About us
Our Team
Our Awards
Sustainable Thinking
1967 - WO MEYER ARCHITECT
1968 - WO MEYER AND PARTNERS
1969 - WILHELM O MEYER ARCHITECTS
1970 – WILHELM O MEYER AND PARTNERS INC
1972 – WILHELM O MEYER AND GLEN GALLAGHER ARCHITECTS
1975 – WILHELM O MEYER AND PARTNERS INC
1979 – WILHELM MEYER, FRANCOIS PIENAAR AND PARTNERS INC
1980 – WILHELM O MEYER, FRANCOIS PIENAAR AND PARTNERS INC
1982 – MEYER, PIENAAR AND PARTNERS INC
1989 – MEYER, PIENAAR, SMITH, MOREN INC
1990 – MEYER, PIENAAR, SMITH, MOREN (PTY) LTD
1992 – MEYER, PIENAAR, SMITH (PTY) LTD
1993 – FLORIS SMITH AND MEYER PIENAAR CC
1997 – MEYER PIENAAR CC
2005
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We practice architecture because we believe it can, and should, make a difference. Our aim is to add value to our clients’ investment in property by seeking creative cost effective solutions that enrich human life, enhance neighbourhoods, protect the environment and are sensitive to cultural context. We work collaboratively with clients and consultants, constantly questioning and refining to ensure that we not only realise but exceed expectations.

PHILOSOPHY
LEGACY
2005
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Publications

DIRECTORS

ASSOCIATES

INTERIORS

COLLABORATORS

Directors img
Directors Img
Directors Img
Directors Img
We practice architecture because we believe that it can, and should, make a difference.
Kagiso Ramathlape

Kagiso is an experienced and highly qualified senior partner in the practice of Co-Arc International Architects. In 1994 he was awarded a National Higher Diploma in Architecture from The Witwatersrand Technikon. This qualification led to specialisation in the application of technology in architecture, assembly of different materials and relationships and behaviour of materials. He joined Co-Arc as a junior technologist, and through diligence, application and ability, rose through the ranks, becoming a job captain and project co-ordinator, and an associate in the practice. In 2005, having earned the respect of his peers and colleagues, he became a junior partner and in 2016, a senior partner.

His vast experience in compiling and steering project programmes, concept creation, design development and detailed design of construction systems, materials, services and finishes enables him to quickly and accurately determine and develop client briefs, and to lead large multidisciplinary teams in the preparation of specifications and documentation for procurement and commissioning of complex projects. His collaboration with other consultants and his ability to co-ordinate and manage scope, cost, time and quality while advising on resources and risk ensures budgetary control, accurate construction documentation and effective contract administration.

He values the client’s vision above all else, and constantly seeks to exceed the client’s expectations. His many successful large-scale projects are a testament to his passion, energy and commitment to ensuring that a client is not only satisfied, but likely to return with an even bigger dream.

Read more

Chris Malan

Chris Malan is a senior director at Co-Arc International Architects with over thirty years professional experience.

As a young architect in training Chris accepted a solitary year-long posting to Botshabelo township outside Bloemfontein, an experience which both challenged and informed his understanding of the role of an architect in Africa. Seeking a broader perspective, he embarked on a gap year in Europe from which he returned at the end of 1989, when global political shifts heralded political change at home. He joined Meyer Pienaar Architects in Johannesburg and was appointed an associate in the firm four years later. In this role he immersed himself in developmental challenges of the country, and helped navigate Meyer Pienaar through a period of transition, which culminated in 2005 with the establishment of Co-Arc International, of which he is a founding director.

Chris has made award-winning contributions to architecture and to urban design in the current South African context and has worked as project architect across the African continent. He involves himself actively in all stages of design and on-site realization of projects at all scales, be they small developmental projects, major civic and corporate buildings, or strategic urban design frameworks. He has served on the habitat portfolio of the SA Institute of Architects, assisted academically as thesis examiner, competition adjudicator and guest lecturer, and co-authored and published two architectural monographs.

Chris thrives on the exploration of strategic solutions to complex contextual challenges, seeking to transform existing environments for the better by working with their inherent potential. Much of his work entails the redevelopment of urban precincts, brownfield sites or buildings in need of repurposing for a more sustainable future. Professionally grounded by separate degrees in architecture and in environmental management, he approaches projects with a sense of responsibility towards the shaping and the nurturing of our living environments: our cities as habitats supportive of human welfare within healthy societies, sustainably embedded within the natural ecosystems and resource-base of our planet.

Read more

Patrick McInerney

Patrick McInerney is CEO and lead designer at Co-Arc International. With a background in retail and commercial architecture, a master’s degree in urban design and considerable experience in commercial, cultural, mixed-use and housing projects, Patrick’s passion for architecture is fed by an understanding of its impact on individuals and society.

As a senior partner of Co-Arc International Architects, he has gained more than 40 years’ experience as he collaborated in a leadership capacity on various projects throughout Africa including, Ghana, Morocco, Mauritius, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa. He has won various awards, and received the South African Institute of Architects’s Merit award for the Edenvale Public Library and Mpumalanga Government Complex. The diversity of projects has afforded him greater understanding of the impact of architecture on different cultures, clients and professional teams.

As an expert in the field, he has served as an external examiner and visiting lecturer at the University of the Free State and the University of the Witwatersrand and, has made numerous contributions to books and magazines. Patrick has co-authored, edited and published two architectural monographs of important post-apartheid buildings in South Africa.

He sees each project as a unique opportunity to find the visionary in each client. To him, the client is key. Patrick is acutely aware of the trust placed in the architect and the responsibility he has toward the client in delivering a sound financial investment. He is motivated by a belief that architecture does in fact have a psychological and physiological impact on the lives of the inhabitants, and he is specifically interested in the way his decisions affect people; how they feel and act. Crucial to him is an appropriate response to community and nature, which adds value to clients and society.

Patrick knows that architecture is a creative pursuit, where insight into the client’s stated and unstated needs can create a profitable investment for the client, and a valuable addition to the city.

Read more

Catharine Atkins

Catharine Atkins has collaborated on various professional teams to build a long list of successful projects in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria and further afield. This valuable experience gained over the course of her career, with a passionately technical orientation, has led her to oversee a diverse production team tasked with delivering the tallest building in Africa.

The Leonardo tower tested every aspect of her technical and coordinating abilities; and increased her passion for collaboration with a full design team, aimed at delivering a complete and functional design.

Catharine has completed various high-rise offices, hotels,and retail and mixed-use projects in the development hub of Sandton during her time at Co-Arc International. Her expertise in the delivery of complicated projects across the continent of Africa is unrivaled.

Her role as a project leader in the office extends to the role of production leader and mentor in the office. Not only does Catharine manage to co-ordinate the complexity of the structure and systems of the fast-tracked Leonardo tower; she also makes time to develop the technical skills of young architects.

For Catharine, architecture is about “getting the design in my head and understanding the product we will deliver”. To her the building must be a ‘working machine’ that is fully resolved technically and in all aspects, a complete product. Her capacity to visualise the end-product is a key attribute that allows her to bring together the various disciplines of a professional team and lead them to the completion date of every project she undertakes.

Read more

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“Architecture means the thoughtful housing of the human spirit in the physical world.”
Willie O Meyer
“Architecture means the thoughtful housing of the human spirit in the physical world.”
Willie O Meyer
“Architecture means the thoughtful housing of the human spirit in the physical world.”
Willie O Meyer
“Architecture means the thoughtful housing of the human spirit in the physical world.”
Willie O Meyer
“Architecture means the thoughtful housing of the human spirit in the physical world.”
Willie O Meyer
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Angela Curzon

Angela is the head of our interior design department at Co-Arc International Architects. She is skilled at managing the intricacies of various projects. Angela became an associate at Co-Arc International Architects in 2021. She oversees the production and management of all interior design projects as well as collaborates with consultants and clients to produce well-coordinated designs that enhance the clients’ investments.

Read more

Gustav de Necker

Gustav joined Co-Arc in 2017 as a Candidate Architect and got straight into the crux of work by running large scale projects in Botswana, Mpumalanga, Ghana and Johannesburg. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Cape Town as well as graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Media Productions. He then went on to obtain his Honours and Master’s in Architecture from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Gustav firmly believes in the importance of holistic, context driven designs in cities. He maintains that in order for efficient and working cities to be produced, architecture should focus on the whole in order to provide for the individual. His interest in efficiency of work and design allows him to focus on the important aspects of clients’ requirements and to satisfy their needs in the most professional and effective manner.

Gustav became an associate at Co-Arc International Architects in 2021 and has an abundance of experience in every aspect of the architectural process. He is always consistently learning from fellow colleagues in the office and has grown into a well-rounded architect, who becomes an integral member of any team or project that he works on.

Read more

Stephen Wyeth

Stephen Wyeth believes that architecture should be a product of its context and that it should serve as a vehicle of experience that enhances the unique characteristics of a particular place. He feels that South African designers are privileged to have access to a rich melting pot of social, cultural, environmental and economic influences which, can inspire us to create a truly unique African architecture which could not exist anywhere else in the world.

Stephen became an associate at Co-Arc International Architects in 2020. His high energy and deep interest in all aspects of design have helped him gain experience on various projects within South Africa, Botswana and Ghana. Since joining Co-Arc in 2016 he has worked on various teams in the studio environment, tapping into the wealth of knowledge found in the clients, consultants, and colleagues he has worked with.

As Stephen’s responsibilities have increased, he has been instrumental in the design and technical resolution of various new projects. He maintains good relationships with the client which enables him to lead the professional team effectively.

Stephen sees architecture as an opportunity to do good for the community at both a macro and micro scale and that it has the power to uplift the economy as well as the human spirit, which makes it such an all-encompassing and fulfilling endeavour.

His vision is to continue the Meyer Pienaar legacy by drawing on the knowledge the firm has acquired through decades of relentless architectural rigor in the unique South African context.

Read more

Yu-wei Fan

Yu-Wei (Andy) Fan applies a rigorous and intellectual approach to the design of a project, and a thorough analysis and interpretation of the client’s needs allows him to arrive at functional and flexible building and spatial designs that enhance the value of the final product.

He became an associate at Co-Arc International Architects in 2019, after gaining experience on a wide range of key projects throughout Africa such as in Kenya, Ghana, Botswana and South Africa. Since joining in 2009, his pragmatic and diligent manner has enabled him to collaborate in an increasingly senior role within Co-Arc, to the point where he is now project coordinator on various large-scale developments.

Andy finds it important to develop concepts into detailed designs and 3D visualisations to assist the client’s understanding of a design. He prides himself in developing good working relationships with clients and consultants and has found that this helps him to lead large interdisciplinary teams whilst maintaining the architectural vision of the project.

He has also gained considerable experience whilst working on urban design projects that Co-Arc has collaborated on. He is particularly interested in the spaces between buildings, and the way in which these spaces are designed for pedestrians. The pedestrian, he feels, is the most important consideration whilst designing the urban fabric of any city. He also feels that there can never be enough green space worked into an urban design scheme.

Read more

Jackie Breytenbach

Jackie Breytenbach joined Co-Arc international in 2013, in a financial reporting and bookkeeping capacity. She gained her experience in the financial sector around Gauteng and Mpumalanga, working for various companies as financial manager, earning promotions and the respect of colleagues and clients alike.

Brought in as a financial manager and understudy for retiring partner Ben du Plessis, she soon became integral to the financial administration of the practice and was appointed as associate to the firm in 2019.

Jackie arrived at Co-Arc in search of a new challenge but with one condition: that ethics and empathy are a non-negotiable part of the company’s culture. At Co-Arc International, she found a business that combined finance and empathy and discovered the passionate search for excellence prevalent in the practice. She is proud of Co-Arc’s history and the weight of its legacy, and she has been vindicated in her position and has never had to compromise. Co-Arc’s success is intertwined with Jackie’s financial administration and guidance.

Read more

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Angela Curzon

Angela Curzon joined Co-Arc International in 2015 to head the interior design department. She gained valuable experience working as senior interior designer, founding her own interior design studio, completing a project management qualification at UNISA, and receiving her Green Star certification for interiors through the GBCSA.

For Angela, interior design is a means to transform the lives of people who live in and enjoy a certain space; to improve their quality of life through design. She seeks to understand fully the client’s requirements in order to maximise the design’s potential; practically, functionally and with a good deal of aesthetic flair. Her approach is to provide the client with a set of aesthetically pleasing but efficient solutions to improve the user’s experience and use of space.

Angela oversees the production of interior design projects within Co-Arc, and collaborates with consultants and clients to produce coordinated designs that enhance the clients’ investments.

Her ability to merge the understanding of a client’s needs, the production team’s resources and the consultants’ expertise into a well-executed design is unmatched. This skill combined with the way in which she assists the client throughout the design process, expectations management and efficient implementation makes her invaluable to the Co-Arc team.

Abigail Lessing

Abigail Lessing joined Co-Arc at the start of 2021 and is a part of our interior design department as one of our senior interior designers. She graduated from Greenside Design Center with a degree in Bachelor of Arts, Interior Design and also holds a certificate in Intermediate Photography from Vega. Abigail is an extremely skilled and experienced designer with a long history in working on design teams for various architectural firms.

She is fast becoming an integral part of the Co-Arc Interior Design department and has slotted in seamlessly within her team. She hit the ground running with her outstanding work and has not looked back since. Not only is she known for her dependability, but she also has an excellent standard of work that she holds herself to on every project that she works on, not once deterring from it.

With her diverse history in interior design, she contributes novel ideas and brilliant solutions to problems that not only arise on projects, but to those that are not even immediately apparent. Thanks to her quick thinking and innovativeness, Abigail’s ideas have helped save the team valuable time and effort.

COLLABORATORS

We have collaborated with dozens of architectural practices from Cape to Cairo and beyond. The relationships formed out of mutual respect stretch across continents, enabling Co-Arc to add value to projects as far afield as Moscow, Switzerland and Argentina, often as collaborating designers with other talented architects and multi-disciplinary engineers, but also on the strength of our technical expertise and skill as developers of technical documentation or as architects of record. We pride ourselves on our record of always bringing respect for our peers, our full cooperation and full commitment of our expertise to any joint venture, resulting in some extraordinary projects and many friendships.

Our collaborative practice extends into professional associations with other firms, locally and across borders, into multi-disciplinary consulting and contracting teams, and into ongoing engagement with our clients. Through collaborative practice and teamwork, as made physically manifest in our studio culture, we add value to a project well beyond the sum of the individual contributions.

COLLABORATORS
AZIZ TAYOB ARCHITECTS
MPUMALANGA RSA
Based on longstanding friendships and mutual respect, the relationship between Co-Arc International and Aziz Tayob Architects began in the early 1970s when the founding partners of the two practices worked for Meyer Pienaar. The professional relationship was re-established when working on an unbuilt housing project in Burgersdorp and was followed by various projects initiated by both entities, culminating in the Mpumalanga Legislature and Administration Offices. The collaboration between the two offices has resulted in numerous completed architectural and urban design projects, including several competition successes and awards of merit.
COLLABORATORS
CONSULTIUM
JOHANNESBURG
Co-Arc International and Consultium were jointly awarded the commission for the Booysens Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg after tendering separately. Although initially a forced union, and after some trepidation, the two firms slowly formed a strong and committed team, jointly striving to produce a building that would exceed expectations. The success of the project demonstrates the value each party brought to the partnership.
COLLABORATORS
FMA
NIGERIA
Recommended by a client, FMA became architects of record for The Wheatbaker hotel in Nigeria in 2011. Since then, numerous projects in Nigeria in the hotel, leisure and commercial development sector have been tackled jointly for a variety of clients.
COLLABORATORS
ORTHNER ORTHNER & ASSOCIATES
GHANA
Our search for local partners for a hotel project in Ghana was rewarded when we collaborated with Orthner & Orthner and Associates. The success of the project and the mutual respect and trust developed during the design and construction, has led to numerous joint commissions and competition wins in Ghana, including a commission for the World Bank Group Headquarters for West Africa.
COLLABORATORS
PALEDI CO-ARC
BOTSWANA
As the winners of the Mpumalanga Legislature competition and having built an expertise in legislatures, Paledi Morrison invited us to enter a competition for the Botswana Legislature in 1998. Our successful collaboration in that competition resulted in a variety of further projects in South Africa and Botswana. In addition to numerous joint competition entries, urban designs and project proposals, completed and current project realisations include the Oodi Technical College, redevelopment of the Bank of Botswana Headquarters and its logistical facilities, the BMW Supertech showroom in Durban and commercial office and retail developments for the Smart Partnership.
COLLABORATORS
SCHNEPEL ARCHITECTS
NELSPRUIT, RSA
Herman Schnepel had just founded a practice in Nelspruit when he was contacted by Co-Arc International to collaborate on the Mpumalanga Legislature. At short notice, the Meyer Pienaar Tayob Schnepel partnership was formed. The success of subsequent projects, ranging from interiors and individual homes, to extremely large buildings and urban designs is a testament to the synergy between the partners. The collaboration resulted in several awards of merit.
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Schnepel Architects
directors
Associates
Interiors
Collaborators
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Kagiso Ramathlape

Kagiso is an experienced and highly qualified senior partner in the practice of Co-Arc International Architects. In 1994 he was awarded a National Higher Diploma in Architecture from The Witwatersrand Technikon. This qualification led to specialisation in the application of technology in architecture, assembly of different materials and relationships and behaviour of materials. He joined Co-Arc as a junior technologist, and through diligence, application and ability, rose through the ranks, becoming a job captain and project co-ordinator, and an associate in the practice. In 2005, having earned the respect of his peers and colleagues, he became a junior partner and in 2016, a senior partner.

His vast experience in compiling and steering project programmes, concept creation, design development and detailed design of construction systems, materials, services and finishes enables him to quickly and accurately determine and develop client briefs, and to lead large multidisciplinary teams in the preparation of specifications and documentation for procurement and commissioning of complex projects. His collaboration with other consultants and his ability to co-ordinate and manage scope, cost, time and quality while advising on resources and risk ensures budgetary control, accurate construction documentation and effective contract administration.

He values the client’s vision above all else, and constantly seeks to exceed the client’s expectations. His many successful large-scale projects are a testament to his passion, energy and commitment to ensuring that a client is not only satisfied, but likely to return with an even bigger dream.

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Chris Malan

Chris Malan is a senior director at Co-Arc International Architects with over thirty years professional experience.

As a young architect in training Chris accepted a solitary year-long posting to Botshabelo township outside Bloemfontein, an experience which both challenged and informed his understanding of the role of an architect in Africa. Seeking a broader perspective, he embarked on a gap year in Europe from which he returned at the end of 1989, when global political shifts heralded political change at home. He joined Meyer Pienaar Architects in Johannesburg and was appointed an associate in the firm four years later. In this role he immersed himself in developmental challenges of the country, and helped navigate Meyer Pienaar through a period of transition, which culminated in 2005 with the establishment of Co-Arc International, of which he is a founding director.

Chris has made award-winning contributions to architecture and to urban design in the current South African context and has worked as project architect across the African continent. He involves himself actively in all stages of design and on-site realization of projects at all scales, be they small developmental projects, major civic and corporate buildings, or strategic urban design frameworks. He has served on the habitat portfolio of the SA Institute of Architects, assisted academically as thesis examiner, competition adjudicator and guest lecturer, and co-authored and published two architectural monographs.

Chris thrives on the exploration of strategic solutions to complex contextual challenges, seeking to transform existing environments for the better by working with their inherent potential. Much of his work entails the redevelopment of urban precincts, brownfield sites or buildings in need of repurposing for a more sustainable future. Professionally grounded by separate degrees in architecture and in environmental management, he approaches projects with a sense of responsibility towards the shaping and the nurturing of our living environments: our cities as habitats supportive of human welfare within healthy societies, sustainably embedded within the natural ecosystems and resource-base of our planet.

image

Patrick McInerney

Patrick McInerney is CEO and lead designer at Co-Arc International. With a background in retail and commercial architecture, a master’s degree in urban design and considerable experience in commercial, cultural, mixed-use and housing projects, Patrick’s passion for architecture is fed by an understanding of its impact on individuals and society.

As a senior partner of Co-Arc International Architects, he has gained more than 40 years’ experience as he collaborated in a leadership capacity on various projects throughout Africa including, Ghana, Morocco, Mauritius, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa. He has won various awards, and received the South African Institute of Architects’s Merit award for the Edenvale Public Library and Mpumalanga Government Complex. The diversity of projects has afforded him greater understanding of the impact of architecture on different cultures, clients and professional teams.

As an expert in the field, he has served as an external examiner and visiting lecturer at the University of the Free State and the University of the Witwatersrand and, has made numerous contributions to books and magazines. Patrick has co-authored, edited and published two architectural monographs of important post-apartheid buildings in South Africa.

He sees each project as a unique opportunity to find the visionary in each client. To him, the client is key. Patrick is acutely aware of the trust placed in the architect and the responsibility he has toward the client in delivering a sound financial investment. He is motivated by a belief that architecture does in fact have a psychological and physiological impact on the lives of the inhabitants, and he is specifically interested in the way his decisions affect people; how they feel and act. Crucial to him is an appropriate response to community and nature, which adds value to clients and society.

Patrick knows that architecture is a creative pursuit, where insight into the client’s stated and unstated needs can create a profitable investment for the client, and a valuable addition to the city.

image

Catharine Atkins

Catharine Atkins has collaborated on various professional teams to build a long list of successful projects in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria and further afield. This valuable experience gained over the course of her career, with a passionately technical orientation, has led her to oversee a diverse production team tasked with delivering the tallest building in Africa.

The Leonardo tower tested every aspect of her technical and coordinating abilities; and increased her passion for collaboration with a full design team, aimed at delivering a complete and functional design.

Catharine has completed various high-rise offices, hotels,and retail and mixed-use projects in the development hub of Sandton during her time at Co-Arc International. Her expertise in the delivery of complicated projects across the continent of Africa is unrivaled.

Her role as a project leader in the office extends to the role of production leader and mentor in the office. Not only does Catharine manage to co-ordinate the complexity of the structure and systems of the fast-tracked Leonardo tower; she also makes time to develop the technical skills of young architects.

For Catharine, architecture is about “getting the design in my head and understanding the product we will deliver”. To her the building must be a ‘working machine’ that is fully resolved technically and in all aspects, a complete product. Her capacity to visualise the end-product is a key attribute that allows her to bring together the various disciplines of a professional team and lead them to the completion date of every project she undertakes.

We practice architecture because we believe that it can, and should, make a difference.
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Angela Curzon

Angela is the head of our interior design department at Co-Arc International Architects. She is skilled at managing the intricacies of various projects. Angela became an associate at Co-Arc International Architects in 2021. She oversees the production and management of all interior design projects as well as collaborates with consultants and clients to produce well-coordinated designs that enhance the clients’ investments.

image

Gustav de Necker

Gustav joined Co-Arc in 2017 as a Candidate Architect and got straight into the crux of work by running large scale projects in Botswana, Mpumalanga, Ghana and Johannesburg. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Cape Town as well as graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Media Productions. He then went on to obtain his Honours and Master’s in Architecture from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Gustav firmly believes in the importance of holistic, context driven designs in cities. He maintains that in order for efficient and working cities to be produced, architecture should focus on the whole in order to provide for the individual. His interest in efficiency of work and design allows him to focus on the important aspects of clients’ requirements and to satisfy their needs in the most professional and effective manner.

Gustav became an associate at Co-Arc International Architects in 2021 and has an abundance of experience in every aspect of the architectural process. He is always consistently learning from fellow colleagues in the office and has grown into a well-rounded architect, who becomes an integral member of any team or project that he works on.

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Stephen Wyeth

Stephen Wyeth believes that architecture should be a product of its context and that it should serve as a vehicle of experience that enhances the unique characteristics of a particular place. He feels that South African designers are privileged to have access to a rich melting pot of social, cultural, environmental and economic influences which, can inspire us to create a truly unique African architecture which could not exist anywhere else in the world.

Stephen became an associate at Co-Arc International Architects in 2020. His high energy and deep interest in all aspects of design have helped him gain experience on various projects within South Africa, Botswana and Ghana. Since joining Co-Arc in 2016 he has worked on various teams in the studio environment, tapping into the wealth of knowledge found in the clients, consultants, and colleagues he has worked with.

As Stephen’s responsibilities have increased, he has been instrumental in the design and technical resolution of various new projects. He maintains good relationships with the client which enables him to lead the professional team effectively.

Stephen sees architecture as an opportunity to do good for the community at both a macro and micro scale and that it has the power to uplift the economy as well as the human spirit, which makes it such an all-encompassing and fulfilling endeavour.

His vision is to continue the Meyer Pienaar legacy by drawing on the knowledge the firm has acquired through decades of relentless architectural rigor in the unique South African context.

image

Yu-wei Fan

Yu-Wei (Andy) Fan applies a rigorous and intellectual approach to the design of a project, and a thorough analysis and interpretation of the client’s needs allows him to arrive at functional and flexible building and spatial designs that enhance the value of the final product.

He became an associate at Co-Arc International Architects in 2019, after gaining experience on a wide range of key projects throughout Africa such as in Kenya, Ghana, Botswana and South Africa. Since joining in 2009, his pragmatic and diligent manner has enabled him to collaborate in an increasingly senior role within Co-Arc, to the point where he is now project coordinator on various large-scale developments.

Andy finds it important to develop concepts into detailed designs and 3D visualisations to assist the client’s understanding of a design. He prides himself in developing good working relationships with clients and consultants and has found that this helps him to lead large interdisciplinary teams whilst maintaining the architectural vision of the project.

He has also gained considerable experience whilst working on urban design projects that Co-Arc has collaborated on. He is particularly interested in the spaces between buildings, and the way in which these spaces are designed for pedestrians. The pedestrian, he feels, is the most important consideration whilst designing the urban fabric of any city. He also feels that there can never be enough green space worked into an urban design scheme.

image

Jackie Breytenbach

Jackie Breytenbach joined Co-Arc international in 2013, in a financial reporting and bookkeeping capacity. She gained her experience in the financial sector around Gauteng and Mpumalanga, working for various companies as financial manager, earning promotions and the respect of colleagues and clients alike.

Brought in as a financial manager and understudy for retiring partner Ben du Plessis, she soon became integral to the financial administration of the practice and was appointed as associate to the firm in 2019.

Jackie arrived at Co-Arc in search of a new challenge but with one condition: that ethics and empathy are a non-negotiable part of the company’s culture. At Co-Arc International, she found a business that combined finance and empathy and discovered the passionate search for excellence prevalent in the practice. She is proud of Co-Arc’s history and the weight of its legacy, and she has been vindicated in her position and has never had to compromise. Co-Arc’s success is intertwined with Jackie’s financial administration and guidance.

“Architecture means the thoughtful housing of the human spirit in the physical world.” - Willie O Meyer
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Angela Curzon

Angela Curzon joined Co-Arc International in 2015 to head the interior design department. She gained valuable experience working as senior interior designer, founding her own interior design studio, completing a project management qualification at UNISA, and receiving her Green Star certification for interiors through the GBCSA.

For Angela, interior design is a means to transform the lives of people who live in and enjoy a certain space; to improve their quality of life through design. She seeks to understand fully the client’s requirements in order to maximise the design’s potential; practically, functionally and with a good deal of aesthetic flair. Her approach is to provide the client with a set of aesthetically pleasing but efficient solutions to improve the user’s experience and use of space.

Angela oversees the production of interior design projects within Co-Arc, and collaborates with consultants and clients to produce coordinated designs that enhance the clients’ investments.

Her ability to merge the understanding of a client’s needs, the production team’s resources and the consultants’ expertise into a well-executed design is unmatched. This skill combined with the way in which she assists the client throughout the design process, expectations management and efficient implementation makes her invaluable to the Co-Arc team.

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Abigail Lessing

Abigail Lessing joined Co-Arc at the start of 2021 and is a part of our interior design department as one of our senior interior designers. She graduated from Greenside Design Center with a degree in Bachelor of Arts, Interior Design and also holds a certificate in Intermediate Photography from Vega. Abigail is an extremely skilled and experienced designer with a long history in working on design teams for various architectural firms.

She is fast becoming an integral part of the Co-Arc Interior Design department and has slotted in seamlessly within her team. She hit the ground running with her outstanding work and has not looked back since. Not only is she known for her dependability, but she also has an excellent standard of work that she holds herself to on every project that she works on, not once deterring from it.

With her diverse history in interior design, she contributes novel ideas and brilliant solutions to problems that not only arise on projects, but to those that are not even immediately apparent. Thanks to her quick thinking and innovativeness, Abigail’s ideas have helped save the team valuable time and effort.

image

AZIZ TAYOB ARCHITECTS

MPUMALANGA RSA

Based on longstanding friendships and mutual respect, the relationship between Co-Arc International and Aziz Tayob Architects began in the early 1970s when the founding partners of the two practices worked for Meyer Pienaar. The professional relationship was re-established when working on an unbuilt housing project in Burgersdorp and was followed by various projects initiated by both entities, culminating in the Mpumalanga Legislature and Administration Offices. The collaboration between the two offices has resulted in numerous completed architectural and urban design projects, including several competition successes and awards of merit.

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CONSULTIUM

JOHANNESBURG

Co-Arc International and Consultium were jointly awarded the commission for the Booysens Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg after tendering separately. Although initially a forced union, and after some trepidation, the two firms slowly formed a strong and committed team, jointly striving to produce a building that would exceed expectations. The success of the project demonstrates the value each party brought to the partnership.

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FMA

NIGERIA

Recommended by a client, FMA became architects of record for The Wheatbaker hotel in Nigeria in 2011. Since then, numerous projects in Nigeria in the hotel, leisure and commercial development sector have been tackled jointly for a variety of clients.

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ORTHNER ORTHNER & ASSOCIATES

GHANA

Our search for local partners for a hotel project in Ghana was rewarded when we collaborated with Orthner & Orthner and Associates. The success of the project and the mutual respect and trust developed during the design and construction, has led to numerous joint commissions and competition wins in Ghana, including a commission for the World Bank Group Headquarters for West Africa.

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PALEDI CO-ARC

BOTSWANA

As the winners of the Mpumalanga Legislature competition and having built an expertise in legislatures, Paledi Morrison invited us to enter a competition for the Botswana Legislature in 1998. Our successful collaboration in that competition resulted in a variety of further projects in South Africa and Botswana. In addition to numerous joint competition entries, urban designs and project proposals, completed and current project realisations include the Oodi Technical College, redevelopment of the Bank of Botswana Headquarters and its logistical facilities, the BMW Supertech showroom in Durban and commercial office and retail developments for the Smart Partnership.

Schnepel Architects

SCHNEPEL ARCHITECTS

NELSPRUIT, RSA

Our search for local partners for a hotel project in Ghana was rewarded when we collaborated with Orthner & Orthner and Associates. The success of the project and the mutual respect and trust developed during the design and construction, has led to numerous joint commissions and competition wins in Ghana, including a commission for the World Bank Group Headquarters for West Africa.

OUR AWARDS

At Co-Arc International there exists a rich tradition of entering and winning competitions. This is done out of a passion for the projects. The awards are simply seen as encouragement and a confirmation that the way we think about architecture is valid and appreciated. These are some of the awards we have received over the last five decades.
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2020
Build 2020 Architecture Awards
Excellence Award for Design for Wellbeing
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2020
Build 2020 Architecture Awards
Best International Architecture Practice - South Africa - BUILD
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2020-2021
International Property Awards
Award Winner Category: Mixed Use Architecture South Africa - The Leonardo
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2020-2021
International Property Awards
5-Star Award Category: Best Residential High Rise Architecture Africa - The Leonardo
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2019
Construction World 'Best Projects 2019'
Best Stand Award at South African Property Owners Association
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2019
Construction World 'Best Projects 2019'
Winner for The Leonardo
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2019
Edge Certificate for Excellence in Design
Offices for the World Bank Group

“The exemplary nature of the environmental thinking embodied in the design far exceeded the requirement of 20% savings for the certificate, achieving, 36% Energy Savings, 72% Water Savings and 96% Less Embodied Energy in Materials”

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2012
Competition Win
AIMS Maths Institute

Winning entry in competition for AIMS Mathematical Institute - Saltpond, Ghana Nestled into the rolling coastal plains, the architecture of the mathematics institute in Saltpond Ghana, creates a serene place for contemplation. The building is informed by concepts of being earth bound with infinite horizons, proportion rhythm and scale.

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Competition Win
GIA Offices

Winning entry in competition for Ghana Institute of Architects Offices and Vanguard Insurance – Accra, Ghana The high rise, mixed use tower for the Ghana institute of Architecture, uses considered articulation of structure and servicing in an environmentally intelligent response to a complex programme to create an iconic identity for the Institute.

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2010
Competition Finalist
John Moffat Building

National competition John Moffat Building - University of the Witwatersrand Using the building programme to create a variety of incidental spaces for student staff interaction in galleries, volumes and courts, space for exhibition and display were added to the simple forms that echo the rhythm of Fassler’s original architecture.

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2009
Competition Finalist
JHB City Park

National competition for the Johannesburg City Park Underutilised, derelict and abandoned land and buildings, on the periphery of the CBD of Johannesburg, are knitted together in a vast continuous urban amenity as an attractor for investment. The scheme proposed using the capital of government creatively to stimulate investment, provide inner city housing and grow a greater rates base for further development.

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2008
SAIA Presidents Award
Mpumalanga Government Complex

South African Institute of Architects, President’s Award for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government Complex Art Works Programme. “A key contributing element to the architectural richness of the new Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature was a comprehensive artworks programme… An earnest attempt to integrate the influence of local communities, this project needs to be recognized as a contribution to integrate a modern approach with traditional influences.” (Awards SAIA, 2008: 78)

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2007
Competition Win
UP Student Housing

Winning entry in the competition for design of the University of Pretoria Student Housing. The student housing was designed as clusters of eight rooms around a communal cooking and recreational space. The clusters formed modules of buildings that created a village-like townscape in the university precinct.

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2006
SAIA Merit Award
Ekurhuleni Council Chamber

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Ekurhuleni Council Chamber. “In time the new will read as if it had always been there and yet distinguishable from what was old. A cleverly engineered and crafted new steel structure is elegantly and delicately integrated into the design. Technically, from both the structural and servicing point of view, the design is outstanding, and the execution exceptional.” (artefacts.co.za [accessed, 2019/04/18])

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2005
GIFA Award of Merit
Ekurhuleni Council Chamber

GIFA Award of Merit for the Ekurhuleni Council Chamber. “The project incorporates a new council chamber within the old civic centre, while retaining the library and the clinic of the old complex. Architecturally, the new insertion is not so much a contrast to the old but a counterpoint – the difference being that the former is bold and with an urban presence, the latter a quiet surprise, but creating an integrated whole of the old and new.” (artefacts.co.za [accessed, 2019/04/18])

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2004
Competition Win
CEB Head Office

Winning entry in the competition for the design of the new Central Electricity Board Head Office, Mauritius. Playing on the notion of energy, this head office building provided a “holistic environmental response with efficient servicing appropriate finishes and a rational structure leading to an integrated solution to its form.” Patrick McInerney

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SAIA Merit Award
Mpumalanga Government Complex

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government Complex. “There is however a consistency of merit in the making of this building. It is well integrated into its site, taking full advantage of a unique landscape, and in turn through the opportunities offered in the design allowing for the extension of the natural into both designed and hard landscaping.” (artefacts.co.za [accessed, 2019/04/18])

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SAPOA Award shortlist
Mpumalanga Government Complex

Shortlisted for the SAPOA Award for Innovative Excellence in Property Development for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government Complex. “Anchored by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government Complex … the master planning together with urban design controls and management at Riverside Park have resulted in an attractive yet functional mixed use node that does the capital city of Nelspruit proud and continues to contribute towards Nelspruit’s strong economic growth.” (Property Developer, 2014: 29)

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2003
Competition Finalist
UJ Theatre & Gallery

Local competition for the University of Johannesburg Theatre and Gallery Tucked into the landscape with its few vertical elements, marking a new entrance to the University of Johannesburg, the large programme is hidden in a complex interplay of public access, gallery dance studios and theatre, which create a variety of ground planes for student engagement.

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Competition Win
Police Training College

International competition for the Mauritius Police Training College - Ebene Mauritius An interesting interplay between the volcanic mountains of central Mauritius results from the careful approach to siting and campus planning which creates village clusters, using simple building forms, to achieve a series of public spaces and routes that encourage interaction and engagement.

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MIA Merit Award
Mpumalanga Government Complex

Mpumalanga Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government Complex. “The building is well detailed and inventively crafted. The domed assembly hall is a tour de force, both in terms of structural ingenuity and spatial configuration. The ceiling as a crafted object is spectacular and the chronology tapestry – an addition proposed by the designers - a national treasure. (artefacts.co.za, accessed [2019/04/18])

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2002
World Architecture Award shortlist
Mpumalanga Government Complex

Mpumalanga Provincial Government Complex shortlisted for a World Architecture Award. “A holistic approach was adopted to achieve a human scale for this huge complex. The shape of the land was used to reduce the impact of the buildings on the environment.” (Planning, Planning, 2001: 48)

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2000
Green Trust Award Finalist
Marabastad Urban Design

Finalist Nedbank/Mail & Guardian 2000 Green Trust Awards for the Integrated Urban Design Framework for Marabastad. “The study, rich in historic and legislative background, and in the outcome of community participation, contributes too in bringing back an African quality to the city street and neighbourhood.” (South African Architect, 1999:29)

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1999
SA Architect Project Award
Marabastad Urban Design

SA Architect Project Award for outstanding achievement for the Integrated Urban Design Framework for Marabastad. “This is an outstanding product, having all the qualities which distinguish an award winning entry… [and] is in many ways a seminal work in healing this country’s cities.” (South African Architect, 1999:29)

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1998
Competition Win
Parliament Offices for Botswana

Winning entry in the competition for design of the new Parliamentary Offices for the Republic of Botswana, Gaborone. The competition was called by the government of Botswana. In its clarity of purpose within the pre-existing urban context, the design was influenced by the ideas of Louis Khan and aimed at restructuring and strengthening the government precinct within the city by providing a logical termination of the axis that runs through the old mall.

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Competition Win
Coalfields MAS Offices

Winning entry in an invited competition for the Coalfields Medical Aid Society offices.

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1997
Competition Win
Mpumalanga Government Complex

Winning entry in the competition for design of the Mpumalanga Government Complex. “Representing the architecture of a new democratic structure in a modern technologically advanced manner yet representing the spirit of the African people who have resided here for over 1500 years.” (Planning, 2001: 46)

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SAIA Merit Award
Sandton Square Urban Design

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for Sandton Square Urban Design. “In a city where there are few usable public spaces where people can explore civic pleasures and responsibilities, Sandton square has provided a beginning. Hopefully this is just the start of a trend to re-establish the city as a forum for the development of public culture.” (SA Architect, 1998:46)

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1995
SAIA Merit Award
Edenvale Library

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Edenvale Library. “In retrospect the building evolved successfully, being aesthetically of the best and an important acquisition for the community. It is without doubt the finest building in the town and the staff believe that it is one of the, if not the, finest public libraries in the country.” Stella Wilkins – Edenvale Library chief librarian

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SAIA Merit Award
Sandton Library

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Sandton Library. “The choice of building of this nature as a library is unusual … [but] the design … has come about by applying the constraints of the site to the criteria needed for a good library and public facility.” (Planning, 1994: 47)

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ISC Award
Sandton Library

Institute of Steel Construction Award for the Sandton Library. “The building emanates a unique sense of place and has a potential to become the unconfoundable symbol of its locality. A clear example of architecture mediating between the world as we find it and the world as we wish it to be.” (artefacts.co.za [accessed, 2019/04/18])

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1992
IDA Award of Merit
Alberton Boulevard Project

International Award of Merit for Urban Design-Excellence bestowed by the International Downtown Association, USA, for the Alberton Boulevard Project. “Here we created an urban revolution by closing the main traffic route through Alberton, in order to remove the heavy traffic that was polluting the area. It was almost open heart surgery for the city, as we created a large bypass for the traffic, and pedestrianised streets on a large scale.” François Pienaar

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SAIA Merit Award
Standard Bank Gallery

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Standard Bank Centre Gallery. “Recently the conversion of the former Commercial Exchange building on the corner of Simmonds and Frederick Streets in the city, was completed, to provide the Standard Bank with premises for its archives, exhibition space, an art gallery and facilities for music recitals.” (Planning, 1990: 34)

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SAIA Merit Award
JHB Technical College

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Johannesburg Technical College. “The design hinged upon the urban context of the college, where we removed various buildings to create a green band, that became the spine of this internally focused scheme.” François Pienaar

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SAIA Conservation Award
JHB Art Gallery

South African Institute of Architects Conservation Award for renovation to the Johannesburg Art Gallery by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The wings of the Johannesburg Art Gallery “accept that [historical] footprint uncompromisingly but reinterpret it … and they allow it to be more clearly understood in its historical context and at the same time are themselves [the wings] rendered more comprehensible.” (Architecture SA, 1987: 40)

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1991
AIA Exhibition Invitation

Invited by the American Institute of Architects to submit work to an international exhibition in the USA. “We were invited to submit work for a Retrospective Exhibition for Louis Khan, specifically from the old scholars of the master’s degree class that studied under him. We sent the model of the Johannesburg Art Gallery that had just been completed and Willie Meyer and I went to the exhibition in the USA.” François Pienaar

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1989
Competition Win
Edenvale Library

Winning entry in an invited competition for the design of the New Library for Edenvale. “Public response has been overwhelming … The main aim, to create a ‘home from home’, has been fully realised.” (Construction, 1994: 31)

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Competition Runner-up
Durban Museum Library

“The Durban City Council recently announced the winner of its national architectural competition for the design of the city’s new cultural complex … These winners were selected from seven runners which included … Meyer Pienaar Smith Moren Inc, Johannesburg.” (Planning, 1989: 23)

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1988
SAIA Merit Award
JHB Art Gallery

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Johannesburg Art Gallery. “In summary, the lesson of the building is in its most successful part – the wings. They accept that footprint unsurprisingly but reinterpret it so that the historical structure remains, but … new spatial possibilities construct forms which allow a perceptual dialogue with the original.” (Architecture SA, 1987: 40)

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SAIA Merit Award
Vaal Triangle Technikon Library

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Vaal Triangle Technikon Library. The campus masterplan, laid out as a grid, forms a holding structure made of multi-levelled circulation routes into which the individual faculties were inserted. Within the resultant interplay of open and closed spaces for student interaction, the new library acts as a major focal point.

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1987
Competition Finalist
Hong Kong University

International Competition for Design of Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (in association with PSI and Rocco Yim Architects) - one of three finalists. “This international competition had more than 300 entrants and Meyer Pienaar was happy to learn that we ended up as finalists among so many. Politics may have played a role in not winning the competition outright, but to have been considered was an honour in itself.” François Pienaar

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1986
Crystal Awards Merit Award

Crystal Awards Merit Award for design achievement. “Two projects supported the citation nominating architects François Pienaar, Floris Smith and Willie Meyer of Meyer Pienaar and Partners Inc. One was the Johannesburg Art Gallery and the other the Krugersdorp Civic Centre.” (Planning, 1987: 68)

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1985
SAIA Merit Award
House Meyer

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for House Meyer. “After returning from his travels to Iran in the mid 1970s, Willie Meyer designed his own house based on the courtyard lifestyle that he saw there. The materials used, such as the bricks and the patina, are all reminiscent of Iran.” François Pienaar

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1983
SAIA Merit Award
Everard Read Gallery

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Everard Read Gallery. “The Meyer-Pienaar collaboration produced an outstanding example of post-modern architecture which has led to the Everard Gallery becoming a much admired landmark in Rosebank, described by the gallery owners as having cosmopolitan and energetic qualities that this fantastic city has to offer.” Andrew David Harrison

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1981
SAIA Merit Award
Potch University Student Centre

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Student Centre, Potchefstroom University. “The centre has created successful nucleus for meetings and social gatherings. This was achieved by very good pedestrian connections with the rest of the campus.” (Architecture SA, 1981: 2)

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1979
SAIA Merit Award
Government Buildings, Mmabatho

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for Government Buildings, Mmabatho. “Die opdrag het gevra vir oop kantoorbeplanning omdat dit, onder andere, buigsaamheid in die verskuiwing van departement vergemaklik. … daar is gepoog om menslike skaal en ‘n gevoel van identiteit aan die uitlegte te gee.” (Architecture SA, 1979:47)

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SAIA Merit Award
Hazyview Church

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Hazyview Church Competition. “Die doelwit gestel is om te poog om ‘n kerkgeboukompleks te skep wat deur sy fisiese gestalte die kerkganger tot ‘n verhewe bewustheid sal stimuleer.” (Architecture SA, 1979: 49).

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1978
Competition Win
Pahlavi Library

Prize as one of three winners out of 601 entrants from 80 countries in the international competition for the Pahlavi National Library, Tehran, Iran. “The Pahlavi Library was designed to be sensitive to the climate and its surrounding context. It also had a deep level of historicity in terms of materials and form that allowed it to create various interesting spaces, such as the large domes in the building.” François Pienaar

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1977
SAIA Merit Award
RAU

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Rand Afrikaans University. “What standards would we have achieved without the urge to explore nature, to analyse our environment, to improve given conditions and to make progress… It is a basic human activity to explore, it is a necessity to teach and by doing so transmit the findings and knowledge gained in the past – for a better future.” (Planning, 1973: 31)

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1975
SAIA Merit Award
Potch University Sports Centre

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Potchefstroom University Sports Building. “This project was completed in partnership with Bannie Britz, because the Meyer Pienaar office was extremely busy with the Rand Afrikaans University at the time and needed some help to be able to work on the Potchefstroom University buildings.” François Pienaar

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SAIA Merit Award
Sanlam Housing

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for Sanlam Housing. “The overall plan tried to find a layout which would give variety of spatial experiences but at the same time create a central ‘activity zone’ which everybody has to get involved with and thereby identify himself with the place he is living in.” (Planning, 1975: 29)

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1973
Competition Win
Germiston Civic Centre

First prize in an international competition for the Germiston Civic Centre. “Professor Alwyn Burger from the University of Pretoria was the main adjudicator for this important international competition. We worked with Gerhard Hattingh and Silvio Bufler on this project and it was influenced by the designs of Alvar Alto.” François Pienaar

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1972
SAIA Merit Award
RAU Student Housing

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for the Rand Afrikaans University Student Housing . “The Transvaal Provincial Institute of Architects made awards to the following buildings as being of exceptional merit: The Rand Afrikaans University Student House… .” (Architect and Builder, 1973: 30)

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1966
SAIA Merit Award
House Robinson

South African Institute of Architects Merit Award for House Robinson. “This was one of the first projects on which Willie Meyer and Glen Gallagher collaborated, and it was interesting because it was positioned right at the top of Linksfield Ridge. The design was inspired by Louis Khan and the property contained a stone wall built by Ghandi.” François Pienaar

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Peer and industry recognition
4
continents
Experiencer spanning four continents.
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Collaborations
Collaborative projects with more than thirty Architectural practices.
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Competition Wins
Winners of eight national and international competitions.
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Shortlisted
Shortlisted in a further nine.
20
Books
Published in more than twenty books on Architecture.
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Articles
Countless articles in the professional press.
SUSTAINABLE THINKING

The ethos of Co-Arc International stems from an appreciation of a rapidly changing world, in which corporate governance needs to pursue value creation in a sustainable manner. The value proposition which directs our architectural work also underpins our corporate culture: an awareness of our duty of care in the triple context of the economy, society and the environment.

Against this background, Co-Arc is acutely aware that the architectural profession has failed to transform to reflect South Africa’s cultural diversity and to contribute positively to its full potential to change in its own country.

CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT
ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

Non-profit organisations that have benefited from our Corporate Social Investment include the Alexandra Health Centre and University Clinic, Johannesburg, the National Organisation of the Blind in South Africa (NOBSA) for proposed developments of support centres in De Deur and in Soweto, and the Mthimkhulu Centre for Disabled Children in Soweto.

Beyond the formal regulatory framework for Af firmative Action, we are also strongly focussed on the potential for transformative impact of the architecture and urban design emanating from our studio.

Our focus on ecological sustainability and social responsibility of development is supported by postgraduate qualifications in Urban Design and in Environmental Management among our senior professionals, accreditations as Green Building Professionals with the GBCSA, and, in addition to statutorily

In response to the imperatives to achieve social transformation in South Africa, Co-Arc has at its inception adopted an empowerment policy which seeks to position the company as an agent of transformation. As South Africa’s legislation and guidelines for Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) evolved, Co- Arc has aligned its policies to the regulatory framework, ensuring at all times that the underlying ethos remained the real motivating force.

AT PRESENT CO-ARC IS A LEVEL 2 BBBEE CONTRIBUTOR.

This rating was achieved on the basis of audited assessment against the latest Construction Sector Code scorecard.

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25% Black ownership and management participation
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Establishment of the Co-Arc Bursary scheme annually supporting tuition fees and allowances for two full-time students at the Faculty of Architecture and Design (FADA), University of Johannesburg
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Additional bursaries for two students in the architectural field from within the ranks of Co-Arc employees
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Optimised preferential procurement policies to help grow emerging businesses
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Extensive structured training and mentorship programmes, both inhouse and through external coursework

Non-profit organisations that have benefited from our Corporate Social Investment include the Alexandra Health Centre and University Clinic, Johannesburg, the National Organisation of the Blind in South Africa (NOBSA) for proposed developments of support centres in De Deur and in Soweto, and the Mthimkhulu Centre for Disabled Children in Soweto.

Beyond the formal regulatory framework for Af firmative Action, we are also strongly focussed on the potential for transformative impact of the architecture and urban design emanating from our studio.

Our focus on ecological sustainability and social responsibility of development is supported by postgraduate qualifications in Urban Design and in Environmental Management among our senior professionals, accreditations as Green Building Professionals with the GBCSA, and, in addition to statutorily

In response to the imperatives to achieve social transformation in South Africa, Co-Arc has at its inception adopted an empowerment policy which seeks to position the company as an agent of transformation. As South Africa’s legislation and guidelines for Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) evolved, Co- Arc has aligned its policies to the regulatory framework, ensuring at all times that the underlying ethos remained the real motivating force.

AT PRESENT CO-ARC IS A LEVEL 2 BBBEE CONTRIBUTOR.

This rating was achieved on the basis of audited assessment against the latest Construction Sector Code scorecard.

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25% Black ownership and management participation
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Establishment of the Co-Arc Bursary scheme annually supporting tuition fees and allowances for two full-time students at the Faculty of Architecture and Design (FADA), University of Johannesburg
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Additional bursaries for two students in the architectural field from within the ranks of Co-Arc employees
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Optimised preferential procurement policies to help grow emerging businesses
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Extensive structured training and mentorship programmes, both inhouse and through external coursework
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