ARCHITECTURE | RESEARCH | DESIGN | FACILITATE | HERITAGE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
WE WORK IN THE GREATER CAPE PENINSULA, OVERBERG, OVERSTRAND AND HELDERBERG REGIONS IN TOWNS SUCH AS CAPE TOWN, BELLVILLE, STELLENBOSCH, SOMERSET WEST, GORDON’S BAY, ROOIELS, PRINGLE BAY, BETTY’S BAY, KLEINMOND, CALEDON, HERMANUS AND STANFORD.
RAYMOND SMITH
PRINCIPAL
M.Phil CBE (UCT)
Playing in my parents’ garden, building small towns with roads, houses and trees in the sand was my favorite past-time as a child. Later my dad introduced me to sauntering in the mountains which led to a life-long appreciation of nature and a fascination for stone. Sculpture was my first choice as a young man with a dream to work for Henry Moore.
In time this dream evolved into a career in design – from chairs to rooms to architecture … and much later a return to a learning site at the foot of Table Mountain to explore the deeper questions of who, what, why, where and when of the built environment. Expressions of contemplative sitting figures in my early sculpture finally made sense – having become a philosopher of the built environment.
RAYMOND SMITH
PRINCIPAL
M.Phil CBE (UCT)
Playing in my parents’ garden, building small towns with roads, houses and trees in the sand was my favorite past-time as a child. Later my dad introduced me to sauntering in the mountains which led to a life-long appreciation of nature and a fascination for stone. Sculpture was my first choice as a young man with a dream to work for Henry Moore.
In time this dream evolved into a career in design – from chairs to rooms to architecture … and much later a return to a learning site at the foot of Table Mountain to explore the deeper questions of who, what, why, where and when of the built environment. Expressions of contemplative sitting figures in my early sculpture finally made sense – having become a philosopher of the built environment.
RAYMOND SMITH
PRINCIPAL
M.Phil CBE (UCT)
Playing in my parents’ garden, building small towns with roads, houses and trees in the sand was my favorite past-time as a child. Later my dad introduced me to sauntering in the mountains which led to a life-long appreciation of nature and a fascination for stone. Sculpture was my first choice as a young man with a dream to work for Henry Moore. In time this dream evolved into a career in design – from chairs to rooms to architecture … and much later a return to a learning site at the foot of Table Mountain to explore the deeper questions of who, what, why, where and when of the built environment. Expressions of contemplative sitting figures in my early sculpture finally made sense – having become a philosopher of the built environment.
EUGENE BOTES
PROJECT ARCHITECT
B.Arch (UP)
Growing up in a small industrial town in the Free State I was fascinated with the imposing honesty and brutalist character of the abundant industrial structures. I took pleasure in the way it mirrored the rhythm and structure of the endless maize fields. I delighted in the honest materials and the unwitting Form Follows Function design ethos of the engineers which led me to become a bit of a Modernist. Even though some might describe me as a Maximalist I strive to be a Minimalist and enjoy less more and more. As time passed I progressively fell in love with the historic buildings of our country and especially with the seemingly simplicity of rural Karoo architecture and its vast empty spaces. I strive to capture the essence of this simplicity and emptiness to create a built environment which is responsible and merge good proportion and aesthetic to create a product that enhances the experience of both the user and the viewer.
VINCENT DE BEER
PROJECT ARCHITECT
M.Arch (UCT)
I’ve always loved to create! … I knew I wanted to be an architect from the age of 6, you know … the time when the Man starts asking you questions … So, fortunately I’ve had the privilege of studying at some university in one of the world’s most gorgeous locations: Cape Town. If I’m not out about enjoying the mountains or sea – I like to spend time with family and friends, make art, listen to music, maybe dance a little … So here I am! An architect with a passion for sustainable, pragmatic design that adds value to our environment.
RAYMOND SMITH
PRINCIPAL
M.Phil CBE (UCT)
Playing in my parents’ garden, building small towns with roads, houses and trees in the sand was my favorite past-time as a child. Later my dad introduced me to sauntering in the mountains which led to a life-long appreciation of nature and a fascination for stone. Sculpture was my first choice as a young man with a dream to work for Henry Moore. In time this dream evolved into a career in design – from chairs to rooms to architecture … and much later a return to a learning site at the foot of Table Mountain to explore the deeper questions of who, what, why, where and when of the built environment. Expressions of contemplative sitting figures in my early sculpture finally made sense – having become a philosopher of the built environment.
JENNIFER WRENCH
ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGIST
B.Tech (CPUT)
I have always had a love for the concept of home with a passion for visualising and creating architectural spaces to suit personalised functions and needs – right down to the smaller details – as well as encapsulating the desired form and aesthetic to suit the client and project environment. My architectural skills and interests lie in understanding a clients desires and needs – always designing with the user in mind; encouraging connections between the built environment and natural environment; exploring architectural design solutions for a project; understanding the importance of marriage between form + aesthetic, and function; as well as producing architectural documentation – technical drawing is what brought me to the industry. If I am not busy enjoying all things to do with the built environment, you can find me camping or hiking in the natural environment, embracing all things to do with nature. I like to believe it’s good balance to enjoy both!
EUGENE BOTES
PROJECT ARCHITECT
B.Arch (UP)
Growing up in a small industrial town in the Free State I was fascinated with the imposing honesty and brutalist character of the abundant industrial structures. I took pleasure in the way it mirrored the rhythm and structure of the endless maize fields. I delighted in the honest materials and the unwitting Form Follows Function design ethos of the engineers which led me to become a bit of a Modernist. Even though some might describe me as a Maximalist I strive to be a Minimalist and enjoy less more and more. As time passed I progressively fell in love with the historic buildings of our country and especially with the seemingly simplicity of rural Karoo architecture and its vast empty spaces. I strive to capture the essence of this simplicity and emptiness to create a built environment which is responsible and merge good proportion and aesthetic to create a product that enhances the experience of both the user and the viewer.
VINCENT DE BEER
PROJECT ARCHITECT
M.Arch (UCT)
I’ve always loved to create! … I knew I wanted to be an architect from the age of 6, you know … the time when the Man starts asking you questions … So, fortunately I’ve had the privilege of studying at some university in one of the world’s most gorgeous locations: Cape Town. If I’m not out about enjoying the mountains or sea – I like to spend time with family and friends, make art, listen to music, maybe dance a little … So here I am! An architect with a passion for sustainable, pragmatic design that adds value to our environment.
This is a crafted architectural design practice which evolved over thirty years. It offers the full six stage professional architectural service including consultation on interior design while taking cognisance of urban design aspects and landscape elements within a given context.
With a specialization in conservation of the built environment – also offering professional heritage resources management services – it is natural for us that the principles and approaches advocated in contemporary theory, such as sustainability and cultural continuum, is grafted in shaping environs which are practical and aesthetically appropriate. When engaging existing sites and structures, various conservation approaches and methodologies are explored in its transformation or repurposing process dependent on the identified significances.
Even though the practice of design is regarded as an activity which involves dialogue and negotiation to build relationships among a variety of concerns such as social, political, cultural, environmental, practical, technological and economic issues, in our view, design is also a playful experience in exploring the qualities and relationships among the formal elements of design, such as space and volume, colour, line, texture materials and light.
To ensure quality projects, which requires enough time to explore possibilities, this practice only accepts a limited number of commissions every year.
All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exults, or stimulates the person in that space.
ARCHITECT PHILIP JOHNSON
To create one must first question everything.
EILEEN GRAY
As an architect you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.
NORMAN FOSTER
Architecture is really about well-being. I think that people want to feel good in a space ... On the one hand it's about shelter, but it's also about pleasure.
ZAHA HADID
WHO IS RAYMOND SMITH
ARCHITECTURAL & HERITAGE
PRACTITIONERS?
Our Ideal Client
This is an ecotistical practice as opposed to an egotistical one. It basically means that we work as a team with at least two architectural practitioners interfacing on every project we accept. Our motto is to observe our client’s needs and requirements while taking cognisance of broader environmental, heritage and contextual significances. If you are able to engage in amicable mutual discourse, while trusting our process and experience towards finding the most appropriate solution to the brief, then you are indeed a good match for us. We listen to the client, engineer, quantity surveyor, building contractor, bricklayer, carpenter, plumber, electrician, tiler, etc. in order to make sensible decisions.
In conclusion, we enjoy collaborating with clients who are conscious of social, environmental and contextual issues, who wishes to engage in realistic projects which makes economic and sustainable sense, adding value to their lives through quality spatial experiences while ensuring a cultural continuum and a sense of delight along the way.