A multi-tier Enchanted Faraway Tree chandelier by Cape Town lighting studio willowlamp anchors the interior of Boscheuvel House — a striking residential project by Matter Studio in the leafy suburb of Bishopscourt. The bespoke sculptural chandelier transforms the home’s double-volume stairwell into a dramatic moment of arrival, blending architectural art with handcrafted light.
“Architectural interiors are experienced through movement,” says Adam Hoets,founder of willowlamp and a trained architect. “Our work sits at the intersection of culpture, architecture and light. Lighting should do more than illuminate. It should shape how a space is experienced.”
A Double-Volume Space That Demanded a Lighting Statement
Boscheuvel House is nestled among mature trees in one of Cape Town’s most sought-after suburbs. When Matter Studio directors Mias Claassens and Jaco Bruwer began reimagining the residence, a key structural intervention defined the entire interior concept: an existing level change was removed to reveal the full height of the space, allowing a spiral staircase and generous double-volume volume to unfold on arrival.
That architectural decision created both an opportunity and a challenge. A soaring vertical volume requires a lighting installation capable of filling it — one that performs from multiple vantage points as occupants move through the space.
“Once you walk in, you immediately look up,” says Claassens. “That’s where the willowlamp chandelier creates the magic. You begin to perceive the curved form of the bridge above, and the lighting draws the whole composition together.”
The Enchanted Faraway Tree: A Sculptural Chandelier Inspired by Nature
The Faraway and Enchanted Faraway collections were born from a single concept — lighting inspired by the fantasy world of Enid Blyton. Since then, they have evolved into a family of sculptural lighting forms that can be tailored in scale, proportion and finish, allowing chandeliers and wall sconces to be specified together as part of a cohesive architectural lighting scheme.
At Boscheuvel House, the Enchanted Faraway Tree chandelier is composed of hundreds of suspended metal ball chains that catch and scatter light across the surrounding surfaces. The frame was fabricated in laser-cut steel and finished in black oxide — creating a sharp contrast against the white ceiling.
“The beauty of the ombré gradient in antique brass and copper chains is that it adds texture so the fixture feels organic,” says Adam Hoets, founder of willowlamp. “The inspiration is a tree in autumn, where colour fades from top to bottom in russet hues.”
At night, the black oxide structure casts layered shadows across the ceiling, evoking a forest-like atmosphere that shifts as light levels change throughout the day.
Lighting as Architectural Art: willowlamp’s Design Philosophy
Adam Hoets is a trained architect who founded willowlamp at the intersection of sculpture, architecture and light. His approach is defined by a simple conviction: lighting should do more than illuminate. It should shape how a space is experienced.
Hoets’s patented notch system enables fastener-free ball chains, allowing a high degree of customisation and seamless collaboration with architects and interior designers. At Boscheuvel House, he was involved from the early stages of the project, so the chandelier was developed in direct response to the architecture — not applied as an afterthought.
Why Early Collaboration Between Lighting Designers and Architects Matters
The Boscheuvel installation is a case study in integrated design. When a lighting designer is involved from the concept stage, the result is cohesion rather than decoration. The chandelier at Boscheuvel doesn’t compete with the spiral staircase or the curved bridge above — it completes them.
Key design principles demonstrated at Boscheuvel House:
Restraint amplifies drama. A powerful architectural gesture doesn’t need to be competed with — it needs to be answered.
Design for movement. Lighting should reveal itself progressively and perform from multiple vantage points as people move through a space.
Material choices must respond to the palette. The ombré gradient from brass to copper was chosen to integrate with the architectural finishes — not contrast against them.
Let structure recede when appropriate. The black oxide frame allows the cascading chains to dominate visually.
Handcraft delivers what mass production cannot. Bespoke installations tailored to specific architectural contexts create moments that feel truly singular.
About Boscheuvel House, Bishopscourt
Boscheuvel House is available for exclusive stays and editorial location shoots. Located in Bishopscourt, Cape Town, the residence offers a distinctive architectural setting suited to design features, photography, film production, and private stays. Visit www.boscheuvel.com.
About willowlamp: Bespoke Lighting Studio, Cape Town
Founded by Adam Hoets, willowlamp is an award-winning Cape Town lighting studio known for sculptural chandeliers and architectural lighting installations. Inspired by nature, sacred geometry and organic forms, each piece uses a patented system that allows metal ball chains to flow through laser-cut frames, creating layered veils of reflective material.
Every willowlamp piece is handcrafted in Cape Town and tailored to suit the architectural context of projects around the world.
For bespoke lighting enquiries: info@willowlamp.com | www.willowlamp.com