Resume
I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Thea Scholtz. Miss Scholtz has worked for me for the last year. Thea has reported to me directly at Inclusive Design Architects (pty) Ltd.
During her employment at the company. Miss Scholtz went from a young architectural intern to a Young Architect with growing confidence. Thea is leaving our company to pursue her studies or other work opportunities in other areas of Architecture.
Miss Scholtz is a hard working individual who knows how to get the job done quickly and effectively and to work with modern deadlines. She works well as part of a team.
As part of a reference, we thought we would list some of the projects that she has worked on and the type of service involvement.
1. House Slattery_ Remodel of existing 600sqm house in Bryanston(modernise), design and working drawings.
2. House Leroux _ Proposal to extend house in Parkhurst from 200sqm to 400sqm, full design and working drawings.
3. House Hillman/Ash_ Remodel of existing 450sqm house in Bryanston, adding a full 2nd dwelling as second storey, design and working drawings.
4. Dunkeld Cycles – New shop design and detail all elements.
5. SP Sport and Beauty – New beauty Salon design and detail all elements.
6. Klub street – as built council submission drawings.
7. Bayhill Office Park – as built with Sapoa area schedules.
8. DBI Consulting – Small house converted into modern office, full design and working drawings
Based on my experience of working with Miss Scholtz, I can recommend her to your organisation.
Yours faithfully,
Andrew Wood Managing Director (Pr Arch)
SACAP 6893
Experience
Candidate Architectural Technologist
Mar 2022 - Feb 2023 | Inclusive Design Architects |
Internship | Work Stages 1 - 4
- 12 Primary projects.
- 3 Projects progressed to construction in that time.
- House Hillman project led to increased client trust, resulting in expanded scope.
- Played a crucial role in the Dunkeld Cycles project, leading to a new project win, SP Sport and Beauty.
Education
Master of Architecture
2024 | University of Johannesburg | Graduate School of Architecture | Unit 17 Prize
Fostering a connection between humans and nature through architecture to support the human nervous system.
Bachelor of Architecture Honours
2023 | University of Johannesburg | Graduate School of Architecture
Co-habitation of Humans and Other Animals: Transition from human-centered design to multi-species design.
Bachelor of Architecture
2019 - 2021 | University of Johannesburg
Skills
Industry Knowledge Software
Working Drawings Revit
Design Drawings AutoCAD
Teamwork Lumion
Presentations Twinmotion
Procreate
Languages Adobe Indesign
English
Afrikaans
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Courses
Design of Healthy Spaces: Wellness and Comfort
2024 | Ana García López | Domestika | (Audit)
Introduction to Feng Shui
2024 | Cliff Tan | Domestika | (Audit)
Evidence-Based Design for Creative Interior Spaces
2024 | Donald M. Rattner | Domestika | (Audit)
Architecture AI 2024 | UGREEN
Green Architect Leadership
2021 | UGREEN
Sustainable Architecture
2020 | UGREEN
MArch Thesis 2024 01/p. 01
Fostering a connection between humans and nature through architecture to support the human nervous system.
BArch Hons 2023 02/p. 31
Co-habitation of Humans and Other Animals: Transition from human-centered design to multi-species design.
Dunkeld Cycles 2022 03/p. 37
Inclusive Design Architects project. Retail design and detail of all elements.
Inclusive Design Architects project. Office renovation. DBI Consulting 2022 04/p. 39
Inclusive Design Architects project. Residential renovation. House Slattery 2022 05/p. 41
BArch | Siyakana 2021 06/p. 43
3rd Year Design Project. Siyakana Residence and Master Plan.
MArch Thesis
Through my master's thesis, titled "Fostering a connection between humans and nature through architecture to support the human nervous system," I explored how architecture can support the human nervous system by researching psychology, neuroscience, and a nature reserve to design interventions that abstract landscape elements and incorporate them into an office building to create a healing workspace.
I schematically designed green corridors through Johannesburg to address humans' need for direct contact with nature. I intended to create an area for the green corridors near my site by depaving the secondary roads. People would be dropped off or park at the corridor's boundaries and then commute on foot or by bicycle or tuk-tuks.
Climate
Illovo
Sandhurst
Blairgowrie
Linden
Greenside
Orange Grove
Rosebank
Parktown
Melville Northcliff
Alexandra
Sandton
Kensington
Johanessburg
Secondary roads are depaved to make green corridors.
Transport is on foot, bicycle or "Tuk Tuks".
People are dropped off at the new circles or park their cars in the existing parking lots and basements surrounding the green corridors.
Secondary roads are depaved to make green corridors. Transport is on foot, bicycle or "Tuk Tuks".
People are dropped off at the new circles or park their cars in the existing parking lots and basements surrounding the green corridors.
I divided the floor plates of the above-ground levels into parts that match different landscapes, each with its motive and interventions.
I used the Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve as the research ground for highveld landscapes; my experiences there are the primary inspirations for the designed areas. I looked at five landscape types to create different experiences in the building and meet various needs: fog, forest (which included the courtyard), and the water, dirt, and veld areas merged over time.
Rainwater harvesting system
Greywater harvesting system
Courtyard
My project has multiple interventions, such as tilting tiles, a new courtyard design, new interior topography, grass and tree abstractions (structural and non-structural), fog areas and green corridors in the larger context.
The courtyard was the project's origin, and most of my early ideas for the space led to the development of the other final interventions.
tiles
Existing concrete frame structure
Existing concrete frame structure
Existing planter with tree
Existing planter with tree
Existing concrete frame structure
Rainwater harvesting system (floor drain has sponge incorporated in grate to slow down water drainage to form longer lasting pools in the courtyard)
Rainwater harvesting system (floor drain has sponge incorporated in grate to slow down water drainage to form longer lasting pools in the courtyard)
Existing planter with tree
Rainwater harvesting system (floor drain connects to primary system that filters to rainwater bladder tank in basement)
Rainwater harvesting system (floor drain connects to primary system that filters to rainwater bladder tank in basement)
Rainwater pools form from slow drainage
Rainwater harvesting system (floor drain has sponge incorporated in grate to slow down water drainage to form longer lasting pools in the courtyard)
Rainwater pools form from slow drainage
Aerated hempcrete (high-strength, fiber reinforced, moss coated stiff mix shaped by hand)
Aerated hempcrete (high-strength, fiber reinforced, moss coated, stiff mix shaped by hand)
Rainwater harvesting system (floor drain connects to primary system that filters to rainwater bladder tank in basement)
Torch-on bitumen waterproofing membrane
Rainwater pools form from slow drainage
Torch-on bitumen waterproofing membrane
Aerated hempcrete (high-strength, fiber reinforced, moss coated, stiff mix shaped by hand)
Torch-on bitumen waterproofing membrane
Courtyard | Topography To give the users direct contact with water and the opportunity to experience the change in seasons, I designed a more dynamic landscape for the courtyard. The new topography is made from aerated hempcrete mounds covered in bioreceptive gel. The mounds guide rainwater to the drains, filled with sponges to slow down the drainage to the new rainwater harvesting system in the basement. That forms temporary pools, meaning the landscape and the experience in the courtyard change depending on the weather conditions.
I derived the layout of this space from my early experiments with natural loofahs, which produced line drawings. I overlaid the drawings onto the site and added mounds and depressions forming multiple layouts.
Courtyard topograpghy design
Mild steel angle (350x150mm)
Aerated hempcrete (high-strength, fiber reinforced, thickness: 100mm min.)
Mild steel angle (350x150mm)
Tensile stainless steel cable grid: Main cables: 40-60mm dia. stainless steel cables
Aerated hempcrete (high-strength, fiber reinforced, thickness: 100mm min.)
Mild steel angle (350x150mm)
Secondary cables: 20-30mm dia. stainless steel cables
Tensile stainless steel cable grid: Main cables: 40-60mm dia. stainless steel cables
Aerated hempcrete (high-strength, fiber reinforced, thickness: 100mm min.)
Grid: staggered, 2000mm intervals
Kevlar fabric
Tensile stainless steel cable grid: Main cables: 40-60mm dia. stainless steel cables
Secondary cables: 20-30mm dia. stainless steel cables
Existing concrete frame structure
Grid: staggered, 2000mm intervals
Kevlar fabric
Secondary cables: 20-30mm dia. stainless steel cables
Existing concrete frame structure
Grid: staggered, 2000mm intervals
Mild steel bracket ring system (width: 100-200 mm, length: 250-400 mm, supported by tensile cable grid, attached by clevis plate where ring meets grid, bottom plate for simplified aesthetics)
Kevlar fabric
Existing concrete frame structure
Glass balustrade (Aluminium profiles, height: 1145mm)
BArchHons screen
Mild steel bracket ring system (width: 100-200 mm, length: 250-400 mm, supported by tensile cable grid, attached by clevis plate where ring meets grid, bottom plate for simplified aesthetics)
Glass balustrade (Aluminium profiles, height: 1145mm) BArchHons screen
Mild steel bracket ring system (width: 100-200 mm, length: 250-400 mm, supported by tensile cable grid, attached by clevis plate where ring meets grid, bottom plate for simplified aesthetics)
Glass balustrade (Aluminium profiles, height: 1145mm)
BArchHons screen
Courtyard | Bridges The bridge structure consists of a tensile steel grid and Kevlar fabric as a permanent formwork. The solid surface is made from aerated hempcrete to create a lightweight and sustainable surface. The bridges are on the first and third floors to create double-volume spaces while adding outdoor circulation and gathering spaces for the upper floors. The bridges span the entire courtyard with cavities for natural light and ventilation. The courtyard is transformed into a comfortable space all year round, with the new shading in the summer and access to direct sun in the winter on the bridges. The cavities also produce multiple routes to navigate the bridges. Various paths have the benefit of perceived control and a sense of safety.
BRIDGE DETAIL
Anchor bolts (dia: 20-30 mm, length: 100-150 mm)
Mild steel angle (350x150mm)
Aerated hempcrete (high-strength, fiber reinforced, thickness: 100mm min.)
Rod end connection
Tensile stainless steel cable grid:
Main cables: 40-60mm dia. stainless steel cables
Secondary cables: 20-30mm dia. stainless steel cables
Grid: staggered, 2000mm intervals
Kevlar fabric
Clevis bracket (thickness: 20-30 mm, width: 100-200 mm, length: 150-300 mm)
Steel base plate (thickness: 20-30 mm, width: 150-250 mm, length: 250-400 mm)
Anchor bolts (dia: 20-30 mm, length: 150-250 mm)
Existing concrete frame structure
Mild steel plate (100mm, welded to steel cable anchoring system)
Scale 1:3 - 200mm
COURTYARD
Courtyard model from top | Scale 1:100
Courtyard model bridge underside | Scale 1:100
Forest I placed the tree abstractions primarily in the forest areas. Humans connect to structures with organised complexity more strongly than too plain or disorganised environments. I studied how this appears in trees and found that we can achieve that with layering and rotating simple, balanced elements. I translated this as timber elements that act as screens and power supply points. Walking through the space will rotate and layer these structures, creating that effect. I also used these as timber structures that support new lightweight roofs on the top floor, where I lifted roof sections to add natural light and ventilation.
Plywood sections (material: 2400x1200mm plywood, height: each section is 3000mm max, width: 100mm, thickness: 60mm (two 30mm layers laminated together)
Steel flat bar reinforcement (embedded between plywood layers, thickness: 6mm, width: 25mm, installation: routed channel in one plywood layer, fixed with epoxy adhesive, running the full height of the plywood)
Steel U-channel (depth: 30-40mm, thickness: 4-6mm)
U-channel fixing to plywood screws (diameter: 5mm, length: 40mm)
U-channel connection to Ceiling Mounting Plate
Lifted ceiling
Steel L-bracket (recessed between plywood layers, plywood arm length: 60-80mm, floor arm length: 100mm long, thickness: 4-6mm)
Wood screws (diameter: 5mm, length: 50-60mm)
Anchors (M8 or M10, length: 75-100mm)
Existing concrete frame structure
Tilting tiles
Cover for L-bracket to match surrounding floor finish and height
Grassland The grassland areas include my abstraction of grass, tilting tiles and the new interior topography. I placed these at the entrances of the building.
Grassland | Interior mounds The interior mounds are my abstraction of the boulders and level changes found in the nature reserve, forming interpretive workspaces. These laser-cut plywood structures can be used as seating or tables in various ways, which promotes creativity and cognitive health.
TILTING TILE DETAIL
Stainless steel tile expansion joint (height: level with tiles in stasis, grid: 1000mm intervals, for grouping of tiles to ensure fixed tile grid)
Ceramic tilting tiles (thickness: 10-30 mm, spacing: 2mm min, circular center balance point, edges shaped to land on 10mm min.)
TILTING TILE DETAIL
Existing concrete frame structure
Scale 1:1 - 100mm
Stainless steel tile expansion joint (height: level with tiles in stasis, grid: 1000mm intervals, for grouping of tiles to ensure fixed tile grid)
Ceramic tilting tiles (thickness: 10-30 mm, spacing: 2mm min, circular center balance point, edges shaped to land on 10mm min.)
Existing concrete frame structure
Scale 1:1 - 100mm 15 3°
Loofah platform development sketch
Grassland | Tilting tiles The tilting tile floors create the effect of walking in the nature reserve, moving mindfully over unstable ground, promoting stress resilience. The added sound effects also provide the benefit of anticipation, which enhances security and provides a sense of safety for people with hypervigilance. These tiles have shallow centre balance points for a smooth motion and a flat surface when stationary.
Tilting
GRASS TOP DETAIL
GRASS TOP DETAIL
wire (length: 900mm, dia: 0.3-0.6mm, spacing: 1000mm checkered grid, hook: 10mm bend at bottom)
GRASS FIXING DETAIL 1. 2. Piano wire (length: 900mm, dia: 0.3-0.6mm, spacing: 1000mm checkered grid, hook: 10mm bend at bottom)
GRASS FIXING DETAIL 1. 2.
Round cork end (80x10mm, secured by small amount of epoxy chemical anchor)
Round cork end (80x10mm, secured by small amount of epoxy chemical anchor)
Scale 1:1 - 100mm
Scale 1:1 - 100mm
Piano wire (length: 900mm, dia: 0.3-0.6mm, spacing: 1000mm checkered grid, hook: 10mm bend at bottom)
Piano wire (length: 900mm, dia: 0.3-0.6mm, spacing: 1000mm checkered grid, hook: 10mm bend at bottom)
Epoxy chemical anchor (drill 15x20mm hole in slab, insert piano wire with bend at the bottom, fill hole with epoxy chemical anchor)
Epoxy chemical anchor (drill 15x20mm hole in slab, insert piano wire with bend at the bottom, fill hole with epoxy chemical anchor)
Existing concrete frame structure Ceramic tilting tiles
Existing concrete frame structure Ceramic tilting tiles
Piano
Grassland | Grass My interpretation of grass is made from piano wire placed on a 1m grid and capped with cork for a soft touch. The wire will create the effect of grass blowing in the wind, and the intervals allow for the users to move through the "fields" while keeping the feeling thereof. These add tactile and visual stimuli to the space to energise and soothe the users while encouraging them to be present.
Fog The fog areas are spaces of introspection. These areas are cold and located away from direct sunlight to activate the vagus nerve, alleviating anxiety attacks. The fog is represented by floor-to-ceiling sand-blasted glass panels lit by recessed LEDs. The opaque upper parts of the panels provide privacy and exploration when the users moving through the space can not see the people sitting. The bottom transparency allows for anticipation because the person relaxing can see others approaching.
VELD PLAZA ENTRANCE PLAN
Scale 1:50 - 2000mm
VELD PLAZA ENTRANCE PLAN
LOCALITY PLAN
Scale 1:50 - 2000mm
Scale 1:1000 - 20 000mm
LOCALITY PLAN
Scale 1:1000 - 20 000mm
(material: standard gypsum board ceiling, height: 30mm below the top U-section)
Suspension cables fixed to soffit and U-Channel (material: stainless steel suspension rods or cables, diameter: 8mm to 12mm, intervals: 1000mm, fixing to soffit: anchor bolts, connection to U-Channel: bolted or clamped)
Sandblasted glass panel (glass type: tempered glass, height: 2700mm, length: 3300mm max (can be made in sections), thickness: 12mm)
Ceramic tile (dimensions: 1200x1200mm) Existing concrete frame structure
VELD PLAZA ENTRANCE PLAN
Scale 1:50 - 2000mm
LOCALITY PLAN
Scale 1:1000 - 20 000mm
Suspension cables fixed to soffit and U-Channel (material: stainless steel suspension
cables, diameter: 8mm to 12mm, intervals: 1000mm, fixing to soffit: anchor bolts, connection to U-Channel: bolted or clamped)
Top U-Channel (material: stainless steel, internal width: 12mm, depth: 40mm to 50mm)
Glazing gaskets
Silicone sealant
Recessed LED (type: LED strip, cool white, diffuser: frosted diffuser)
Sandblasted glass panel (glass type: tempered glass, height: 2700mm, length: 3300mm
max (can be made in sections), thickness: 12mm)
Suspended ceiling (material: standard gypsum board ceiling, height: 30mm below the top glass U-section)
Aluminum section fixed to ceiling and supports the LED strip
Bottom U-Channel (material: stainless steel, internal width: 12mm, depth: 20mm max to be concealed by tiles)
Setting block
Fastener
Ceramic tile (dimensions: 1200x1200mm)
Existing concrete frame structure
