Team - Earthworld Architects & Interiors

Manifesto

In pursuit of beauty… a single brush stroke should suffice.

a building should be simple; yet provocative and dynamic; a building should be an emotional experience, move you

technology and program guide the process

a building defines the inhabitant’s relationship to the world itself... the way it’s entered, an existential reference

space should embrace TECHNOLOGY, CULTURE, STYLE, NATURE and CONTEXT

space should...

pay homage to the site,

have respect for function,

embrace the natural and man made order,

be harmonious with nature and climate,

pay service to asthetic values

André Eksteen

André, multi-award winning co-director and resident office ‘father’, started the practice with Braam de Villiers in October 2000, following on a successful career both academically and in practice. When he is not travelling up a mountain or biking down a pass, André spends his time suffering from severe OCD when it comes to ensuring that the full potential of every design is achieved and developed to the finest and best possible level of detail – continuously guaranteeing this through his signature hands-on approach. He is constantly pushing the boundaries of what can be imagined, built and made and always makes sure his employees are well fed.

Braam de Villiers

Braam, with his extensive and multi-award winning experience across many fields of architecture, both academically and in practice, is co-director at Earthworld since October 2000, when he started the practice with André Eksteen. Being well travelled and always engaging with people and place, Braam is also the boss when it comes to culture, music and food, the latter usually fresh from his prized vegetable garden. Environmental sustainability is core to his architectural belief system and he keeps us all at Earthworld sharp in terms of our ecological responsibility, historical knowledge and practical know-how.

Cynthia Nkosi

Cynthia, born and raised in Mamelodi and a former Tshwane University of Technology student, and has brought a great number of exciting architectural projects to life in her time here at Earthworld. She is also known as the resident software and tech wizard and if there’s something you don’t know how to draw, model or illustrate on any given platform, you can bet Cynthia does.

Madelaine Haycock

Madelaine, a University of Technology Graduate, has been with the Earthworld team since early days and has an extensive repertoire of projects behind her name. Hard working, strong willed and diligent, she has mastered the difficult art of dealing with council and regulatory issues and has run a wide range of aspects within the practice with great fastidiousness.

Petri van Wyk

An artist who spends his mornings sculpting with brick & concrete, & his evenings painting abstract acrylic portraits, Petri is the quintessential Architect Artist. Having escaped Middelburg to complete his Masters in Architecture at the University of Pretoria, Petri enjoys certain symptoms from a constant bout of Wanderlust, a strong desire to live & experience everything this world has to offer, which he brings through in the architecture he creates.

Laetitia Lamprecht

With a strong conceptual foundation Laetitia’s passion for architecture has been strengthened with her diligence and pragmatic nature. Laetitia graduated with a BSc Architecture degree from the University of Pretoria and completed her Master of Architecture degree at the Tshwane University of Technology cum laude. Laetitia’s interest in architecture stems from a deep intrigue and questioning of what it means to be in the world. With an awareness of heritage and the social impact of the past she envisions a new future reality.

Emma Hurst

Born in SA but raised in the UK, Emma returned to SA to complete her tertiary education by obtaining her Master of Architecture Profession in 2018 at the University of the Witwatersrand. Emma is the picture balance – not only in her personal life, juggling fitness, cooking, and her passion for lego building, but in her work she finds the balance between artisanal quality, detail and technical solutions. Her inquisitive nature inspires her to push the limits, creating the extraordinary, exploring the essence, craft, and beauty of architecture. Emma is a conscientious and driven individual who takes pride in the quality, accuracy, and impact of her contribution to the world.

Rubi Bongerize

Rubi’s passion and interests in architecture originated after her high school completion. She believes that architecture should not only be about the form , voids and filling up the gaps but rather it should be enhanced through human dimension within a space and the experience of a place. She has completed her undergraduate in 2017 and she went on to obtain her Master of Architecture Profession in 2019 at the Tshwane University of Technology . She considers that perfection and good work ethics are valuable for a working environment.

Christian Greyling

Born in Pretoria and raised in the highveld of Mpumalagna. Christian has grown up in a family of artisans. Learning from his father and grandfather he developed a keen sense and ambition for making. He returned to the mother city to pursue architecture, his pragmatic thinking and ambition for making have developed his design methodology into a unique blend of approaching architecture. Heck! He even designed and built his own container tiny house.

Brentan Gouws

Born and raised in Pretoria, Brentan pursued his architecture journey at the University of Pretoria, completing his BSc Architecture degree in 2018 and going on to obtain his Master of Architecture in 2021. Brentan has a strong passion for circular economics and sustainable design, resulting in a design methodology that maximizes the full potential of architecture through innovative materiality and technical resolution for both present and future conditions. Brentan greatly values a high work ethic, and you’ll always find him with a full cup of coffee.

Twané Wallendorf

For Twané, design brings an opportunity and responsibility to create spaces that add value to the daily lives of its users, considering both the tangible and intangible. Following her undergraduate degree, completed in 2016, she further obtained her Master in Interior Architecture degree at the University of Pretoria in 2019. She is a perfectionist with a passion for technical design and detailing. Her love for baking is a bonus to the office.

Mieke van Rooyen

For many interior designers & architects, design isn't left behind an office desk, its rather something to be carefully nurtured every hour of the day, affecting every aspect of our lives. For Mieke, the crafting of interior design has been at the very center of her character, even before completing her undergraduate degree in Interior Architecture at the University of Pretoria. With a strong focus in the people at the core of her designs, Mieke enjoys the crafting of spaces & objects, bespoked to the needs of every client.

André Uys

A graduate from the University of Pretoria, he joined our office with a persisting passion for architecture. A complete perfectionist and always dressed to impress, but make no mistake, Andre’s love for nature and hands on mentality on the construction site helps get things done - even when it means getting a little dirt under the nails. He knows what he wants, and he knows how to get it - Be bold and Dream Big.

Lianelle Jansen van Vuuren

Born and raised in Pretoria, Lianelle pursued her architectural endeavours at the University of the Free State. She completed her Honours in Architecture in 2020, and returned to her Preotorian roots, shortly after. Following her internship year in 2019, Lianelle was able to fall right back into the Earthworld rhythm, contributing with her own unique flavour and input. She has proven herself more than capable of forming part of an architectural and interior way of thinking, cementing her personality in pockets of design wherever she goes.

Andrea Wolmarans

Andrea, is a diligent industrial designer who possesses a CTU drafting certificate and an unwavering passion for her craft. Her skill set and dedication make her an invaluable asset to our architecture firm. Andrea's keen eye for detail not only elevate our projects but also inspire the entire team to reach new creative heights.

Claudia Glashoff

Claudia, a passionate individual with a unique blend of interests. Dogs, family, and architecture are her top three loves. A proud alumnus of the University of the Witwaterstrand, she graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. She thrives on crafting harmonious spaces, skillfully combining her passion for architecture with an unwavering appreciation for the intrinsic beauty of natural materials. Claudia's heart truly beats for the art of architecture, with a special devotion to the enchanting allure of timber, infusing her designs with its warmth and character.

Timu Wassenaar

A Pretoria native and holder of a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Pretoria, Timu's path was guided by fate, leading him to Earthworld Architects. Unapologetically disorderly and always eager for a debate, Timu's forte lies in managing chaos, making him an ideal fit for the dynamic construction site environment. Timu embodies the resilience necessary for navigating the unpredictable, striking a balance between passion and determination. If there is no dirt under his nails, he is not happy.

Magderie Smit

Born and raised in Pietersburg, Magderie left the countryside for the Jacaranda city to complete her undergraduate degree in Interior Architecture at the University of Pretoria. Talented, driven, and ambitious. Magderie is passionate about responsive and sustainable design, human-centred architecture and creating design solutions that are innovative, functional, and bold, to design for the needs of people. Through creativity and intention, she strives to design resilient, poetic spaces that inspire and shape human interaction and experience.

Jethro Koen

Jethro, born and raised in Blouberg, Cape Town, graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. He believes the problems he's trying to solve can be found in the pages of an architecture book or in the immersion of nature and culture. A rare breed, Jethro's presence is scarce in the office; you'll have better luck tracking him down at the nearest bustling building site, where his passion for crafting comes to life.

Lise Mackey

In 2021, Lise became a member of the Earthworld family, integrating seamlessly as the Office Manager. With a deep-rooted connection to architecture, she embraces her position, ensuring our architectural firm adheres to all legal, statutory, and professional requirements, despite not being an Architect herself. Each working day, she eagerly confronts the ups and downs of the construction industry, relishing the constant challenges and boundless possibilities that continuously unfold in our bustling workspace. Her constant smiles and infectious cheerfulness foster an environment with positivity and enthusiasm.

Lizzy Skosana

The glue that holds the office together, if it weren’t for Lizzy the office would be in a perpetual state of comatose. They say behind every great man is a woman doing the real work, well in Lizzy’s case that saying rings true for an entire office.