Content about architect

Pan African Shopfitters set up its own shop a long time ago and today, the retailers of Africa and beyond depend on it to turn their brand identity into reality on the street.

Now under the management of the third generation of the Blumenthal family, Pan African Shopfitters is nothing if not a dynastic enterprise, with all the advantages that entails. It is close knit, with shared values and policies; and it is agile—decisions about strategy, policy and investment can be made very quickly.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, The Lanesborough is renowned for quality and service. Front of house manager Michael Naylor-Leyland explains to Gay Sutton how this enviable reputation has been achieved.

An architect of Africa’s improved infrastructure, Civicon puts its success down to its entrepreneurial spirit, as Andrew Pelis finds out.

Specialist in all styles
The slogan of the great African band Orchestre Baobab applies well to South Africa’s premier firm of architects: its strength lies in its diversity, as TPS.P Architects director Guy Steenekamp explains to John O’Hanlon.
There are buildings rising up in Johannesburg, South Africa and many other parts of the African continent which, for excellence of design and function, rival the best that can be found in Europe, Asia or America. The stark frontier functionality of a few decades ago is fast disappearing; however, the continent’s needs are varied and specialised. An architectural practice here needs above all to be adaptable, and that is where TPS.P Architects scores. It has had a hand in some of the region’s outstanding icons, such as the AngloGold Ashanti headquarters in Johannesburg, the new conference centre in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam and the Marriott Hotel at Accra, Ghana; at the same time it is involved in fundamental infrastructure projects, industrial development and mining.