YASMIN MAYAT

Yasmin Mayat is an architect and heritage practitioner. She cofounded Mayat Hart Architects in 2012 with Brendan Hart. After completing a Bachelor of Science degree (majoring in botany and zoology) at the University of Cape Town Yasmin found, in architecture, a blend of both the artistic and scientific. Yasmin holds architectural degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Masters in Conservation of the Built Environment from the University of Cape Town. In addition to regular practice Yasmin has integrated teaching, learning and advocacy into her life as an architect. Her teaching includes lecturing in history and conservation at the University of the Witwatersrand as well as regular public lectures relating to her and the practices work. Her research and writing is also widely published in local and international books and journals. Yasmin is a member of a number of professional and volunteer bodies, sits in numerous regional and national committees and is an accredited professional member of the Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners.

BRENDAN HART

A love of buildings and making inevitably led Brendan to architecture and, after 7 years of working on a diverse range of projects, to cofound Mayat Hart Architects with Yasmin Mayat in 2012. Brendan holds architectural degrees (with distinction) from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Master’s Degree in the Conservation of the Built environment from the University of Cape Town. Since 2015, in addition to practice, Brendan is a permanent member of staff at the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand where he teaches post and undergraduate architectural history and supervises masters of architecture students. His research and writing is also widely published in local and international books and journals. Brendan sits on the committees of a number of professional and volunteer organisations and is an accredited professional member of the Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners.

Mayat Hart Architects

Mayat Hart Architects and Heritage Consultants work combines architecture, research, conservation and advocacy with considered projects that aim to respond to the rich and complex architectural and social history of the South Africa. The practices projects range from restorations, the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, heritage documentation and research to contextually sensitive new buildings. The practices portfolio of projects and research has been widely published an has won numerous local and international awards including the inaugural 2021 Docomomo International Rehabilitation Award for the restoration of the iconic 1937 modernist apartment building Aiton Court.