African Design Magazine ADM #39 April 2018 | Page 24

PROFILE
performance of buildings. In addition,
it was SAPOA’s 2017 Overall Winner
and Office Developments (Corporate)
Award and Interiors Winner.
As individuals, both Rasmuss and
Orelowitz regularly take to the podium
in recognition of their professional
achievements, with SAPSA wins
for Best Professional of the Year
and Best Professional Architects
of the Year. The partners humbly
acknowledge these accolades, but
emphasise that their contributions
to the architectural community as a
whole is the main value point.
The company has built its footprint
through its many corporate office
designs, but has recently started
diversifying into high-density
residential buildings and specialised
industrial buildings, which are
characterised by hi-tech specs
such as high- and low-pressure
rooms. Student housing is another
growth sector, and the team has
been involved in a number of
projects with developer Southpoint.
“We prefer to be known as a
generalist, and as such we are
now also actively addressing the
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AFRICAN DESIGN MAGAZINE © | APRIL 2018
healthcare, hospitality, and data-
centre sectors,” says Sibande.
Orelowitz adds that Paragon has
embarked on a concerted strategy “to
pursue a broader design campaign
to look beyond just architecture.”
This includes potential collaboration
with designers in specialised sectors
such as industrial design, in order
to increase Paragon’s profile in such
niche markets. “It will also underscore
how we are responding proactively
to the latest technologies that are
available on the market.”
A number of unusual and traditional
projects are currently in the pipeline,
and the company is currently making
inroads into the Middle East. “As we
migrate into other regions, we will
look at bringing in additional skills and
technologies. An area which Anthony is
currently researching is 3D printing and
JIT manufacture for industrial design,
furniture, and components such as
door handles. We will also actively
pursue shorter duration, smaller
projects that run concurrently with our
longer-term projects. This keeps our
team on their toes and motivated on a
daily basis,” says Rasmuss.