We empower ourselves across numerous specialist fields into becoming the industry leaders. By applying our expert knowledge, we lead clients towards creative and viable solutions. By actively exploring new technologies and methods, we are actively leading the change into how we build the future, providing design led answers.
By building relationships in diverse industries, we benefit our clients and unlock project potentials and opportunities. We aim to build careers through empowerment and continuous learning, building sustainable solutions for generations.
We structure our business through continuous process improvements to offer a design process that enables effective life cycle management. This process affords a focused and urposeful design solution for every project by utilising our rich and varied knowledge base to turn fact into wonder.
We empower ourselves across numerous specialist fields into becoming the industry leaders. By applying our expert knowledge, we lead clients towards creative and viable solutions. By actively exploring new technologies and methods, we are actively leading the change into how we build the future, providing design led answers.
By building relationships in diverse industries, we benefit our clients and unlock project potentials and opportunities. We aim to build careers through empowerment and continuous learning, building sustainable solutions for generations.
We structure our business through continuous process improvements to offer a design process that enables effective life cycle management. This process affords a focused and purposeful design solution for every project by utilising our rich and varied knowledge base to turn fact into wonder.
We empower ourselves across numerous specialist fields into becoming the industry leaders. By applying our expert knowledge, we lead clients towards creative and viable solutions. By actively exploring new technologies and methods, we are actively leading the change into how we build the future, providing design led answers.
By building relationships in diverse industries, we benefit our clients and unlock project potentials and opportunities. We aim to build careers through empowerment and continuous learning, building sustainable solutions for generations.
We structure our business through continuous process improvements to offer a design process that enables effective life cycle management. This process affords a focused and purposeful design solution for every project by utilising our rich and varied knowledge base to turn fact into wonder.
OUR VISION
To be the preferred architectural practice in Africa, offering an inclusive design led service, while providing creative and viable solutions for our clients.
WHO WE ARE
SVA International was established in 1943 as Stauch and Partners by the well-known and influential Ittenschulle (an offshoot of the Bauhaus) trained architect, Hellmut Stauch. A leading teacher and practitioner in the Pretoria Regionalism movement during the 1940s and ‘50s, Stauch’s output of domestic architecture was prolific. Larger commissions followed, and through projects influenced by Modernism, the Brazilian movement, a strict concern for local conditions, economy of materials and efficient function, Stauch Vorster Architects grew into a leading national practice in main metropolitan centres.
SVA International has seen much change in the nearly eight decades since its inception. With offices in Southern, Western, and Eastern Africa, the practice is engaged in projects throughout the African continent. The offices have gained solid reputations for successfully completing more than a thousand architectural projects during this term, ranging across a spectrum of scale, form and function. Currently the practice has offices in the following cities: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Lagos, Maputo, Port Louis and Gqeberha. Having successfully negotiated a partnership with GIBB, one of South Africa’s leading black-owned multi-disciplinary engineering companies, in 2014, SVA International (Pty) Ltd became one of the GIBB Group of Companies.
SVA International remains a fully independent architectural practice, now enriched with a level 1 B-BBEE empowerment rating.
our approach to sustainability
SVA International is committed to sustainable design and construction, through an integrated approach involving the full project team. We aim to design low-impact buildings and spaces which provide efficient and comfortable surrounds, reduced energy costs, and increased health and ecological benefits
Our staff includes several Green Building Accredited Professionals, who lead the design and construction process. We aim to achieve tangible environmental outcomes appropriate to the context that earn Green Star ratings while also appreciating the values of property and income.
SVA ON TRANSFORMATION
SVA International is a majority Black-owned company with a qualified B-BBEE rating. The company aspires to take a leadership role in the transformation of what has been a predominantly male and white dominated industry in South Africa. This means ensuring that the company is a true reflection of the national (and regional) demogrpahic regarding race, gender and cultural diversity.
SVA has an internship and bursary programme administered in partnership with the SA Institute of Black Property Practitioners. It also has a particular focus on identifying promising talent from previously disadvantaged groups. This is coupled with strong mentorship to provide support for development into leadership positions.