2026
ARCHITECTURE
P O R T F O L I O
CV & SELECTED WORKS
MONALISA MTHETHWA
PO R T FO L I O | P R O FI L E
MONALISA
MTHETHWA
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+61426384454
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monalisamthethwa19@gmail.com
Architectural Graduate with experience across healthcare, aged-care and community projects, contributing to all stages of project delivery from design development and technical documentation through to construction and handover. Skilled in Revit documentation, multidisciplinary consultant coordination and resolving technical design challenges, with a strong interest in delivering considered, functional and contextually responsive architecture.
CU R R I CU LU M V I TA E | 2 0 2 6 PO R T FO L I O | 2 0 2 6
E D U C AT I O N BOND UNIVERSITY 2023 - 2024 | Master of Architecture (Professional) NEAR EAST UNIVERSITY 2017 - 2020 | Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) 4yrs
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EXPERIENCE
KAUNITZ YEUNG ARCHITECTURE | BRISBANE, AUS ARCHITECTURAL GRADUATE | SEP 2025 - Present COX ARCHITECTURE | BRISBANE, AUS ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE | AUGUST 2025 POPULOUS | BRISBANE, AUS ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE | SEP 2024 - DEC 2024 ..........................................................................................................................................................................
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AWARD | Placed on the Dean’s list for Academic Excellence SCHOLARSHIP | Abedian Foundation Master of Architecture 100% Scholarship COMPETITION | Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2023 ...........................................................................................................................................................................
SKILLS Revit Documentation
Contract Administration
Design Visualization
Tender Management
Consultant Coordination
Technical Detailing
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SOFT WARE Revit
Illustrator
Autocad
Photoshop
3D max
Indesign
MS Office
Lumion pg no. | 3
page of
CONTENTS
01
PROJECTS | PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
02
THESIS PROJECT | ACADEMIC PROJECT | 2024 pg no. | 4
PO R T FO L I O | 2 0 2 6
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04
URBANISM | ACADEMIC PROJECT | 2023
PROJECTS
4TH SEOUL BIENNALE COMPETITION FOR ARCH &
MISCELLANEOUS | ACADEMIC & PERSONAL
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PO R T FO L I O | 2 0 2 6
01 AGED CARE
aged care
LIVING AGED CARE FACILITY project type: Aged Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community by: Kaunitz Yeung Architecture project location: Winnam, Brisbane, Australia
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
programs: Revit project year: 2026 Winnam is a single-storey Class 9c residential aged care facility in Lota, Brisbane, delivered for the Winnam Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation (WATSIC). The project provides a culturally grounded place for Elders to live, receive care and stay connected to community and Country. Delivered in stages, the facility brings together residential care, day respite and administration, with landscape, cultural art and gathering spaces planned in later stages to strengthen residents’ sense of
Land Area: 2,215m 2 LOTA, BRISBANE
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programme
RATIONALE
The programmatic distribution of the brief was guided by the need to balance personal privacy with a strong sense of belonging. Two curved wings wrap around a central landscaped
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courtyard, forming a protected heart to the home. Each wing gathers Elders’ rooms, each with its own private verandah, around shared clinical lounges and kitchenettes, so Elders live in smaller, familiar households with care always close by. A central core joins the wings, bringing together the
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dining hall, commercial kitchen, administration
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and staff facilities, while two palliative care suites offer a quiet, dignified place for Elders and their families. A day respite pavilion sits at the entry, welcoming the wider community into the
WINNAM SITE PLAN. BY| KYA
1. RESIDENT UNITS
5. DAY RESPITE
2. CLINICAL HUBS
6. LANDSCAPED COURTYARD
3. ADMINISTRATIVE CORE 4. PALLIATIVE CARE
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role
CONTRIBUTION Joining Winnam during construction, I worked alongside the Project Architect and Superintendent to help guide the project through to Practical Completion and handover. I developed construction-phase documentation and details in Revit, responded to RFIs, and reviewed, marked up and coordinated final shop drawings for structural steel, balustrades and other architectural elements. Working closely with the builder and consultants, I resolved technical challenges by balancing design intent, build-ability and site conditions. Supporting contract administration, including assessing progress claims, preparing variations and reporting to the client through monthly PCG reports, developed my understanding of cost, programme and contractual responsibilities. As the project neared completion, I led defects close-out, coordinated certifier and fire service inspections, facilitated the Safety in Design handover and compiled the handover package, strengthening
SITE IMAGE. BY | KYA pg no. | 10
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role
CONTRIBUTION
WINNAM SERVICES CUPBOARD GATE . BY|KYA
IMAGE . BY| KYA
CANOPY & BUILDING INTERFACE GUTTER DETAILS . BY| KYA
IMAGE . BY| KYA pg no. | 11
WINNAM DRONE IMAGE. BY| pg no. | 12
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WINNAM DRONE IMAGE. BY| KYA pg no. | 13
health & wellbeing
HUB HEALTH CARE FACILITY project type: Health and Wellbeing Hub by: Kaunitz Yeung Architecture project location: Dakabin, Moreton Bay, Australia programs: Revit | Adobe Illustrator | Adobe
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Photoshop | Adobe InDesign | AI project year: 2025 - ongoing The project is a community-controlled health hub for the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, located on Old Gympie Road in Dakabin. Shaped by IUIH’s community consultation and Aboriginal Design Principles, the project brings health, early childhood, social and wellbeing services together in one welcoming place. Guided by the values of Country, culture and community, the design uses local materials, rammed earth and landscape to create a hub where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families feel at home. It places wellbeing at the centre of community life.
Land Area: 13,320 m 2 DAKABIN, MORETON BAY
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programme
RATIONALE
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1. CAFE + RECEPTION
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2. EARLY
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CHILDHOOD + PEDIATRIC 3. DAY RESPITE + COMMUNITY
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4. HEALTH +
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WELLBEING SERVICES 5. CENTRAL CANOPY + GARDENS DAKABIN SITE PLAN. BY| KYA
The brief is shaped by the need to bring many services
spaces, early childhood and day respite sit at ground level,
together while keeping each one approachable and familiar.
opening onto playgrounds and gardens. Quieter health and
Two-storey buildings gather around a central canopy
wellbeing services are above. Delivered in two phases, the
and gardens, creating a shared heart where families,
facility is designed to grow with the community it serves.
community and staff come together. Welcoming community pg no. | 15
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PO R T FO L I O | 2 0 2 6
role
CONTRIBUTION Being part of the Dakabin project team from early design stages provided valuable experience in delivering community-focused architecture, understanding the importance of carrying client and community values through each stage of the project. Working alongside the Project Architect, I contributed to communicating the design vision to IUIH through renders, presentations and design reports, and developing the design into detailed Revit documentation. I worked with the multidisciplinary consultant team to coordinate the architectural model with mechanical, electrical and hydraulic services ahead of IFC, helping identify and resolve complex design interfaces. Contributing to design iterations, consultant coordination and the tender process strengthened my technical problem-solving, adaptability and ability to communicate effectively across disciplines while maintaining design
DAKABIN RENDERS. BY| KYA pg no. | 17
role
CONTRIBUTION
ACOUSTIC COORDINATION. BY| KYA
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role
CONTRIBUTION
DAKABIN THRESHOLD DETAILS . BY|KYA
MAIN CANOPY DETAILS . BY| KYA
DAKABIN THRESHOLD DETAILS . BY| KYA pg no. | 19
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02 AUTHENTICITY OF PLACE.
authenticity of
PLACE HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS project type: studio project by: Monalisa Mthethwa project location: Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Australia
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
programs: Revit | Adobe Illustrator | Adobe Photoshop | Adobe InDesign project year: 2023 Gold Coast’s rapid growth, driven by tourism and accessibility, has led to significant urban sprawl and high-rise development, impacting affordability and lifestyle. This project aims to propose ways to density communities without compromising Gold Coast’s outdoororiented and relaxed lifestyle. It seeks to initiate discussions on how architectural interventions can suppor t growth while preserving the city’s unique identity and enhancing residents’ sense of
Land Area: 118m 2 GOLD COAST, BURLEIGH HEADS pg no. | 22
PO R T FO L I O | 2 0 2 6
programme
RATIONALE
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The programmatic distribution of the brief was guided by the need to reuse the skeletal structure
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of 4 existing dwellings, maximize natural light and ventilation, create varying degrees of public and private spaces, activate site edges, and provide public areas accessible to the community. Private 1
dwellings are accessed through shared gardens and smaller cour tyards, with private garden
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1
spaces within each dwelling. The largest cour tyard 3
is designated as a public realm, surrounded by
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a micro whiskey distillery, tasting room, creative studio, and community kitchen, allowing activities to seamlessly extend into the outdoor spa 1. APARTMENTS
5. WHISKEY DISTILLERY
2. MULTI-GEN HOMES
6. COMMERCIAL KITCHEN
3. STUDIOS 4. SHOPTOPS pg no. | 23
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1 2
3
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1. APARTMENTS 2. MULTI-GEN HOMES 3. WHISKEY DISTILLERY 4. ROOF TERRACE
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1. APARTMENTS 2. MULTI-GEN HOMES 3. PUBLIC COURTYARD
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4. ENTRANCE COURTYARD 5. STUDIO pg no. | 24
PO R T FO L I O | 2 0 2 6
design
TOOLS
NATURAL VENTILATION
ACTIVATED EDGES
PASSIVE COOLING
SHADING
NUMBER OF STORIES pg no. | 25
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03 LIFE UNDER THE CANOPY.
life under the
CANOPY A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT project type: thesis project by: Monalisa Mthethwa project location: Olievenhoutbosch, South Africa programs: Revit | Adobe Illustrator | Adobe Photoshop | Adobe InDesign project year: 2024 An investigation of the role of Architecture and Urban Design in the Gender-Based Violence epidemic in one South Africa’s township neighborhoods.
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thesis
STATEMENT I am investigating the role of Architecture & Urban Design in the pervasive issue of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa, [topic] to find out how neo-liberal capitalist, gendered, classist & colonialist design practices, that sor t to discriminate, can be effectively challenged and decolonized, to foster the creation of public spaces that are not only inclusive & accessible but are also safe, [research question]
PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE
DECOLONIZING ARCHITECTURAL & URBAN PRINCIPLES X
FEMINIST DESIGN METHODOLOGIES
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMINOLOGY
with the aim of proposing a design framework that can serve as a practical tool for the development of socially, culturally & economically equitable public spaces, with a focus on, but not limited to, the well-being of women and children in one of South Africa’s township neighborhoods. [significance]
48m
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ASSEMBLY OF ACTIVITIES & INTEGRATION OF
design
TOOLS
USES
VISIBILITY & NATURAL SURVEILLANCE
MOVEMENT NETWORKS
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
ACCESS & SAFE MOVEMENT
DESIGN TOOLS
CLEAR, EASY SITE LAYOUT, ACTIVATED EDGES & LANDSCAPING
IMAGES & AESTHETICS VISUAL CONNECTIONS/ INCLUSIVE
MATERIALITY
DESIGN
POSITIVE EDGES
SIGNAGE/WAYFINDING
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model
MAKING
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04 MISCELLANEOUS.
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the art of
LIVING The 4th Seoul Biennale Competition of Architecture and Urbanism. project type: studio project SECTION A-A . BY |AUTHOR by: Monalisa Mthethwa & Parnian Agahi Najafabadi project location: Seoul, South Korea programs: Revit | Adobe Illustrator | Adobe Photoshop | Adobe InDesign project year: 2023
SECTION B-B. BY |AUTHOR
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selected personal
PROJECTS
TRAINING CENTRE FOR AN NPO TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMME CALLED UPLIFTED. BY |AUTHOR
project type: personal by: Monalisa Mthethwa project location: JHB, South Africa A TYPICAL SOUTH AFRICAN FIRE PIT, PART OF A LANDSCAPING PROJECT . BY |AUTHOR
programs: Revit
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“EVERYONE DESERVES QUALITY, EVERYONE DESERVES LUXURY, AND EVERYONE DESERVES COMFORT. WE ARE ALL INTERLINKED AND CONCERNS IN CLIMATE, DEMOCRACY AND SCARCITY ARE CONCERNS FOR US ALL” FRANCIS KÉRÉ pg no. | 39