Yasmin Mayat is a Joburg-based architect and heritage specialist who runs Mayat Hart Architects with her husband, Brendan Hart. Together, they’re helping preserve beautiful old buildings in both the City of Gold and Pretoria with thoughtfulness, rigour and serious style.
What’s the best book you’ve read in the past year? And why?
I’ve been reading a lot more memoirish books recently, particularly those of the Middle East diaspora. I still can’t stop thinking of I’ll Tell You When I’m Home by Hala Alyan, which was an extremely personal memoir of displacement, motherhood and, of course, family relationships. Another fictionalised stand-out was Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, which completely took me by surprise.
How do you keep fit?
A lot of walking in our Jozi parks, and I’ve recently finally got around to incorporating some strength training.
Weeknight low-key restaurant go-to?
Momo for my Asian food cravings, and my mum’s house for her restaurant-quality food.
What is the one artwork you’ll always love, and why? (You needn’t own it!)
I am such a sucker for the Post-Impressionists, which is probably a hangover from doing art as a high school subject. Gauguin especially!
Do you have a hobby? What is it?
Reading – I am completely miserable if I’m not reading a good book.
The one unusual item you can’t live without?
I can’t live – or rather sleep – without a good pillow. Super-fluffy pillows are the worst!
Who was your high school celeb crush?
It would have to be Johnny Depp from his 21 Jump Street era. And look how terribly that turned out.
Three songs that you’d take to a desert island?
I am far more of a mood music person, so perhaps I’d need something upbeat from Jamiroquai, definitely something classical like Beethoven or Rachmaninoff, and then something soothing and melancholy like Sade.
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