COMPANYWATCH
PROFILE OF A LEADING SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
MDS Architecture - Seven decades of original , functional and creative architecture
MDS Architecture is one of the oldest established architectural firms in South Africa and celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2024 . The Partners unpack the journey in the context of a changing world , from the early days when its two founding members had a dream in 1954 through the interesting mix of elegance , emerging freedom of thought and Space Age influence of the swinging 1960s .
South Africa ’ s skylines and the country ’ s love affair with shopping centres marked the 1970s and 1980s , while the 1990s heralded the country ’ s first democratic elections .
MDS ARCHITECTURE PARTNERS AT 4 STAN ROAD , SANDTON ( L TO R ): Aki Savva , Louis Pretorius , Pierre Lahaye , Tia Kanakakis , Donald McGillivray
Partner Pierre Lahaye reflects on how the approach to buildings has changed over the years , “ Gone are the days when unfriendly structures were erected on the ou tskirts of town . Developments are now viewed as part of the fabric of each community . As such , they are treated as public buildings which create new nodes and places of gathering . Communities value developments as important job creators both during construction and as trading entities . In fact , we have seen communities voluntarily step in to protect buildings under threat .”
The Early Years In 1954 , Gluckman and De Beer founded an architectural practice based in Johannesburg ’ s city centre . It would grow to become known as MDS Architecture and boast a legacy that would span decades . Throughout the 1950s and 1960s , the practice helped to shape the urban landscape , focusing primarily on office buildings in Johannesburg .
The 1960s saw the firm ’ s portfolio expand with a burgeoning list of projects including mosques in Mayfair and Lenasia . The multi-level high rise Bank of Lisbon office building completed in 1967 , along with other office buildings , reflected the modernist and brutalist architectural influence of the time . With each project , the practice earned a reputation for innovation and excellence .
ENERGY EXCHANGE , Accra , Ghana
12 Company Watch