TheUrbanative Wadi Screen | Sculptural Wool, Steel and Kiaat Design

At TheUrbanative, design rarely arrives fully formed. More often, it evolves slowly through questioning, experimentation and the repeated urge to try something different. The newly launched Wadi Screen reflects exactly that process – a piece shaped by curiosity, collaboration and an ongoing exploration of materials.

For those familiar with the studio’s earlier Nasara Screens, the lineage is clear. Those designs explored the interplay of steel and cord weaving, establishing a language that balanced structure with textile craft. The Wadi Screen continues that conversation, yet introduces a softer expression through natural materials, sculptural wool textures and richly stained timber.

The name Wadi, derived from the Swahili word for valley, offers a poetic clue to the piece’s character. At its centre sits a woven wool panel created in collaboration with Grey Room, using wool supplied by Weluka. Rather than forming a flat textile surface, the fibres gather and layer to create gentle relief across the panel. As light moves throughout the day, the woven surface reveals shifting ridges and subtle valleys, giving the screen a quiet sense of depth and movement.

Structure remains essential to the design. The textile panel sits within a precise steel frame that provides rhythm and definition, creating a careful balance between softness and architectural clarity. At the base, kiaat timber, stained in a deep ruby rose tone, introduces warmth and grounding. The choice of kiaat carries personal significance for the studio, as it was the first timber TheUrbanative worked with in its early days.

The Wadi Screen made its public debut at Cape Town Furniture Week, where it was shortlisted as a finalist for the CTFW x VISI Prize. For a piece born from studio experimentation, the moment marked an important milestone.

Founded in Johannesburg by designer Mpho Vackier in 2017, TheUrbanative continues to explore how African cultural references, craft traditions and contemporary design intersect. Through material, story and collaboration, the studio creates objects that feel both rooted and forward looking.

Contact: TheUrbanative for more.