PANEL OF JUDGES
JONATHAN ANSTEY STAUCH VORSTER ARCHITECTS
DARREN BESTER IT IS DESIGN
JANINA MASOJADA DESIGNWORKSHOP : SA
SONJA PETRUS SPAMER SPS ARCHITECTS
DOROTHY VAN’T RIET DOROTHY VAN’T RIET DESIGN & DÉCOR CONSULTANTS
LISA YOUNGER ACTIVATE SPACE
Jonathan Anstey StauchVorsterArchitects
Commercial, retail, transport facilities, hotels and leisure, convention centres are just a few of the disciplines embraced by Jonathan Anstey. After studying architecture at the University of Witwatersrand, Jonathan launched his career at Stauch Vorster Architects. To date, his many architectural accolades include Transit Centre – Johannesburg, St Regis Hotel – Mauritius, Mooi Rivier Mall – Potchefstroom, Standard Bank Headquarters - Nelspruit, Stoneridge Shopping Centre, Discovery Health Fun Factory - Sandton, Riverside Shopping Centre - Nelspruit, Radisson Hotel – Mozambique
Question: How do you approach design?
I listen and try to visualize the problem, then I draw. The moment that the first lines are on the paper , I begin asking more and more questions, checking relationships between space, function and structure. I am probably guilty of drawing too much……but I never hold onto a concept just because it’s complete…… even if it all “works” , its still got to feel right…………… and that’s the part I wish I could explain…..too high, too thin, too big ………..and it’s then when you start designing.
Question: What does good design mean to you?
Good design is the power to bring to life to an idea in such a way as to energize that idea beyond the predictable variations of the norm.
Question: Where do you look for inspiration?
I really enjoy debating with other designers. When you listen to other opinions it’s amazing how your eyes begin to open, and seeming insignificant details can springboard solutions to design problems on a totally different scale or context.
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Darren Bester IT IS Design
Darren Bester’s burning desire to be an Interior Designer saw him leave the corporate world to complete a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Interior Design at Greenside Design Center (validated through the University of Nottingham Trent) in 2005. He is a previous winner of the PG Bison Student Design Awards and has had his Honours work published in Denmark.
Under the mentorship of Charles Storr, Darren was apprenticed as a Junior Designer at The Kite Works. Now his own company, It Is Design, specializes in Commercial, Retail and Restaurant Design across South Africa. His design philosophy is strongly based on passion, commitment to hard work and attention to detail.
Darren’s enthusiasm in locally promoting young Interior Designers has placed him on the panel of judges for various student and professional competitions.
Question: What will always put a smile of your face?
Anything with chocolate in it make me smile and yes a beautifully crafted piece of design.
Question: How did you arrive at where you are today?
We are still on our journey but we are where we are today because we deliver a product that keeps our customers come backing for more. A few lucky breaks helped in the beginning but ultimately these only opened the doors to relationships that had to be nurtured through hard work and dedication.
Question: What are you passionate about?
If it has anything to do with good design then I am passionate about it, but I have to admit that I am also very passionate about a good bottle of wine.
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Janina Ewa Masojada designworkshop : sa
A degree in Architecture from University of Natal took Janina further afield to Massachusetts Institute of Technology to complete a Masters Degree. Her work to date includes urban design, architecture, interior and furniture design. After jointly winning the international design competition for the design of the new Constitutional Court in Johannesburg with partner Andrew Makin and Paul Wygers of Urban Solutions, Janina’s present architecture practice focuses on a achieving a high level of contemporary design, relevant to the time, place and culture of the project location. The work undertaken ranges in scale and type, from the procurement and product development of art and craft, to the delivery of building projects.
designworkshop:sa has received to date seven Regional Awards of Merit, five National Awards of Merit and four Awards for Excellence, the highest accolade from the South African Institute of Architects. The team is involved in regular international travel for the purposes of research and experience of best global practice and has exhibited architectural work in international exhibitions including London, Berlin, San Paolo, and Venice. Janina is frequently invited as guest speaker to local and international architectural conferences and is involved as an external examiner and lecturer at universities across the country. Numerous Architectural Awards grace their office, the designworkshop’s walls.
Question: What motivated your decision to become an architect?
Growing up in a household where architects and engineers talked shop continuously. My father was a structural engineer from europe, loved architecture, and the modern arhcitecture of the day.
Question: Who is your favorite designer(s) and why?
Too many to say acros the spectrums, from rem koolhaas to issy miyake- they break boundaries that otherwise tether us to the conventional.
Question: A tool of the trade you can never be without?
Books, now i suppose digital references, but still, reference books
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Sonja Petrus Spamer SPS Architects
Sonja Petrus Spamer studied architecture at the University of Cape Town but claims that she came to consciousness on a large sheep farm in the Great Karoo. Sonja has just opened her own practice - SPS Architects.
Her many accolades include C.P.I.A Group Prize for Simulated Office Project, Best Final Year Student in Architecture, Top Bill / Momentum Life Style Award for Architecture, Cape Institute for Architecture award, South Africa Institute of Architecture award and 2nd place in best building in South Africa survey.
Her extensive travels have inspired her to be in touch with the element qualities of nature and people. She has previously lectured at the University of Cape Town and her research included the difficult issue of housing. She has her own practice called SPS Architects. Some of her projects have been Weavers Nest in Cape Town, New Mechanical Engineering building for CPUT, The Kidz Zone at Cape Town Book Fair, among many others. She insists on providing strong, imaginative concepts that reflect the nature of contemporary Cape Town.
Question: Who is your favorite designer(s) and why?
Louis Kahn, Aldo van Eyck, Alejandro Arevena, Issey Miyake
Question: Where do you look for inspiration?
Philosophy, great designers
Question: A design item you can’t be without.
A ring – a ring is a memory and a promise
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Dorothy van’t Riet Dorothy van’t Riet Design & Décor Consultants
Dorothy van’t Riet’s academic and sport achievements throughout her life bear witness to her unceasing “striving for excellence”, a trend which has continued into her business career. Dorothy van’t Riet majored in psychology, art and maths in her studies at university. Colour plays an enormously important part in her life and her understanding of it equips her to delight her clients with her boldness of expression.
Achievements & Awards:
- The World’s Best Contemporary Interior Design Award at Royal Ascot England.
- The World’s Best Classical Interior Design Award at Royal Ascot England.
- The Anglo American Best Interior Design Award.
- The JCI Best Interior Designer Award at Dainfern.
- The Star Home Show Best Interior Designer Award at Featherbrooke.
- The Gold Award for Stand Excellence at Decorex S.A.
- An Award in Recognition of Achievement in South Africa’s Best Entrepreneurs.
- The Award for Dynamic Woman of Excellence in Recognition of Outstanding Achievements.
- Nominated for The Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World.
- Nominated as one of the 5 finalists in the South African Businesswoman of the Year.
- Award for innovation at Decorex for Urban Chic Design in a Box.
Dorothy van’t Riet Design & Décor Consultants
Dorothy van’t Riet started her namesake Interior Design company in 1988. As with most businesses, Dorothy started out small but with great resourcefulness has steered her company from grass roots level to a position of strength in the industry. Dorothy van’t Riet Design and Décor Consultants offer comprehensive architectural and interior design services. The DVR motto - “style, substance, solutions” - is reflected in the wide range of projects that are completed with design flair and professionalism. Beautiful interiors are created in prestigious hotels, high-end residences and offices in Africa and Europe. Originality, creativity, practicality and impeccable taste are hallmarks of her work.
Question: What motivated your decision to become an interior designer?
My gift and talent is to make spaces beautiful. I have a passion for colour and design. It is part of my whole being and an extension of my purpose on this earth.
Question: How do you approach design?
My company motto is “style, substance, solutions”. I am a passionate, adventurous person striving for excellence and absolute professionalism. Design should be characterized by originality, creativity, practicality and impeccable taste. Attention to detail, providing turnkey solutions and giving the client more than they envisaged will result in a feeling of supreme satisfaction with the end result.
Question: What are you passionate about?
My husband, colour, orchids and Afghan hounds.
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Lisa Younger Activate Space
Lisa completed a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Art at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1994, graduating with Honors in Design and Scenography.
Since then she has worked extensively as a space designer in the disciplines of live performance, television, film and interior design. She is also a teacher and researcher.
In January 2006 she founded Activate Space, an interior and production design company, which is a sister company to Activate Architects.
Some of the more memorable projects that she has worked on are :
- Between 2002 and 2004, she headed up the art department of the popular soapie ‘Sewende Laan’.
- She has worked extensively as resident designer for The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative.
- In 2002, she designed and manufactured the costumes for ‘Sezar’, a South African adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar, which earned her an FNB Vitae Award for Best Costume Design.
- She has also worked with Rob van Vuuren, Helen Iskander and James Cunningham designing for the shows Electric Juju, The Famished Road, and Jutro – the latter received a Naledi Theatre Award for Best Set Design in 2007.
- She designed the interiors for The Forum Homini Boutique Hotel, which won a Silver Loerie in 2006, in the 3 Dimensional Design Category.
- She has also worked with Hendrik Marais and Karina Strijdom, designing the interiors for their beautiful ‘Cliff House’.
- She has just completed the interior design for a landmark school - Lebone II, based in Phokeng, and commissioned by The Royal Bafokeng Nation.
Lisa draws from her theatrical training to design interior spaces that set a mood, and tell a story. She is passionate about South African theatre, craft, fine art, and design, and uses every opportunity to commission, use, and showcase South African talent and product in her interior designs.
Question: What motivated your decision to become an interior designer?
I didn’t ever make a conscious decision to become an interior designer. I think I just grew into the role. I am always trying to find new and interesting ways to grow my design experience and skill, by exploring new visual disciplines, mediums and expressions. Some of these explorations are successful and others are not.
Question: What does good design mean to you?
Good design is a product / space / building / situation that makes life better! On a number of levels – from being practical and easy to use / understand / keep clean, to offering comfort, ease of movement, emotional wellbeing, aesthetic wonder and charm, affordability, creates jobs, arouses interest, and above all protects and cares for the environment.
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