December 2025

As the year draws to a close and the pace of the industry begins to slow, it feels only natural to pause and take stock of the journey we’ve travelled. The end of the year invites reflection: on what worked, what didn’t, and where our efforts took us. Yet, in the midst of this introspection, a crucial question arises: is it more valuable to look back or to look forward? Should our focus be on reflection or on vision?

When working with heritage architecture, we’re often asked: What’s the difference between preservation and conservation? The two are closely linked, yet their philosophies shape how we approach the old buildings that define Cape Town’s urban fabric.

Human – AI – human. That’s our workflow. Artificial intelligence has entered nearly every industry, and architecture is no exception. Over the past few months, our team has explored what AI might mean for us, testing tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Nano Banana, and Spacio AI. The experience has been equally fascinating and humbling.