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

Team

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.

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.

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.

Laurika Brümmer

From her sensitive approach to heritage to a playful sense of fashion – Laurika loves all things vintage and retro. Completing her undergraduate studies in 2010 and receiving cum laude her Master’s degree in Interior Architecture in 2016; she believes in the interior as the heart of a building and the most important aspect of architecture – clearly manifesting in her incredible sense for design and technical resolve.

ARNé GUNTER

Arné, originally from Richards Bay and a Tshwane University of Technology graduate has built up an impressive architectural portfolio since joining Earthworld in 2012. He is a software dynamo able to bring the most wildly imaginative concepts into reality with his computing skills. Add this to his passion for photography and craft and you’ve got a winning combination.

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.

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.

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.

Anneli Odendaal

Anneli’s passion for architecture and space making grew from the belief that design is a tool to be used to enhance humanity. After completing her undergraduate degree in 2010 from the University of Pretoria, she also went on to obtain her Master of Interior Architecture degree in 2014. She is a perfectionist and highly values good work ethics. She cannot say no to a good cup of coffee or resist an opportunity to let her dry sense of humour surface.

Titus Sekoati

Creativity doesn't manifest in the same way from one person to the next for many. for Titus, thinking about design is directly linked to it's immediate making, which is no where more true than in the awe-inspiring sketches Titus creates. With a background in product design & an undergraduate degree in Interior Design from Tshwane University of Technology, Titus has a flare for bringing thoughts to life.

Chris de Bruin

A never ending intern, Chris joined our team in 2019 after graduating at the University of Pretoria and has since shown an infectious passion for the architectural discourse. Constantly sketching, modeling on the computer or on the cutting mat; he’s able to rapidly generate and develop ideas with rigor - always with context in mind.

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.

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.