+ PROFILE

URBAN SOLUTIONS

Urban Solutions is a Johannesburg based partnership practicing contemporary Architecture and Urban Design.

The office consist of four partners - Paul Wygers, Ludwig Hansen, Gunther Wagner, Alexia Cocolas, three architects Nils Eichberg, Gavin Armstrong, Anton Wessels, and two architectural technologists Phumlani Kuene and Teboho Mareka. Most members are involved in all aspects of the architectural process from design conception to completion.

Since 1994 Urban Solutions has completed numerous projects including The Melrose Arch Urban Design Framework (1997), The Yeoville Street Trader Market (1999), Metro Mall UDF and Public Transport Facility and Market (2000), A New Constitutional Court for South Africa in association with omm Design Workshop (2001), New Head Offices for the Ministry of Trade and Industry (2003), Baragwanath Transport Interchange and Trader Market, Soweto Johannesburg (2008).

Urban Solutions have won several international competitions including A New Constitutional Court for South Africa (1998), Belle Mare Tourist Village, Mauritius (2007), World Hindi Secretariat Building, Mauritius (2008).

PARTNER PROFILES

+ Paul Wygers

Paul Wygers is a director of Urban Solutions responsible primarily for larger architectural and urban design projects in the company. He has a B.Arch degree from the University of Durban in South Africa as well as a Dip/MA in Urban Design from Oxford Brookes. His career started with Hallen Theron and Partners in Durban under the mentorship of Lance Smith. He has a wide range of experience across all building types having varying degrees of complexity. Paul's current workload is concerned with a variety of large-scale architectural projects across South Africa and Mauritius.

+ Ludwig Hansen

Ludwig Hansen is a director of Urban Solutions. He is a professional architect and urban designer with 17 years of experience and is responsible for both architectural and urban design projects in the company. He has an architectural degree from the University of Pretoria in South Africa as well as a MA in Human Settlements from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He has worked in numerous countries with experience across a variety of building types and urban design scales. Work undertaken has focused on issues of urban regeneration projects, housing, building and planning in the context of scarce resources and pressing environmental constraints. Due to the great number of urban and public building projects Ludwig Hansen has gathered invaluable experience in dealing with the challenges facing urban environments. His current workload is concerned with the Urban Design Framework for The University Of The Witwatersrand. Ludwig is also a lecturer at the University.

+ Günther Wagner

Günther is a director of Urban Solutions, responsible for both architectural and urban design projects in the company. He started his career in 1993 after obtaining his Bachelor of Architecture (cum laude) from the University of Port Elizabeth and has worked for numerous companies in South Africa before joining Urban Solutions in 2000. The main focus of his work has been on the implementation and realization of urban design and architectural projects, with the emphasis being on urban regeneration projects. His current workload includes the Baragwanath Transport Interchange and Traders Market in Johannesburg and Garlington in KwaZulu-Natal. Other projects that he has been involved with include Mary Fitzgerald Square, the Newtown Public Upgrade, Innovation Hub, Department of Trade and Industry and the Coega Industrial Zone. Over his 14-year career, he has gathered invaluable experience in dealing with the challenges facing our cities.

+ Alexia Cocolas

Alexia Cocolas is a Junior Partner at Urban Solutions and is responsible for architectural projects in the company. Prior to qualifying at The University Of The Witwatersrand in 2001 she worked for a few companies in South Africa and one in London, joining Urban Solutions in 2003. Work undertaken has focused on the management of architectural projects within housing and commercial spheres. Her workload over the past few years has included the implementation of residential developments of varying scales from alterations and additions, new houses as well as project management of a building conversion from commercial space to residential apartments in the Johannesburg city centre. Alexia is currently occupied with the implementation of the residential and amenity components within the Garlington Estate in Hilton as well as architectural work connected to the Urban Design Framework for The University Of The Witwatersrand.