J S A ARCHITECTS & URBAN DESIGNERS
Architecture in Cape Town

About JSA Architects JSA Architects and Urban Planners were established in JSA is a multi-disciplinary practice that specialises in integrated urban development with a particular emphasis on Affordable (Subsidy), Social (Rental), and GAP (Market) Housing design and implementation, as well as high income developments. We follow an Urban Design driven approach to develop sustainable human settlements. This approach emphasises the need for contextualisation of urban development options in order to acknowledge specific community, locational, accessibility to urban infrastructure and sustainability needs and realities within the urban context. Rhodes High School The school required additional classrooms. We used the opportunity to enhance the enclosed courtyard used by students before school and during break times. While the other walls of the courtyard are blank providing no access to the space, the new wing consists of open walkways along the entire edge of the space, creating a lively edge and providing ample direct access. The future extension will make provision for, inter-alia, a tuck-shop. Jac Snyman is an Architect, City Planner and Urban Designer with qualifications from the University of Cape Town. After graduating in 1992, he worked for the City Planner of Cape Town as part of his bursary obligations in both the Urban Design and Urban Conservation Branches. He joined the Cape Town 2004 Olympic Bid Company in 1995, where he co-ordinated the design of the Urban Design Plans for the proposed Olympic sites, until the Company ceased operations in October He then established JSA Architects & Urban Planners, specialising in Urban Design and Architecture. He has a particular passion for Urban Design, focussing on the creation of liveable, quality urban environments. This provided the inputs to develop a detailed business plan geared at the implementation of the social housing objectives. It also provided a comprehensive urban development strategy showing the future integration of adjoining Council owned land within the broader policy framework for social housing and urban regeneration. The construction of this development, which includes a range of bachelor, one- and two- bedroom social rental housing units, commercial units, restaurants, perimeter security, private and public court yards and parking, has recently been completed. The project was awarded a Special Merit Award in 2011 by the Southern African Housing Foundation, as well as an award for Architecture by the Cape Institute for Architecture, recognising special contributions to Architecture.