Bio:

The great Architect, Johannesburg, South Africa. Hiten is a profoundly deaf person with bilateral cochlear implants. He holds a Master of Architecture (Prof) degree from the University of Cape Town and runs his own creative practice called Studio HB. He is currently working on designing barrier-free environments for people with disabilities across housing, transportation, interior design, urban design and landscape design.

 

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

I was in my first year studying BA Fine Art when I job-shadowed an architectural technologist working at a macro firm in Johannesburg. I found the creative process of designing buildings inter- esting and decided to switch my study to archi- tecture.

 

What do you do?

I am a freelance architect and artist working on residential projects, architectural illustrations and paintings. I provides consultancy services on accessibility and Universal Design to fellow archi- tects and engineers.

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What excites you in the work you do?

There are many things about working as an artist and architect that excites me. It is the satisfaction from seeing a completed building or artwork that validates all the hard work, sacrifices and dreams that goes into creative process.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

People from diverse backgrounds and abilities in- spired me to commits to designing buildings that are accessible, inclusive and sustainable. I draw many inspirations from talented architects and artists on the African and Asian continents.

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

I have many personal and professional achieve- ments as a person with a disability. My two main achievements are completing a Master thesis on accessibility in the built environment and register- ing as a professional architect.

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Featured Project Name: 

House O

 

Featured Project Location: 

Pretoria, South Africa

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

October 2018

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Role in Featured Project: 

Architect

 

Featured Project Description:

House O is an internal renovation of an existing retirement home in Montana Truine, Pretoria. The owners are a retired couple with one using a motorized wheelchair for mobility. The existing house was renovated to be fully wheelchair accessible in all spaces and be accommodating of the clients’ immediate and future needs. Accessibility products were incorporated into the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms designs to provide ease of transfer and reach from a seated position.

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Photography Credit:

Hiten Bawa