About Us

About Us

About Us

OUR FOCUS

OUR FOCUS

Projects range from community facilities to multi-million rand projects for private institutions, companies and the public sector. Apart from providing pro Deo projects to communities. NEWURBAN is an all-inclusive consultancy firm committed to capacity building and Black Economic Empowerment.

We specialize in

  • Design excellence that is rooted in local contexts, based on in-depth research, pragmatism, vernacular form, climatic devices and the poetics of making meaningful places.
  • Energy-effective architectural design, creative recycling of buildings as well as infrastructure management and the skill to manage projects.
  • Urban design, environmental management and alternative energy planning and research.
  • Resources, and motivation to undertake all projects with enthusiasm, fully employing the confidence placed in us by our clients.

Ultimately, the professional's sense of value and integrity is the client's best guarantee to obtain value for money. NEWURBAN provides environmental conscious consultancy services throughout South Africa and Africa with offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, as well as associated offices in Lagos, Nigeria and Stuttgart, Germany.

HISTORY

HISTORY

NEWURBAN is the result of 80 years of combined experience and a new integrated design approach. Our team of talented young designers and experienced mentors that combine the latest technology and thinking with a legacy of responsible and responsive design projects.

The HolmJordaan Group has a history of being at the forefront of environmental thinking in South Africa, thanks to its founding members Dieter Holm, who had established the firm, together with his brother Albrecht. The brothers started the architectural practice called Holm and Holm Architects in 1962, winning numerous competitions and awards since then.

Since its founding, the practice has been involved in a number of high profile projects in sustainable architecture, urban design, resource planning and restoration. Gerrit Jordaan joined the firm in 1981 and became a partner in 1983. He was instrumental in building the firm into an interdisciplinary environmental consultancy, specialising in sustainable architecture, urban design, resources planning and restoration. The firm accordingly developed from a pure architectural firm into a multidisciplinary environmental consultancy.

Reinier Visser joined the Holm Jordaan Group as the Cape Town director in 2000. Since then, he has been involved with numerous architectural, heritage and urban design projects for various public and private clients.

Holm Jordaan Meago was formed in 2011, at the time with Mbasa Tsombe as Director and Professional Architect. Moses Nke has since taken over his directorship. Holm Jordaan Meago has a proven track record of successful projects that also creates space for capacity building and transformation. The word 'Meago' means "to build".

In 2003 Gary White started his own architecture studio (Gary White and Associates) with special focus on Urban Design, Architecture and Housing. He was joined in 2005 by directors Justin Mellis and Bouwer Serfontein, bringing with them design expertise and architecture experience (both were awarded design prizes during their studies at TUT). Since then the office, re-branded as gwastudio, has been awarded local, national (PIA and SAIA awards for architecture design) and internationally for numerous projects. This includes the prestigious international CNU award for Urban Design which the office won 4 times in the past 10 years. During 2015 gwastudio joined the HolmJordaan Group.

After years of working closely together, the two firms HOLMJORDAAN and GWA merged in 2018 into NEWURBAN.

APPROACH

APPROACH

We approach all projects holistically, promoting stainability within every discipline practiced in our office. We believe in networking with other companies and professionals to facilitate and encourage in-house training of our core staff. As a firm we are also involved in the following:

  • Members of the firm are actively involved in tertiary training institutions such as the Universities of Cape Town and Wits. Through committing our time, we believe we can contribute towards the training of all future professionals, but specifically the previously disadvantaged.
  • Gerrit Jordaan, one of the Directors, is a Trustee of the Architectural Career Advancement Trust.
  • Most of our projects, especially in developing areas, are based on partnerships with previously disadvantaged persons. Implementation is focused on capacity building.
  • Where possible, skills transfer is promoted in all projects.
  • Many community projects are done on a pro Deo basis to assist local communities

THE TEAM

THE TEAM

GERRIT JORDAAN
Director of NEWURBAN and NEWURBAN Meago
Specialisation:
Urban Design Frameworks, Precinct Plans and Campus
Master Plans and the incorporation of sustainable design within them.
Years Registered:
35 years
Qualifications:
Pr.Arch. (SACAP), Pr.Urban Design (UDISA), MI.Arch. (PIA),
MEP.Urban Design (WITS), B.Arch. (UPE), B.Build (UPE)Arch
(SACAP), Pr Urban Design (UDISA)
Memberships:
UDISA Registered Urban Designer: J002
SACAP Registered Professional Architect: 3151
SAIA Registered Professional Architect: 43282
GARY WHITE
Project Leader of NEWURBAN and NEWURBAN Meago
Specialisation:
Urban Design, Housing, Architecture, City Planning and
Project Management
Years Registered:
14 years
Qualifications:
Pr.Arch. (SACAP), Pr.Urban Design (UDISA) MCPUD Master of
City Planning and Urban Design (UCT), B.Arch. (UFS))
Memberships:
UDISA Registered Urban Designer: W001
SACAP Registered Professional Architect: 6694
REINIER VISSER
Director of NEWURBAN and NEWURBAN Meago
Specialisation:
Urban Design Frameworks, Precinct Plans and Campus
Master Plans and the incorporation of sustainable design
within them, Architecture, Restoration
Years Registered:
35 years
Qualifications:
Pr.Arch. (SACAP), Pr.Urban Design (UDISA), MIArch (CIA),
MCPUD Master of City Planning and Urban Design (UCT),
B.Arch (UP)
Memberships:
UDISA Registered Urban Designer: V004
SACAP Registered Professional Architect: 6651
SAIA Registered Professional Architect: 5132
JACQUES JORDAAN
Director of NEWURBAN
Specialisation:
Architecture & Eco-Sustainable Design, Retail & Commercial Architecture
Years Registered:
7 years
Qualifications:
Pr.Arch. (SACAP), M.Arch (Prof) (UP), B.Arch(Hons) (UP), B.Arch (UP)
Memberships:
SACAP Registered Professional Architect: PrArch 33293255
JUSTIN MELLIS
Director of NEWURBAN
Specialisation:
Architecture, Housing, Site Management
Years Registered:
8 years
Qualifications:
Pr.Arch. (SACAP), M.Tech.Prof. (TUT), B.Tech.Prof. (TUT)
Memberships:
SACAP Registered Professional Architect: PrArch20347

AWARDS

AWARDS

2021

Recommendation for Public Architecture for "Paterson Park Multipurpose Centre" from Pretoria Institute for Architecture

2018

Gary White and Associates and Holm Jordaan Group awarded the CNU Charter Award - Student Grand Prize for "Africa Drawn: 100 Cities"

2017

Award for Architecture 'Public Architecture' for "Die Wilgers Medical Centre" form the Pretoria Institute for Architecture

2017

Commendation for Architecture 'Research Publication' for "Africa Drawn: One Hundred Cities" form the Pretoria Institute for Architecture

2017

Commendation for Architecture 'Unbuilt Architecture' for "The Red Edge Matlosana Taxi Facility" form the Pretoria Institute for Architecture

2016

Gary White and Associates awarded the CNU Charter Award - Region, City and Town for "Southern Farms, Uniting a segregated city"

2015

Commendation Award Open-ended urban upgrade Refilwe, Refilwe from the Pretoria Institute for Architecture.

2013

Award of Merit Novi Skin Centre, Pretoria from the Pretoria Institute for Architecture

2012

Gary White and Associates awarded the CNU Charter Award - Grand Prize for "Verkykerskop, small-scale Architectural Town"

2011

Honourable Mention for Architecture for "DBSA Visitors Centre" form the Pretoria Institute for Architecture

2006

Eskom Hot Dip Galvanizing Award (Architectural Category) for Mitchell's Plain Public Transport Interchange (R Visser)

2006

Gary White and Associates awarded the CNU Charter Award - Region, City and Town for "Cabinda Angola"

2003

Best Paper Award (G Jordaan) from the 22nd Annual Southern African Transport Conference

2002

Special nomination International RIBA Student Competition for Final Year Project (Marguerite Pienaar)

1994

Eskom Energy Effective Design Awards: Award for passive solar improvements of informal settlements in Mabopane

1992

Award for Top Achiever (A Holm) for restoration by the City Council of Pretoria

1992

Certificate of Merit: Dulux Award for the creative use of colour in design

1991

Award for Excellence from the Concrete Masonry Association for NG Church Heidelberg

1991

Award of Merit for Conservation by Institute of South African Architects for restoration of Old Raadsaal in Pretoria

1991

Gold Medal for Restoration and Conservation (A Holm) by Simon van der Stel Foundation

1990

Award for Brickwork of Excellence for Guild House, Pretoria, in recognition of architectural and aesthetic merit in the excellent use of brickwork, awarded by the Claybrick Society

1990

Certificate of Merit awarded by the Old Pretoria Society in recognition of the restoration of the West Facade Church Square, Cafe Riche, Law Chambers and the Old Netherlands Bank building

1993

Award of Merit for Conservation by the Institute of South African Architects in recognition of the West Facade Church Square, Cafe Riche, Law Chambers and the Old Netherlands Bank building

1989

Award of Merit for Conservation by the Institute of South African Architects in recognition of excellent performance in the field of restoration, conservation and re use of buildings and historical areas, for the Mine Commissioners Building in Kocksoord

1987

Gordon Macintosh Prize (G J Jordaan) for best thesis in Urban Design (WITS University)

1984

Austin Whillier Award (Prof D Holm) for the best paper presented on the subject Solar Energy Utilisation in Southern Africa in the last two years, awarded by the Solar Energy Society of Southern Africa for the book "Energy Conservation in Hot Climates"

1974

Plan SA 74, Journal of the Institute of South African Architects devotes one entire edition to the work of the firm
 

DESIGN COMPETITIONS

2015

Chandigarh Unbuilt Design Competition, placed in the top 50 from over 300 international entries

2008

Short listed for the Bophirima Cultural Centre, Vryburg, North West

2000

BEKA Head Office: New Head Office for BEKA - Clayville

1999

Project Phoenix: New municipal offices for the City Council of Pretoria - first prize

1998

Constitutional Court in Johannesburg - one of five finalists

1989

Lutheran Church Centre in Pretoria East - first prize

1985

National Bifsa competition for the Headquarters of the Building Industries Federation of South Africa in Midrand - first prize

1974

Vegkop Monument for a memorial near Heilbron - first prize

1970

Langenhoven student centre for the University of Stellenbosch - first prize

1962

Star competition for a fountain in front of the library in Johannesburg - special prize

1961

JBM Hertzog competition for urban square and monument in Bloemfontein - first prize

PUBLICATIONS

PUBLICATIONS

PUBLICATIONS: BOOKS

2015

Gary White and Associates and Holm Jordaan Group published "Africa Drawn one Hundred Cities" with DOM publishers, Berlin
 

CITATIONS OF OUR WORK

2016

"Ahead of its Genre"
Prof. Steyn, G. Architecture South Africa, Volume 79, May/Jun 2016: P 15

"Wilgers Medical Consulting Rooms"
Digest of South African Architecture. Volume 20. P 132-133

2015

"SABS: Laboratory as Design Incubator"
Fisher, R. Architecture South Africa, Volume 74, Jul/Aug 2012: P 43 - 48

2014

"Church Square, CBD, Pretoria"
Architectural Conservation. Convened and Edited by Albrecht Herholdt, Published DOT Matrix Publications, 2014.

"Main Station, CBD, Pretoria"
Architectural Conservation. Convened and Edited by Albrecht Herholdt, Published DOT Matrix Publications, 2014.

"Upgrading of the Refilwe Business Node"
Digest of South African Architecture. Volume 19. P 138-139

2013

"Mike Matladi Community Centre, Ikageleng"
Digest of South African Architecture. Volume 18. p36-037

"Novi Skin Dermatology Centre"
Digest of South African Architecture. Volume 18. p180-181

2012

"Holm Jordaan Golden Jubilee: A Tribute"
Ficher, R. Architecture South Africa, Volume 58, Nov/Dec 2012: P 32 - 33

"Novi Skin Dermatology Centre"
Joubert, O. Architecture South Africa, Volume 58, Nov/Dec 2012: P 28 - 31

"Vulindlela Academy Office Extension - Midrand"
Pienaar, M. Architecture South Africa, Volume 54, Mar/Apr 2012: P 18 - 21

"Towards an Integrated Design Approach"
Laubscher, J. Architecture South Africa, Volume 53, Jan/Feb 2012: P 44 - 45

2010

Various
Mathews, P. (ed.) 2010. Contemporary Capital. (PIA)

2009

"Mitchell's Plain Public Transport Interchange"
Joubert, O. (ed).2009. 10+ Years 100+ Buildings (Cape Town: Bell-Roberts) 2009: 262-262
 

INDIVIDUAL PUBLICATIONS &
CONFERENCE PAPERS

2013

Jordaan, Gerrit and Olivier, Anja "Integrating place making into the planning process to create vibrant mixed-use developments". Speaker at Mixed Use Developments Conference Johannesburg

2012

Bredell, Anja "Towards contextualising mixed-use in South Africa" Presented at 1st Biennial International Conference on Architecture and Urban Design - ICAUD 2012, in Tirana, Albania , Tiranna Albania

2010

Jordaan, Gerrit. 2010. The AfriSam-SAIA Award 4 Sustainable Architecture. Afrisam.

2003

Best Paper Award, Gerrit Jordaan, from the 22nd Annual Southern African Transport Conference