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PHILOSOPHY

We believe architecture is in essence the perfect balance between space + life. Start with a space. Add life to it.

How space and life are understood, experienced and expressed is what distinguishes different designers and defines their originality and ingenuity. These are the design values we believe in:

Holding Hands
PARTNERSHIP

A partnership is the best relationship.

 

We will listen to our clients first and throughout. We want to understand you and who you want to be. We formulate questions. Questioning enables improvement. Strategy is not the consequence of planning, it’s the opposite: the starting point. We like thinking ahead. We challenge you on your strategy and plan, and help you building your vision.

PROJECT CENTRIC

Find your project identity

Each project has an identity, and needs that are unique. We believe the design solution should be the product of a strategy to answer those needs, and not the opposite. We do not believe in predefined signature styles or one-size-fits-all approaches. We respond to each project by understanding its identity first and adapting to it rather than the project adapting to us.

Outdoor Meditation
MEANINGFUL

Thinking it through.

Some of the most meaningful architectural experiences cannot be captured in full essence by anything other than human senses. We seek to design spaces that produce meaningful experiences. A sense of the remarkable, from the atmosphere created to the assembly detailing. Materials, transitions, details and shades that tell a story and produce strong emotions.

Little League Team Hands In
THRIVE

The power of understanding

In order to educate ourselves about what a community needs to thrive, we must experience it and understand its dynamics. We listen with intent to create a safe environment for communities to express their needs. Our designs aim to bring about improvement and empowerment through interaction and knowledge sharing

STRATEGY

There's always a better plan

 

We will listen to our clients first and throughout. We want to understand you and who you want to be. We formulate questions. Questioning enables improvement. Strategy is not the consequence of planning, it’s the opposite: the starting point. We like thinking ahead. We challenge you on your strategy and plan, and help you building your vision.

Henna Tattoo on Textured Background
CONTEXT

Context shapes who you are.

 

No design is an island. We believe context and integration are essential. Understanding the end-user, the culture they are in and the physical surroundings are a vital requirement in the design process. Whether we intend to blend or stand out, our every design starts with understanding the context to unlock the potential of the place.

Hiking Path
PURSUIT

That inspiration/ perspiration ratio.

Pursuit by testing the design with an incessant intent to achieve. We pursuit great ideas. They are always there waiting, but it takes effort as much as creativity and ingenuity. We sketch many options and continually test them against agreed criteria. Gummavitta is a space of study, experimentation and debate. The best environment for great ideas leading to sublime architecture.

Vervet Monkey
WELL-BEING

We recognize that as designers we have a duty to stop the harm caused to our environment. We will take every opportunity to lead the way for environmental, social and economic sustainability. Every decision should consider the safety and well-being of the environment and its inhabitants. We strive to holistically preserve the harmony with the original nature of the site, and whenever possible enrich it. We must ensure that we influence our clients and aid them in transitioning to alternative approaches that no longer put short-term thinking before the long-term well-being of the environment

Young Professor
LEARN

The honesty of data

Some designers disconnect with the project the moment they finish their cycle. But it is when a project is launched and a building is built that the human end-user journey truly begins. We are keen to remain linked to the process until after construction, collecting data that will serve us and our clients in better predicting the needs of future projects. A willingness to always learn is what we demand of ourselves.

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"The greatest carver does the least cutting.” 
Lao-Tzu

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