Projects range from community facilities to multi-million rand projects for private institutions, companies and the public sector. Apart from providing pro Deo projects to communities. NEWURBAN is an all-inclusive consultancy firm committed to capacity building and Black Economic Empowerment.

We specialize in

• Design excellence that is rooted in local contexts, based on in-depth research, pragmatism, vernacular form, climatic devices and the poetics of making meaningful places.
• Energy-effective architectural design, creative recycling of buildings as well as infrastructure management and the skill to manage projects.
• Urban design, environmental management and alternative energy planning and research.
• Resources, and motivation to undertake all projects with enthusiasm, fully employing the confidence placed in us by our clients.

Ultimately, the professional's sense of value and integrity is the client's best guarantee to obtain value for money. NEWURBAN provides environmental conscious consultancy services throughout South Africa and Africa with offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, as well as associated offices in Lagos, Nigeria and Stuttgart, Germany.

NEWURBAN benefits from 80 years of combined experience and a proven integrated design approach. Our team of talented young designers and experienced mentors combine the latest technology and thinking with a legacy of responsible and responsive design projects.

The firm has a history of being at the forefront of environmental thinking in South Africa, thanks to its founding member Dieter Holm, who established the firm together with his brother Albrecht. The brothers started the architectural practice Holm and Holm Architects in 1962. The firm has been winning numerous competitions and awards since then.

Gerrit Jordaan joined the firm in 1981 and became a partner in 1983. He was instrumental in building the firm into an interdisciplinary environmental consultancy specialising in sustainable architecture, urban design, resource planning, and restoration. The firm accordingly developed from a pure architectural firm into a multidisciplinary environmental consultancy. Since its founding, the practice has been involved in several high-profile projects in sustainable architecture, urban design, resource planning, architectural research and restoration.

Reinier Visser joined the firm as the Cape Town director in 2000. Since then, he has been involved with numerous architectural, heritage and urban design projects for the City of Cape Town for various public and private clients.

NEWURBAN Meago was formed in 2011, and Nobethu Jolobe joined the firm in 2024 as Director and Professional Architect. NEWURBAN Meago has a proven track record of successful projects that also create space for capacity building and transformation. The word 'Meago' means "to build".

We approach all projects holistically, promoting stainability within every discipline practiced in our office. We believe in networking with other companies and professionals to facilitate and encourage in-house training of our core staff. As a firm we are also involved in the following:

• Members of the firm are actively involved in tertiary training institutions such as the Universities of Cape Town and Wits. Through committing our time, we believe we can contribute towards the training of all future professionals, but specifically the previously disadvantaged.
• Gerrit Jordaan, one of the Directors, is a Trustee of the Architectural Career Advancement Trust.
• Most of our projects, especially in developing areas, are based on partnerships with previously disadvantaged persons. Implementation is focused on capacity building.
• Where possible, skills transfer is promoted in all projects.
• Many community projects are done on a pro Deo basis to assist local communities