Why we're building Stilkrans
26 February 2026
Over the past couple of years, I've been thinking a lot about what digital products can and can't do. I've spent 16 years designing them, and I've learned that they simply cannot touch our senses the way the real world does.
I'm seeing this from the perspective of a designer whose primary role is to design for the emotions people experience when they scroll apps like Instagram, buy a Temu dress, or order food.
Mainstream products have become highly polished and “delightful”. The bar is higher than ever, yet, when I speak to people using them and observe myself, they feel numbing. I've watched how people install meditation apps and digital detox tools in desperation. All in an attempt to try and bring them back to their senses.
By the looks of it, it doesn't seem to work. We can't heal numbness with yet another app. We need physical spaces that activate all the senses.
These observations inspire us to build Stilkrans.com.
Now, there are 650 Airbnbs in our area—why another one? Because Stilkrans won't be an Airbnb. It will be intentionally small, where people can connect, rest and feel deeply human again. We won't measure experience in stars and reviews, but how willing people are to return because of how it made them feel.
Being intentionally small and slow is beautiful. It keeps us focused on the things that make people feel something they forgot they had. For example, instead of checking out in a rush, we decided that guests won't have to leave until 3pm. We'll miss a day of occupancy, but that's okay. We're not after squeezing out days in a year.
And this is our vision for Stilkrans: To become a place where beauty is not optimised for consumption or shareholder value. If people leave feeling whole and alive, it has done its job.
Right now, we have land and a lot to figure out. But over the next year, we'll share what we're building and what we're learning. There will be weeks when this will be harder than expected and we'd rather quit.
But we also have people around us and we're thankful for them.
If you have suggestions, share them here. If you've built places before, tell us what you wish you'd known at the start. It might just save us a couple of sleepless nights.
Lastly, if you know someone who'd geek out over slow hospitality and 3pm checkouts, please share this with them. 🙇♂️
Steyn & Lindl
Why we're building Stilkrans
26 February 2026
Over the past couple of years, I've been thinking a lot about what digital products can and can't do. I've spent 16 years designing them, and I've learned that they simply cannot touch our senses the way the real world does.
I'm seeing this from the perspective of a designer whose primary role is to design for the emotions people experience when they scroll apps like Instagram, buy a Temu dress, or order food.
Mainstream products have become highly polished and “delightful”. The bar is higher than ever, yet, when I speak to people using them and observe myself, they feel numbing. I've watched how people install meditation apps and digital detox tools in desperation. All in an attempt to try and bring them back to their senses.
By the looks of it, it doesn't seem to work. We can't heal numbness with yet another app. We need physical spaces that activate all the senses.
These observations inspire us to build Stilkrans.com.
Now, there are 650 Airbnbs in our area—why another one? Because Stilkrans won't be an Airbnb. It will be intentionally small, where people can connect, rest and feel deeply human again. We won't measure experience in stars and reviews, but how willing people are to return because of how it made them feel.
Being intentionally small and slow is beautiful. It keeps us focused on the things that make people feel something they forgot they had. For example, instead of checking out in a rush, we decided that guests won't have to leave until 3pm. We'll miss a day of occupancy, but that's okay. We're not after squeezing out days in a year.
And this is our vision for Stilkrans: To become a place where beauty is not optimised for consumption or shareholder value. If people leave feeling whole and alive, it has done its job.
Right now, we have land and a lot to figure out. But over the next year, we'll share what we're building and what we're learning. There will be weeks when this will be harder than expected and we'd rather quit.
But we also have people around us and we're thankful for them.
If you have suggestions, share them here. If you've built places before, tell us what you wish you'd known at the start. It might just save us a couple of sleepless nights.
Lastly, if you know someone who'd geek out over slow hospitality and 3pm checkouts, please share this with them. 🙇♂️
Steyn & Lindl
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