CHRIS VAN NIEKERK
Chris van Niekerk is an award-winning professional architect with 19 years of working experience in high-end residential and small-scale commercial projects.
THE PRACTICE
Previously known as The Fold Architects, Chris’ practice is based in Cape Town, South Africa, and was officially founded in 2008 and offers architectural services, interior architecture and project administration, with projects undertaken in the residential, interior, commercial and media sectors.
The practice received an award of commendation from the Cape Institute for Architecture in October 2017 for House IIIA in Bo-Kaap, Schotchekloof and its work has been featured in two new books published recently by Gestalten and Thames & Hudson respectively.
In 2021 the practice assumed its current eponymous title as a response to a more personal directive and focuses on project and product design with a phenomenological approach to the making of place and objects.
Chris is also actively involved in a furniture design studio known as MŪVEK, which has garnered local and international media attention since its launch in October 2021.
In October 2023, Chris received a Cape Institute for Architecture Award for Architecture for Mountain House in Zwaanswyk, Tokai, built between 2018 and 2021. This project has also been widely published both locally and internationally.
The practice is currently busy with projects in South Africa and Europe.
Chris van Niekerk is an award-winning professional architect with 19 years of working experience in high-end residential and small-scale commercial projects.
THE PRACTICE
Previously known as The Fold Architects, Chris’ practice is based in Cape Town, South Africa, and was officially founded in 2008 and offers architectural services, interior architecture and project administration, with projects undertaken in the residential, interior, commercial and media sectors.
The practice received an award of commendation from the Cape Institute for Architecture in October 2017 for House IIIA in Bo-Kaap, Schotchekloof and its work has been featured in two new books published recently by Gestalten and Thames & Hudson respectively.
In 2021 the practice assumed its current eponymous title as a response to a more personal directive and focuses on project and product design with a phenomenological approach to the making of place and objects.
Chris is also actively involved in a furniture design studio known as MŪVEK, which has garnered local and international media attention since its launch in October 2021.
In October 2023, Chris received a Cape Institute for Architecture Award for Architecture for Mountain House in Zwaanswyk, Tokai, built between 2018 and 2021. This project has also been widely published both locally and internationally.
The practice is currently busy with projects in South Africa and Europe.
EDUCATION & EARLY EXPERIENCE
Chris graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pretoria and his B.Arch thesis was awarded the South African Corobrik Award in 2003, the most sought-after architectural award at student level for the project Extraneousness. The work was later included in the Royal Institute of British Architecture's yearly publication Visions for the Future in 2003. It was also included in the book Architecture in a Democratic South Africa, edited and convened by Prof 'Ora Joubert, erstwhile Head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Pretoria, and published by Bell-Roberts in 2018.
In the same year, Chris was awarded a scholarship for the MSc (Arch) degree at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands but elected instead to take up a position at (EEA) Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects in London as a Part II Architectural Assistant.
In 2004, he moved to Cape Town, where he worked with Peerutin Architects in the design of several prominent mixed-use buildings and then later with Anton de Kock Architects gaining experience in the detailing of high-end residential architecture and interiors.
The experience and inspiration gained during these formative years led to the establishment of Chris’ multidisciplinary practice.
CONTACT
chris@cvn.co.za
+27 82 334 4516
Chris graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pretoria and his B.Arch thesis was awarded the South African Corobrik Award in 2003, the most sought-after architectural award at student level for the project Extraneousness. The work was later included in the Royal Institute of British Architecture's yearly publication Visions for the Future in 2003. It was also included in the book Architecture in a Democratic South Africa, edited and convened by Prof 'Ora Joubert, erstwhile Head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Pretoria, and published by Bell-Roberts in 2018.
In the same year, Chris was awarded a scholarship for the MSc (Arch) degree at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands but elected instead to take up a position at (EEA) Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects in London as a Part II Architectural Assistant.
In 2004, he moved to Cape Town, where he worked with Peerutin Architects in the design of several prominent mixed-use buildings and then later with Anton de Kock Architects gaining experience in the detailing of high-end residential architecture and interiors.
The experience and inspiration gained during these formative years led to the establishment of Chris’ multidisciplinary practice.
CONTACT
chris@cvn.co.za
+27 82 334 4516