DESIGNA MAGAZINE DESIGNA ISSUE III 2019 2 | Page 106

PROFILE
PARAGON ARCHITECTS
Paragon is one of the
largest
design
practices in Africa
Leading architectural, interior design,
and space planning practice Paragon is
one of the largest in Africa. Over the
past seven years, it has undertaken
projects in 18 countries on the continent,
and in Brazil.
Projects have been completed in
eleven countries in Africa,
encompassing both interior design
and architecture, while six are in
construction phase.
Presence
in
Africa
�ese countries are Swaziland, Kenya,
Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, and
Congo-Brazzaville. “We are also in
discussions to merge with local
practices in two African countries,
and have been approached for work as
far a�eld as Oman,” reveals Founding
Director Henning Rasmuss. “We
have established a company in India
to target future growth, as we expect
the Indian market to mature,” he
adds.
Projects outside of South Africa have
been part of the group since 2001,
with Rasmuss focusing exclusively on
projects in Africa since 2012. Locally,
it is launching its Cape Town office in
September, while its transformation
initiative is spearheaded by its Level 2
B-BBB accreditation. “We work
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June 2019
Habitat Apartments high-rise tower is Nairobi’s �rst �vertical village’
Architecture and interior architecture practice Paragon, in conjunction with
Design Source of Nairobi, is overseeing Habitat Apartments in Kilimani, a 24-
storey, 160-unit mixed-use apartment tower. Under development by Ekco
Investments, the project is scheduled for completion by mid-2020
carefully and consistently to maintain
our position as one of the largest
practices on the continent, and aim to
be as agile and �exible as possible,”
Rasmuss comments.
Paragon's

establishment
Paragon was established in 1997 by
Anthony Orelowitz and Rasmuss, who
had collaborated on two projects prior
to the latter relocating to Hong Kong
for nine months. �e two founding
partners then joined forces and
began to work together permanently.
�e company was registered formally
in February 1999, after a high-pro�le
win in an architectural competition
for the �rst phase of the Melrose
Arch mixed-use precinct in
Johannesburg. “From its inception,
Paragon saw itself as a generalist
practice, seeking out each and every