INTRODUCTION
Mayat Hart Architects is a Johannesburg based architectural and heritage practice. Founded in 2012 the practices work combines architecture, research, conservation and advocacy with considered projects that aim to respond to the rich and complex architectural and social history of South Africa. Our approach to design is to strongly root projects to their context. Each project is unique with individual sites, climates, lifestyles, materiality and histories combining to create spaces that are rich and considered responses to their environments. This results is individually tailored projects that are a direct response to the needs of the client and context.
In addition to standard architectural services, Mayat Hart has specialised skills as heritage architects and consultants, are registered with the Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners and are able to undertake the full range of specialised heritage services. We enjoy the intricacies and complexities of working with existing buildings and drawing out their special qualities.
At Mayat Hart we enjoy working within the challenge and complexities of socially and historically complex buildings and contexts. We feel that heritage should be seen as an asset and we always aim to help a client draw the value out of historic building should it exist. The practice’s approach to dealing with historic buildings and heritage resources is from the outset to understand. To understand their historical value and cultural significance, to understand their problems and opportunities. Through understanding risks and opportunities can be identified and potential unlocked. We believe that the value of a building is in its successful use (or reuse) and always aim to bring life and value to our heritage projects.
The practices portfolio of projects and research has been widely locally and internationally published with a number of buildings receiving both regional and international awards and accolades.
PEOPLE
Yasmin Mayat
Yasmin Mayat is an architect and heritage practitioner. She cofounded Mayat Hart architects in 2012 with Brendan Hart. After completing a Bachelor of Science degree (majoring in botany and zoology) at the University of Cape Town Yasmin found, in architecture, a blend of both the artistic and scientific. Yasmin holds architectural degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Masters in Conservation of the Built Environment from the University of Cape Town. In addition to regular practice Yasmin has integrated teaching, learning and advocacy into her life as an architect. Her teaching includes lecturing in history and conservation at the University of the Witwatersrand as well as regular public lectures relating to her and the practices work. Her research and writing is also widely published in local and international books and journals. Yasmin is a member of a number of professional and volunteer bodies, sits in numerous regional and national committees and is an accredited professional member of the Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners.
Memberships:
- South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP)
- South African Institute of Architects (SAIA)
- Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA)
- Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners (APHP)
- Docomomo South Africa
- Johannesburg Heritage Foundation
Brendan Hart
A love of buildings and making inevitably led Brendan to architecture and, after 7 years of working on a diverse range of projects, to cofound Mayat Hart Architects with Yasmin Mayat in 2012. Brendan holds architectural degrees (with distinction) from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Master’s Degree in the Conservation of the Built environment from the University of Cape Town. Since 2015, in addition to practice, Brendan is a permanent member of staff at the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand where he teaches post and undergraduate architectural history and supervises masters of architecture students. He sits on a number of professional and volunteer organisations and is an accredited professional member of the Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners.
Memberships:
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- South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP)
- South African Institute of Architects (SAIA)
- Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA)
- Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners (APHP)
- Johannesburg Heritage Foundation
Rafaela Valentim
Rafaela is a Professional Architect who obtained her architectural degrees at the University of the Witwatersrand. She has been a part of Mayat Hart Architects since 2018. Rafaela enjoys a hands on approach to architecture and its challenges. Having worked on a wide range of residential, renovation and heritage projects she has developed a keen interest in the intricacies of working with existing buildings using a contemporary architectural approach.
Memberships:
- South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP)
- South African Institute of Architects (SAIA)
- Gauteng Institute for Architecture (GIfA)
Khadeeja sasman
Khadeeja began her career in Cape Town as an Architectural Technologist, gaining experience across multiple built environment disciplines, including Architecture, Town and Regional Planning, Urban Design, and Office Management. She has embraced the challenge of working at different scales on a wide range of spatial planning projects, primarily focused on local communities in need of spatial and social transformation. After relocating to Johannesburg, she successfully carried these skills into her new professional environment. Her strong passion for organization and systems enables her to operate effectively across the technical, administrative, and managerial aspects of the business. She currently serves as our Practice Manager.
Her hobbies include driving her kids to their hobbies.
AWARDS
2021
Docomomo International Rehabilitation Awards – Winner
Aiton Court Restoration
The Docomomo International Rehabilitation Awards recognise exceptional projects of rehabilitation of modernist architecture from all over the world which respond to the complex and dynamic conditions with which architecture must engage today. The restoration of Aiton Court received an inaugural 2021 award in the category Emerging Practices at the 2021 Docomomo International Conference in Japan.
Docomomo Press Release | Heritage Portal Article
2020/2021
Gauteng Institute for Architecture Awards – Winner
Restoration of the Workers Museum Cottages
The Restoration of the Workers Cottages at the Workers Museum in Newtown Johannesburg received a Gauteng Institute for Architecture Award at the biennial awards ceremony recognising the best architecture in the province completed in 2019 and 2020.
2018
South African Institute for Architects – Award of Excellence Winner
New Delville Wood Memorial
The new Delville Wood Memorial was awarded a South African Institute for Architects Award of Excellence at the biennial awards ceremony recognising the best South African architecture completed in the years 2015 and 2016. The award of excellence is the highest award bestowed by the Institute. The citation for the award is reads as follows:
“To evoke the memory of an event by means of architecture is difficult. Architects and their clients have been confronted with this problem through the ages, and recently, the epic Delville Wood battle of the First World War (WW1) was memorialised. This building commemorates the South Africans who lost their lives in the First World War, particularly the members of the South African Native Labour Corps, who had received no official recognition. Although this projects architects are young, they were able to deliver a commentary on how history, power and memory were previously expressed.”
2017
Sanlam Hand Made Contemporary Fair – Winning Stall Design
Momo Baohaus
The Sanlam Hand Made Contemporary Fair is an innovative food and design fair. The design for the Momo Baohaus stall won the best food stall design.
2017
Gauteng Institute for Architecture Awards – Award of Merit Winner
New Delville Wood Memorial
The New Delville Wood Memorial located in Longueval, France, received a Gauteng Institute for Architecture Award of Merit at the biennial awards ceremony recognising the best work of Gauteng Architects completed in 2015 and 2016.
2017
SAPOA Property Development Awards for Innovative Excellence – Winner
The Transformation of the Delville Wood War Memorial & Museum
South Africa Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Awards for Innovative Excellence are the leading awards programme in the South African commercial real estate industry. The New Delville Wood Memorial was eth overall winner in the Heritage Category at the 2017 awards.
2014
World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prise – Shortlisted
Aiton Court Restoration
The World Monuments Fund/Knoll Modernism Prize is an international award that aims to recognise the individuals and organizations that preserve our modern built heritage through pioneering architectural and design solutions. The restoration of Aiton Court was shortlisted for the 2014 award.