How enduring South African architects' firms got there

Abstract

This article reports on a qualitative study into the actions, practices and attitudes that allowed a sample of South African architects’ firms to be regarded as enduring. Architects considering starting their own firms, or those who have started their own firms in the recent and not-so-recent past, can benefit from the experience of the 26 enduring architects’ firms studied. In the words of David Littlefield: Too many architects make too bad a living, a problem that is largely the result of believing that quality design will inevitably lead to decent clients and a fair income. The truth is that the business dimension of an architectural practice is no less important than producing the drawings. After a literature review, the study followed a qualitative methodology comprising semi-structured interviews with the founder or most senior partner of the firms identified with the assistance of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA). The sample was drawn from architects’ firms in the four major metropolitan areas of South Africa as well as two firms from rural areas. Reference will be made to a parallel quantitative study that canvased all architects and candidate architects registered with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP).