Establishing viable architectural firms

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A comparison of three public projects that included community participation to determine the total value add

Some of the most pressing and challenging problems facing South Africa are unemployment, poverty, urban redress, infrastructural decay, under-education, and the transformation of the landscape left by apartheid. In an effort to address these problems, the successive democratic governments embarked on a number of initiatives that were aimed at providing relief through building and construction projects, which require the participation by, and employment of local community members. To facilitate the desired redress, various programmes were launched and a number of projects undertaken. Some of these projects were flagship projects that were lauded by the architectural profession and attracted wide publicity. The socio-economic benefits to the community and local area, the extent of skills transfer to the community participants, and the long-term benefits they brought to the community participants are less obvious. This article revisits three such projects as case studies, with the aim of determining the extent to which they helped address the aforementioned problems and the extent of the benefits they brought to their physical and social contexts. This is done through a literature review supported by semi-structured interviews of relevant role players and an observational visit to each, in order to make recommendations suggesting how future projects could be configured to maximise the long-term benefit they could bring to their physical and social environments while addressing the national challenges. It is recommended that infrastructural development programmes such as the Extended Public Works Programme must prioritise the socio-economic upliftment and sustainable empowerment of people and configure projects with this as their main aim

Entrepreneurship for unsettled times in the architectural profession – A review

Internationally, the architectural profession is doing introspection and debating its future role and relevance. In South Africa, the profession, like others in the built-environment sector, is under pressure, due to political and economic uncertainties and a low growth rate. While many voices call for a greater emphasis on the business aspect of architectural practice, this review article suggests that, in addition, if architects were to adopt a more entrepreneurial approach – as many have already done – the profession could gain new ground and fresh relevance. In support of this suggestion, the article proposes how the inclusion of entrepreneurship education into architectural education can inculcate an entrepreneurial attitude. Based on a literature study, the article provides examples of entrepreneurial endeavours by architects in practice. The study found that entrepreneurial architects have created opportunities not only for themselves, but also for others, including persons who previously enjoyed hardly any benefit from architects; that entrepreneurial architects can practise away from mainstream locations; that the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution might bring a host of entrepreneurial opportunities to those who are ready and have an entrepreneurial mindset; that entrepreneurial architects seem willing to share and help others who wish to follow, and that entrepreneurship and good design are not incompatible. A further finding was that the profession in general benefits, and will continue to do so, from the entrepreneurial endeavours of its members. A change of mindset was found to be the main factor prohibiting support for the notion that architectural education should include entrepreneurial outcomes into current and new programmes. Finally, it emerged that there is a need for support in the form of mentorship, incubators, and support groups from professional organisations such as the South African Institute of Architects

Early sustainable architecture in hanging skyscrapers – A comparison of two financial office buildings

Reuse, or the ability to continue using an item or building beyond the initial function, is a key concept in the literature on sustainability. This implies that a building should be designed in a way that will allow it to be repurposed when changing circumstances require changes in its layout or function; being energy efficient and environmentally sensitive is not enough. The building also needs to be financially viable and the people whose lives are impacted by it should wish to have it retained. As far as flexibility of high-rise or skyscraper buildings is concerned, the structural system and layout are some, but not the only aspects that are of particular importance in this regard. Upside-down or ‘hanging’ buildings, because of the reduced use of columns, can potentially provide advantages when viewed from such a widened understanding of sustainability. Two such buildings are the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC) headquarters building in Hong Kong and the Standard Bank Centre (SBC) in Johannes-burg. The SBC stands virtually unused and in disrepair, while the HSBC remains fully operational and revered by the population of Hong Kong. This article compares the design and construction processes of the two buildings to determine why these two buildings ended up in such divergent situations. The aim is to make recommendations regarding structural systems and other factors that could assist in ensuring that future skyscrapers will be more sustainable, in addition to being energy and resource conserving. Furthermore, this comparison sheds some light on the historical development of the understanding of sustainability and the difference between green design and sustainable design

Globalisation as a business strategy for South African architectural practices

Globalisation has become a common topic of discussion and research. This treatise focuses on its role as part of the business of Architectural practice. It investigates the reasons why selected South African Architectural practices decided to globalise, how this decision was reached, implemented and how successful the decisions were. Based on the findings of a literature study it uses the case study methodology to confirm the findings that the strategic position of South African Architectural practices is one where practical and historical reasons exist for the profession to embark on a globalisation strategy. The studies confirm that a globalisation strategy presents a suitable, feasible and acceptable strategy for South African Architectural practices. However, a disconcerting element of the findings was the fact that there are strong indications that South African Architectural practices do not realise the potential benefits inherent in regular strategic planning. Thus it recommends that such a strategy should be based on specialist knowledge or experience, that opening an office in the area to which firms wish to expand will greatly enhance the chances of success, that formal strategic planning processes should be used to ensure that such a strategy is an appropriate one and to identify the countries to which the firm plans to expand its services. Furthermore, it recommends that Government should recognise that firms expanding in this manner hold specific advantages for the national economy and introduce steps to support the profession so that it may build the capacity and skills required therefore. In addition it recommends that the relevant professional bodies should ensure that their members have the business and managerial skills required to ensure the achievement of these objectives

How enduring South African architects' firms got there

This article reports on a qualitative study into the actions, practices and attitudes that allowed a sample of South African architects’ firms to be regarded as enduring. Architects considering starting their own firms, or those who have started their own firms in the recent and not-so-recent past, can benefit from the experience of the 26 enduring architects’ firms studied. In the words of David Littlefield: Too many architects make too bad a living, a problem that is largely the result of believing that quality design will inevitably lead to decent clients and a fair income. The truth is that the business dimension of an architectural practice is no less important than producing the drawings. After a literature review, the study followed a qualitative methodology comprising semi-structured interviews with the founder or most senior partner of the firms identified with the assistance of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA). The sample was drawn from architects’ firms in the four major metropolitan areas of South Africa as well as two firms from rural areas. Reference will be made to a parallel quantitative study that canvased all architects and candidate architects registered with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP).This article contains content compiled and findings made as part of a PhD study " Vosloo, C. 2017. A framework for entrepreneurship education and training for South African Architects. Unpublished PhD (Architecture) thesis. University of Pretoria: Pretoria".The Universities of Johannesburg and Pretoria and the Department of Higher Education and Training.http://saia.org.za/?page_id=714am2018ArchitectureBusiness Managemen

An entrepreneurship education, training and support framework for South African architects

This article will report the findings of research undertaken to put forward an amalgamated education and training framework that has the potential to enhance the entrepreneurial functioning of South African Architects’ firms whilst adding to the present-day dialogue on entrepreneurship education and training. Some South African architects’ firms are battling to stay afloat (Corbett 2015, 44). While there could be many reasons for this situation, the absence of fitting entrepreneurship education, training and support for architects could be a contributing aspect. Significant agreement occurs between entrepreneurial education and training theorists that a phased methodology, that contains enacted learning is most suited for entrepreneurship education and training. Therefore, the article puts forward a framework as a structure wherein the education and training can be offered. The study used a combined methods approach since a single source was considered inadequate and because the use of manifold phases or projects, could best realise the overall study objective (Creswell and Plano-Clark 2011, 8). This article aims to bring the findings and recommendations to the attention of those who can put them into effect and to contribute to the conversation on entrepreneurship education and training.This article contains content and reports the findings made as part of a PhD: Architecture study at the University of Pretoria. (http://hdl.handle.net/2263/66257)The study was partially funded by the Universities of Pretoria and Johannesburg as well as the Department of Higher Education and Training.https://journals.co.za/content/journal/highhttp://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajheam2018ArchitectureBusiness Managemen

A framework for entrepreneurship education training and support for South African architects

Many South African architects’ firms are finding it difficult to prosper in the changing economic and business environment. While all the contributing factors are not obvious, it is suggested that the lack of entrepreneurship education, training and support is possibly a contributing factor. This thesis reports the findings and recommendations of a study undertaken to propose an integrated education, training and support framework that can improve the entrepreneurial performance of South African Architects’ firms while contributing to the current discourse on entrepreneurial education and training. The proposed entrepreneurship education, training and support framework should fit into the existing education and training system for South African architects. The research design comprised a mixed methods empirical process which followed ‘convergent parallel mixed methods design’ (Creswell 2014:220). The results, amongst other findings, indicated that the entrepreneurial education and training available is inadequate and that the entrepreneurial orientation of architects is low, hence that entrepreneurial education and training could alleviate this situation. The study recommends a phased approach. The first phase should aim at changing perceptions, attitudes and mindsets about entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship while the second phase should develop in participants the required socio-emotional skills and cover the entrepreneurial process. The third phase should focus on becoming an entrepreneur. All of the foregoing should be framed by the specific needs of architects. The final phase should comprise learning by doing but with support such as mentoring, administrative support and technical assistance.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017.ArchitecturePhDUnrestricte