KWA Architects began with a vision for an alternative approach to traditional architectural practices and has since become known for bespoke design solutions and exquisitely curated spaces.
Our approach begins with understanding each client’s lifestyle and preferences, tailoring every project to meet specific needs. Depending on the scope, we can act as architectural consultant, principal agent, or design architect, with a Project Architect overseeing all aspects to ensure seamless approach and delivery. With a commitment to collaboration and innovation, we create an empowering work environment and deliver projects through focused management, financial control, and experienced contractors, ensuring intelligent, personalised design solutions that best reflect your vision.
KWA provides a highly personalised service. From our initial meeting, we seek to understand our client’s lifestyle, living patterns, tastes and preferences. Our service is tailored around the specific requirements of each project, and we recommend appropriate consultants to build the right professional team for every job.
Depending on project requirements and budget, KWA can be appointed as architectural consultant and principal agent, architectural consultant and principal consultant, as design architect, or provide a full service on site as principal agent. Your main point of contact throughout the project will be your Project Architect, who will have oversight of the architectural team, design, project progress and other consultants.
Our personalised design and build process, refined over the years, has successfully delivered over 200 projects around Southern Africa and aims to provide clients with the best possible end product.As such, each project’s professional team is built around focused project management and financial control services, with appropriate building contractors who have experience with KWA's process and deliverables. For a more detailed overview of the architectural design process and KWA's approach.
After an initial meeting on site, we usually recommend producing a Masterplan document. This is a time and cost efficient exercise, developed by KWA. The objective is to provide clients with all the tools necessary to make informed decisions regarding the development of their property. The document is also used to establish a project budget and to define the brief and scope of works. The KWA Masterplan document includes a measured survey of existing buildings, all previously approved plans, zoning and constraints information, sketch plan proposals, ‘look and feel’ images, a high level budget and indicative programme.
The Client Architect Agreement is typically signed before the start of this stage. Once the brief and scope have been defned, the project moves into the design development stage. Plans, sections, elevations and key details are drawn up, and the design, construction system and services are refined and co-ordinated with other consultants.
With further technical development and the addition of required schedules and specifcations, to demonstrate compliance with National Building Regulations and Standards - drawings are submitted for Local Authority approval. Buildings that are (entirely or in part) over 60 years old, require approval from the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority Gauteng (PHRAG) for any excavation, alteration, subdivision, change to planning status, addition or demolition - before submission to Council. Almost without exception, all proposals then have to be approved by the City of Johannesburg Planning Development Management Department (Council approval), before work can begin on site. Building plans must be submitted to Council for “any alteration that adds on to or changes the structure of an existing building...if you... add on a carport, or even just move the front door, you do need permission”.[1]In certain circumstances, additional approvals may be required for building line relaxation, Site Development Plan (SDP), local residents’ association approval, Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), or other town planning requirements. KWA will advise you regarding approval requirements for your project and the timeframes and processes involved. [1] City of Johannesburg website “Who has to submit building plans?” http://www.joburg.org.za/building_plans
The next step is the Tender Stage. Construction documentation is produced by KWA and sent out to builders to obtain offers for the execution of the building works. These are evaluated by the quantity surveyor and KWA and recommendations made to the client before the contract is awarded. KWA recommends that the quantity surveyor is commissioned to prepare a Bill of Quantities as part of the tender pack. This is a detailed document in which materials, parts, and labour are itemised, as well as the terms and conditions of the construction contract, to enable contractors to prepare accurate bids. Once the contractor has been selected, the agreed contract sum, Principal Agent, start date and contract period can be written into the building contract, which is then signed by the client and builder.
The site is now handed over to the contractor and building work begins. Depending on the type of service the client has selected, it may be KWA, a project manager or other consultant who is appointed as Principal Agent - responsible for administrating the building contract. The Principal Agent’s duties include inspecting building works for conformity to the architect’s drawings, quality of finish and industry standards, issuing the Certificate of Practical Completion and facilitating project close out and handover. KWA carries out regular design and quality control inspections during construction.
Our Master planning service is designed to help clients understand their property’s full potential. KWA will explore possible design responses to meet your requirements, and will consider the best way to achieve your objectives within your budget – demolition and new build?, renovate?, additions?
The KWA Master plan includes enough sketch design information, associated high level cost information, and an indicative timeline - to allow you to make informed decisions regarding the scope and extent of the work you wish to proceed with. The document covers SACAP project stages 1&2.
This is a fast, efficient way to understand how best to improve your property, refine your brief, define your budget, and to ensure you do not knowingly overcapitalize on your investment.
Please contact us to discuss your Master plan
Have you found a property you would like to buy? Not sure how to improve it, within your budget? The KWA Pre-purchase pack is a simplified architectural service aimed directly at property buyers, to help them understand a property’s value and potential - in a fast affordable way. One of our experienced architects will visit the property with you.
KWA will then provide you with diagrammatic plans, associated high level cost and programme information, as well as current market information. Our Pre-purchase pack will enable you to make informed decisions around your offer and realistic potential improvements to the property.
