Company Profile

SDKS is an architecture and consulting firm based in Cape Town, with decades of experience in design, project management and built environment strategy.

Our architecture clients have given us opportunities to design across many urban settings as well as on remote coastal sites, and in mountains and deserts. Past projects include offices, museums, schools, heritage sites, housing estates and houses. Our clients value our attention to detail and return on investment.

Our broader built environment consultancy covers property enablement (collaborating with other professionals getting added rights for sites), digital strategies, and advising clients on the implications of new policies, such as asbestos regulations or heritage policies. We hold APHP Heritage registration and draw on decades of experience with historic buildings and places.

SDKS manage projects from idea to completion and help clients navigate the process. We enjoy working on multidisciplinary teams for more complex projects and welcome proposals for collaboration.

Directors

Stephen Dugmore
stephen@sdks-architects.co.za
c: +(27) 082 399 2390
t: +(27) 021 683 6395

>> About Us

Karin Dugmore Strom
karin@sdks-architects.co.za
t: +(27) 021 683 6395

Project Stages – Architecture

We manage projects through six standard stages internationally recognised in the architectural profession. We mostly work through all stages of a project, but we can also get involved at any point.

Our project management includes:

Stage 1 – Inception: Understanding your brief, budget, project goals and legal constraints
Stage 2 – Concept & Viability: Exploring design ideas and testing what’s possible on your site.
Stage 3 – Design Development: Refining the preferred design and coordinating with engineers and other consultants.
Stage 4 – Documentation & Procurement: Preparing drawings for council approval, pricing and construction, drawings up details and documents of building structures and finishes, and getting prices from builders.
Stage 5 – Construction: Administering the building contract and monitoring the work on site.
Stage 6 – Close-Out: Assisting with Completion and Final Handover.

The above are broad descriptions – the actual work per stage is clearly outlined in contract documents.

Council & Statutory Approvals

Most projects require approvals from one or more authorities. The approvals needed depend on the property, its location and the nature of the proposed work. We identify these requirements early and guide you through the process.

Depending on your project, approvals can include:

Building Plan Approval (BDM): Approval from the local authority confirming that your building plans comply with the National Building Regulations (NBR) before construction can begin.
Planning Approval (LUM): Required where a proposal affects zoning, building lines, land use rights or other planning controls.
Heritage Approvals: Required for certain older buildings, heritage sites or properties within protected heritage areas.
Environmental Approvals: Required for certain developments on environmentally sensitive sites.

We prepare and coordinate the drawings, reports and supporting documentation, including SANS 10400-XA energy compliance calculations. We have successfully navigated the approval process for hundreds of heritage and municipal building plans (council approvals).

Why Us?

Integrated service from start to finish

With experience as both Project Managers and Principal Agents across hundreds of projects, we know how to keep things moving smoothly while providing quality design. Our service covers the full six-stage process, from early design stages through to approvals, technical documentation, contract administration, and final close-out. We build each project team carefully, ensuring the right expertise is in place, and that the original design intent is carried through to the end of a project.

Sustainability at the core

Sustainability, environmental design and heritage conservation are central to our design ethos. We design buildings that are resource-conscious, responsive to their context, and future-ready. We use a range of strategies aligned with local and international best practice, including energy- and water-efficient systems, solar solutions, and environmentally responsible material sourcing.

Heritage

Our heritage consultancy streamlines heritage approvals. We are specialists in heritage-sensitive design, including adaptive reuse, restoration, and maintenance. We prepare heritage design, research and reporting for Sections 38, 34, 31, 27 of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA, 1999). We are leading heritage practitioners with over three decades of experience.

Strategic approach

Our built environment consultancy offers strategic research, portfolio planning, and building lifecycle management. We advise on building maintenance strategies, heritage conservation, spatial mapping and consolidation, and compliance and risk assessments. We manage other consultants to ensure the right team expertise is brought to each project. Our experience covers large campuses with multiple buildings, and sets of properties spread geographically.