After completing a BSc degree in Construction Management at UCT, founder Jacques Cronje’s passion for timber buildings led him to on-site carpentry and several years of draughting for NST Construction in Knysna in the early ’90s—a company leading the way in timber construction in SA at the time. Following this, he spent five years with T&B Log Homes, managing sites, overseeing the construction of a timber resort hotel on the island of Praslin in the Seychelles, and engaging in operations management and product R&D. It was during this period that he designed and built his own timber frame home in Knysna, which generated several requests for architectural design and commissions.

In 2001 Jacques transitioned to full-time design, joining Tradon Architects in Knysna as a timber design consultant and partner. He registered with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) as a Senior Architectural Technologist in 2003. His consulting and design services extended to the newly formed Cape Island Homes, and in particular the Thesen Islands marina development. He relocated to Cape Town in 2007, establishing his architectural practice specialising in timber frame home and projects. The practice’s aim from the outset has been to provide architectural design excellence, minimise environmental impact, and maximise material efficiency, tailored to each client’s and site’s specific requirements.

Jacques was registered as a professional architect with the SACAP in 2021, after a successful assessment by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) through their Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program. There are several routes to registration as an architect, and Jacques’s, based on over 20 years of hands-on experience, extensive self-study, and an impressive body of work, took a less conventional and somewhat longer route.

Jacques considers himself a lifelong student, as “there is always more to learn as society, technology, and architectural discourse evolve”. He followed his degree in construction with a degree in economics from Unisa, a post-graduate certificate in energy economics and several courses in energy efficiency and sustainable development. His latest academic undertaking was a 6-month part-time course in NeuroArchitecture completed in 2023, exploring the application of neuroscience in the built environment to better understand the impact of architecture on the human brain and behavior.

Jacques’s practical knowledge of construction technology, coupled with his passion for design, ensures he brings a comprehensive and creative approach to every project. He is also passionate about the timber frame industry and its potential, and is a member of the SABS working group SANS 10082_TC 098, which is the standard for timber frame buildings in South Africa.

He has a broad range of interests beyond architecture, which include product design, digital fabrication and self-sufficiency, all of which add to his ability to contribute in a more meaningful way to the architectural discourse and profession.

With a focus on maintaining a small, niche-focused practice, clients can rely on his personal attention to every project.