Mathews & Associates Architects

Mathews & Associates Architects Logo

Mathews & Associates Architects is an architecture firm based in Pretoria, South Africa, known for contextually relevant and graphic designs.

History

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The firm was established in 2000 by Pieter J Mathews and it has been involved in a wide variety of buildings ranging from large-scale buildings for tertiary institutions to transport architecture.[1] Buildings designed by Mathews & Associates Architects have been published in over 130 publications and has appeared on national television over 25 times. In 2012, their design for a new bridge was exhibited as part of the “Traces of Centuries & Future Steps” exhibition in collaboration with the GAA Foundation at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale.[2] In 2016, Mathews was appointed as the curator of the South African Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale in the Sale d'Armi at the Arsenale. The theme for the year was ‘Reporting from the front’ directed by Chilean Architect Alejandro Aravena.[3] In 2018, Mathews was awarded with the Medal of Honour for Visual Arts (Architecture) by the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns.[4]

Principal: Pieter J Mathews

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Pieter Mathews
Pieter Mathews in 2012
Born
Pieter J Mathews

24 February 1967
NationalitySouth African
Alma materUniversity of Pretoria
OccupationArchitect
PracticeMathews & Associates Architects
Websitehttp://www.maaa.co.za

Life and career

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Pieter Mathews, (24 February 1967),[5] is an architect living and working in Pretoria, South Africa.[6] He is principal of the firm Mathews & Associates Architects.[7]

Mathews grew up in Lichtenburg[8] and studied architecture at the University of Pretoria. He finished his BArch-degree in 1991, obtaining the Gold Fields of South Africa Scholarship for Architecture. After his third year of study he travelled abroad to gain international work experience. In 1989, he completed part of his practical training in London (Bruce Gilbreth & Triad Architects) after which he travelled to Europe, USA (New York and California), Thailand, Hong Kong and Turkey. At Bruce Gilbreth he was involved with the Centre at Capability Green in Luton and at Triad Architects, Frimley High Street office building as well as a residential project for the government of Gibraltar.

He completed his practical training in South Africa at Holm Jordaan Holm under the direction of Dieter Holm and Gerrit Jordaan. In 1994, Mathews became partner at Nel Storm Architects in Pretoria followed by a partnership with Jacques Gerber (Mathews and Gerber Architects ) from December 1995 to November 2000.

In 2000, Mathews started the architecture firm, Mathews & Associates Architects,[4] and the firm operated from an old post office building in Waterkloof.[9] The firm received numerous merit awards for their buildings,[10][11] and has been invited to appear on various television stations. Projects by the office have been exhibited internationally in Venice [12] and São Paulo and published in numerous publications.[4][13] Mathews has written and contributed to numerous books on architecture, his first being Architexture,[14] a book on the use of textures in buildings. It was followed by Detail Housed,[15] after which he was the publishing manager for Construction Primer,[16] by Hans Wegelin, and the editor for Contemporary Capital.[17] He has since then published numerous other books including #Cool Capital,[18] Cool Capital Guerrilla Design Magazine,[19] Saadjies[20] and The Sample Workshop[21] which were edited or compiled by Mathews. In 2021 Musings,[22] a retrospective of the oeuvre by MAAA over two decades, was published by Protea Boekhuis. He also writes about architecture and design for local South African magazines.[23]

In 2013, he formed part of a study tour to visit museums and galleries in the US, organised by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation. The tour included visits to YALE, NYU, Princeton, Penn, Rutgers, as well as the Metropolitan, MOMA and the Guggenheim Museum. This visit culminated in the design and construction of the Javett Art Gallery at the University of Pretoria, which will open its doors in 2019.[24] Mathews was President of the Pretoria Institute for Architecture (PIA) from 2013 to 2014,[25] and was a board member of SAIA (South African Institute of architects) in 2013.

In 2012 and 2013, Mathews was invited to join Southern Guild, for which he designed benches as part of their annual exhibitions.[26] His design for a concrete bench (together with Santie Gouws, Grietjie Lee and the late Sybrand Wiechers) was included in PPC Cement's REIMAGINE CONCRETE Young Concrete Sculptor Awards Competition exhibition.[27] In 2002, he was invited by House and Leisure magazine to design a drinks tray for Absolut Vodka.[28] Mathews was the convenor for the Cool Capital Biennale.[29] In 2012, he received the Zero Hour Credential from the University of Pretoria's Department of Architecture for his contribution to the department.[11] Mathews was listed as one of South Africa's star architects by House and Leisure magazine in 2011.[30] In 2008, he was included in VISI magazine's People with Vision list of architects.

Notable projects

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Mapungubwe mountain at the Javett Art Centre at UP
Mapungubwe mountain at the Javett Art Centre at UP


View of Nellmapius Bridge
Steel panel for Nellmapius Bridge
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool | Art Campus
Hoërskool Waterkloof | Multi-purpose hall and student residence

Educational

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For more education projects, visit MAAA | Education

Transport

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For more transportation projects, visit MAAA | Transport

Commercial

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For more commercial projects, visit MAAA | Commercial

Architectural Language

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Mathews & Associates Architects began as a practice specialising mainly in the residential market but redirected its prime focus away from this market segment, towards transport, education and non-standard commercial projects.[70] The firm has received widespread acclaim in South Africa and increasingly internationally for its holistic approach to design, which embraces unconventional use of texture and sculptural form.[10] The firm's design ethos remains bold and innovative simplicity using honest and raw materials that reflect the African context.[9] The firm's architectural language has been described as "a sculptural combination between stereotomic and tectonic architectural languages".[9]

La Biennale di Venezia

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In 2016, Mathews & Associates was appointed as the curators for the South African Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia.[71] The 15th Biennale was directed by Alejandro Aravena. The South African representation was commissioned by the South African Consul-General in Milan, Saul Kgomotso Molobi, who described the exhibition as historic in the sense that the curator did not take a few exclusive  works of architects’ or artists’, but the projects of over 1000 South African participants, probably making this one of the most representative pavilions in the history of South Africa's involvement with the Biennale.[71]

The South African Pavilion pavilion concept responded to the theme by exhibiting the work of hundreds of South Africans who participated in a project called Cool Capital. The 2016 was exhibition was the first South African Pavilion to feature in the official catalogue that printed and distributed by the Biennale Foundation in Venice. Cool Capital's intent was unpretentious and simple: dismantle the bureaucratic relationship between citizens and public space in order to free creativity. Citizens were encouraged to rediscover marginalized and forgotten parts of the city, to collaborate and to become active agents in the rethinking of Pretoria as home, place, destination, and capital city. Cool Capital demonstrated what can be gained when citizens are provided with an unofficial opportunity to constructively engage with issues they identify in the realm of architecture, art, and design. The pavilion becomes a call to citizens of any city to become design activists. In accordance with the uncurated, DIY nature of Cool Capital, the South African exhibition was inclusive and democratic; representing the work of hundreds of innovative participants.[72]

Mathews' appointment as curator of the South African Pavilion in 2016 was preceded by another installation by Mathews and Associates that was exhibited in 2012 at the 13th Biennale Architettura. A lightbox installation designed by Mathews was exhibited as part of the "Traces of Centuries & Future Steps" exhibition held at the Palazzo Bembo.and organized by the GAA Foundation.[73]

Awards

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  • 2005: LIA Merit Award - Baobab Toll Plaza [note 2] [74]
  • 2005: MPIA Merit Award - House Millar [note 3] [10]
  • 2005: PIA Merit Award - N4 Diamond Hill Toll Plaza, in association with K. Thomashoff [75][76]
  • 2005: SAISC[note 4] - Overall Winner - N4 Diamond Hill Toll Plaza, in association with K. Thomashoff [75]
  • 2005: PIA President's Award - Publication - Architexture
  • 2006: SAIA[note 5] Merit Award - Baobab Tollgate [note 6] [74]
  • 2006: SAIA Merit Award - N4 Diamond Hill Toll Plaza, in association with K. Thomashoff [75]
  • 2006: SAIA Merit Award - House Millar [77][78][79]
  • 2009: PIA Commendation - KEE Enterprises (Pty) Ltd [10]
  • 2009: PIA Peers Award First place - KEE Enterprises (Pty) Ltd [10]
  • 2011: LIA Commendation - Fusion Boutique Hotel
  • 2011: PIA Commendation - House Oosthuizen[10]
  • 2011: PIA Commendation - House Taylor[10][80]
  • 2013: PIA Commendation - Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria – New sports facility [11]
  • 2013: PIA Commendation - Nellmapius Bridge
  • 2013: PIA Merit Award - Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria - Hall [11]
  • 2013: PIA Merit Award - House Fouché [81]
  • 2015: PIA Commendation - Transportation - Nana Sita Station
  • 2015: PIA President's Award - Cool Capital Initiative [82]
  • 2017: SAIA Merit Award - Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool Art Campus
  • 2017: PIA Best Education Building - Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool Art Campus
  • 2017: PIA Merit Award - Mixed Use Development - Oaktree Studio
  • 2017: PIA Commendation - Transportation - Tshwane Rapid Bus Station
  • 2018: SAIA Best Education Building - Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool Art Campus
  • 2021: PIA Merit Award - Albe's Barn

For more awards, visit MAAA | Awards

Other

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  • 2002: Dulux Colour Awards - Finalist – House Nixon
  • 2005: Selected for Exhibition Miami + Beach Biennale in Florida, USA - House Millar, House Mathews and House Clacey
  • 2009: City of Tshwane BRT national competition: winner of one of the station types [10][11]
  • 2012: Selected to be part of the "Traces of Centuries & Future Steps" exhibition at the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale [11][73]
  • 2013: House & Leisure: May 2013 House of the month: House Fouché [83]
  • 2015: BASA [note 7] Innovation Award: PPC Public Bench Project
  • 2015: Loeries [note 8] Finalist - Cool Capital Project
  • 2017: BASA Small Business Award - Saadjies Travelling Sculpture Exhibition
  • 2018: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns - Medal of honour for visual arts (architecture) Pieter J Mathews[84]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Baie water in die see by Javett-UP". Vrye Weekblad (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Venice Biennale 2012 - Traces of centuries and future steps" (PDF). Architecture SA. 57. 2012.
  3. ^ "Meet the team | South African 2016 Pavilion". www.southafrican2016pavilion.co.za. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Hu Yanli; He Jiaxin, eds. (2010). Architecture Highlights (ShangLin ed.). Hong Kong: Shanglin A&C Limited. ISBN 978-4-903233-61-1.
  5. ^ Thorsten Deckler; Anne Graupner; Henning Rasmuss, eds. (2006). Contemporary South African Architecture in a Landscape of Transition. Cape Town: Double Storey Books. p. 208. ISBN 1-77013-056-X.
  6. ^ Josef Talotta (May 2001). "Back to Basics". House & Garden: 98–103.
  7. ^ Leading Architecture and Design. Primedia Pub. 2003.
  8. ^ "Another successful Art in Architecture event". Building and Decor.
  9. ^ a b c de Beer, Diane (2010). Decade of Design: From the office of Mathews + Associates Architects cc. Pretoria: Visual Books. ISBN 978-0-620-46689-9.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "MATHEWS & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS (MAAA)". Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Steenberg, Renate (2013). "Alumnus showcases talent for innovative design" (PDF). Innovate (8): 36–38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  12. ^ "2012 ARCHITECTURE". ecc-italy.eu. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  13. ^ Song Jia, ed. (2013). Streets and squares. China: Artpower. p. 412. ISBN 978-988-16428-3-7.
  14. ^ Mathews, Pieter J (2003). Architexture. Pretoria: Visual Books. ISBN 0-620-29166-4.
  15. ^ Mathews, Pieter J (2007). Detail Housed. Pretoria: Visual Books. ISBN 978-0-620-33370-2.
  16. ^ Wegelin, Hans (2009). Construction Primer. Pretoria: Visual Books. ISBN 978-0-620-40981-0.
  17. ^ Mathews, Pieter J, ed. (2011). Contemporary Capital. Pretoria: Visual Books. ISBN 978-0-620-46690-5.
  18. ^ Mathews, Pieter J; Taljaard, Carla, eds. (2015). #Cool Capital. Pretoria: Visual Books. ISBN 9780620635608. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  19. ^ Mathews, Pieter J, ed. (2017). Cool Capital Guerrilla Design Magazine. Pretoria: Visual Books. ISBN 9780620744065.
  20. ^ Mathews, Pieter J, ed. (2018). Saadjies. Pretoria: Visual Books. ISBN 9780620785969.
  21. ^ Mathews, Pieter J, ed. (2019). The Sample Workshop. Pretoria: Visual Books.
  22. ^ Mathews, Pieter J, ed. (2021). Musings. Pretoria: Protea Book House. ISBN 978-1-4853-1285-7.
  23. ^ "DESIGNING YOUR DREAM KITCHEN ". Garden and Home.
  24. ^ "About – Javett UP". javettup.art. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  25. ^ "About us – Pretoria Institute for Architecture". www.pia.org.za. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  26. ^ "Scan & Interlock Bench". Southern Guild 2012 Collection Catalogue: 75. 3 August – 9 September 2012.
  27. ^ "2013 PPC CEMENT YOUNG CONCRETE SCULPTOR AWARDS COMPETITION". Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  28. ^ "Absolut Design". House & Leisure (108). November 2002.
  29. ^ "Cool Capital Biennale: A creative space for PTA". Mail & Guardian, 28 Oct 2014 by Lisa Johnston.
  30. ^ "Trends - Heads Up Part 2". House and Leisure: 54. October 2011.
  31. ^ Corobrik Project | NWU Vaal Administration Building | Mathews + Associates, retrieved 22 February 2023
  32. ^ "NWU Vaal Administration Building". Corobrik. 22 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Administration Building for NWU Vaal Campus". Archello. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  34. ^ "NWU's Vanderbijlpark Campus officially opens its new Administration Building". nwu.ac.za. 30 August 2021.
  35. ^ Wood, Graham (2019). "Crowning the Capital" (PDF). House and Leisure. August/September: 34–35.
  36. ^ Wood, Graham (2019). "The long-awaited Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria opens this month" (PDF). Wanted. September: 46–47.
  37. ^ de Beer, Diane (2020). "Campus creative" (PDF). VISI. December/January: 158.
  38. ^ Wood, Graham (2019). "Bridge of art". Leading Architecture. Augustus/September: 18–22.
  39. ^ Klinger, Annette (2019). "Capital investment" (PDF). VISI. February/March: 141.
  40. ^ Wood, Graham (2017). "Gala event" (PDF). Leading Architecture. August/September: 22–24.
  41. ^ Peres, Edna (2016). "Composing Place - a new music centre for Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool" (PDF). Architecture SA. May/June: 26–35.
  42. ^ Kruger, Jana (2016). "Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool Art Campus" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture. 21: 56–57.
  43. ^ "Innovation and design excellence recognised at Corobrik SAIA Architectural Awards". Leading Architecture & Design. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  44. ^ Wood, Graham (2014). "New school" (PDF). House and Leisure. September.
  45. ^ "Additions to Existing Hall Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture. 18: 100–101. 2013.
  46. ^ "New Clubhouse, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture. 18: 102–103. 2013.
  47. ^ Mathews, Pieter J. (2009). "New Sport and After care Facility, Laerskool Pretoria-Oos" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture: 114–115.
  48. ^ Crafford, Philip (2011). "'n nuwe manier van dink" (PDF). Dekat. July/August.
  49. ^ "Laerskool Pretoria-Oos Tennis Clubhouse" (PDF). Steel Construction: 22–23. 2012.
  50. ^ a b Loots, Sonja (2006). "Taking tolls" (PDF). VISI. Autumn: 71–75.
  51. ^ "Original public landscaping structure uses Lafarge cement" (PDF). Leading Architecture. July/August: 58. 2003.
  52. ^ "N4 Diamond Hill Toll Plaza, Gauteng" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture. 2005/2006: 68–69.
  53. ^ Wood, Graham (2012). "Bridging the gap" (PDF). House and Leisure. November: 36–37.
  54. ^ "South African Institute of Steel Construction Award" (PDF). Architecture SA. September/October: 6. 2005.
  55. ^ "Overall winner | Diamond Hill Toll Plaza Structures" (PDF). Steel Construction: 18–21. 2005.
  56. ^ "Nellmapius Bridge details".
  57. ^ "New Nellmapius Bridge Facade" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture. 18: 60–61. 2013.
  58. ^ "An iconic structure" (PDF). Lighting in Design. November/December: 26. 2012.
  59. ^ "TRT: Line 2A Memory Box Stations" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture. 20: 80–21. 2015.
  60. ^ Clarke, Nicholas J. (2015). "The memory box: a capital endeavour" (PDF). Architecture SA. 74: 31–34.
  61. ^ Crewe-Brown, Mila (24 January 2018). "HAZELWOOD STUDIO". VISI.
  62. ^ "MAAA | Oaktree Studio". Mathews + Associates Architects. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  63. ^ Mathews, Pieter J. (2017). "Oaktree Studio" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture. 22: 172–173.
  64. ^ "MAAA | Commercial portfolio". Mathews + Associates Architects. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  65. ^ a b "MAAA | Hospitality portfolio". Mathews + Associates Architects. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  66. ^ "MAAA | KEE Enterprises". Mathews + Associates Architects. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  67. ^ Buitendach, Sarah (2019). "Tour de workforce" (PDF). House and Leisure. September: 31–32.
  68. ^ Mathews, Pieter J. (2009). "KEE Enterprises" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture: 60–61.
  69. ^ van der Merwe, Daniel (2009). "An archi-sculpture in concrete" (PDF). Concrete Trends. 12: 4–7.
  70. ^ "MATHEWS and ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS (MAAA)". www.artefacts.co.za. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  71. ^ a b "SOUTH AFRICAN PAVILION AT THE 15th ARCHITECTURE EXHIBITION AT LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA". lnx.sudafrica.it. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  72. ^ "About | South African 2016 Pavilion". www.southafrican2016pavilion.co.za. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  73. ^ a b GlobalArtAffairs Foundation, ed. (2012). Traces of Centuries & Future Steps. Netherlands: GlobalArtAffairs Foundation. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-9-490784-11-9.
  74. ^ a b Carla de Beer (2009). "Baobab Toll Plaza (2004)". In 'Ora Joubert (ed.). 10 years + 100 buildings : architecture in a democratic South Africa. Cape Town: Bell-Roberts. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-9814200-4-2.
  75. ^ a b c Carla de Beer (2009). "Diamond Hill Toll Plaza (2004)". In 'Ora Joubert (ed.). 10 years + 100 buildings : architecture in a democratic South Africa. Cape Town: Bell-Roberts. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-9814200-4-2.
  76. ^ "N4 Diamond Hill Toll Plaza" (PDF). Architecture SA. July/August: 12–13.
  77. ^ South African Institute of Architects' awards of merit, awards for excellence, president's awards : 2005/2006, 2007/2008. South African Institute of Architects. 2008. pp. 132–133. ISBN 978-0-620-42146-1.
  78. ^ "House Millar, Nelspruit" (PDF). Digest of South African Architecture. 2005/2006: 106–107.
  79. ^ "House Millar" (PDF). Architecture SA. September/October: 19. 2006.
  80. ^ Magoulianiti-McGregor, Nia (2010). "Larger than Life" (PDF). VISI. October: 108–115.
  81. ^ Coci, Roberta (2013). "Country modern" (PDF). House and Leisure. May: 2–9.
  82. ^ Hugo, Jan (2017). "Cool Capital" (PDF). Architecture SA. 85: 28–30.
  83. ^ Roberta Coci (May 2013). "Country Modern". House and Leisure: 56–63. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  84. ^ Molefe, Candice (28 July 2018). "Javett Art Centre architects win 2018 Medal of honour for Visual Arts (Architecture)". University of Pretoria.
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