild, there’s a quietness and restraint to the design that I was particularly drawn to. Nothing feels overstated. The materials, landscape, light and architecture all seem to belong together.
The photography needed to respect that.
Rather than making every frame dramatic, I wanted the images to feel calm and observational — allowing the space and its details to do the work.
“The photos are next level and capture this special place, its integration with the landscape and its offering perfectly.”
Photographing how a place feels
When photographing architecture and interiors, I’m interested in two things at once.
There’s the design itself — proportion, materials, craftsmanship and light.
And then there’s the experience of being there.
For Rupert & Rothschild, that meant moving between wider architectural photographs and quieter details: light falling across a surface, textures, objects and glimpses from one space into another.
Because ultimately, a photograph of a place shouldn’t only show you what it looks like.
It should make you want to be there.
Project information
Client — Rupert & Rothschild
Architecture — Malherbe Rust Architects / Servaas de Kock
Interior Design — Penrose / Kate Bursey
Project Management — Rylea Consulting /Ryno Beukman
Photography — Charles Russell
Location — Franschhoek, South Africa