In the heart of Stellenbosch, architectural and interior design company SKEP weaves its magic. As MARGUERITE VAN WYK discovers, its vibe is energetic, its projects innovative and quirky.
DE STOMME JONGE used to be the smallest bar in town. Nowadays this quaint historic building in Ryneveld Street is the busy creative hub for SKEP, a firm whose mission is to satisfy clients in need of architectural and interior design services that combine artistry and imagination.
Geraldine Heyns-Lötter, a bubbly and brainy blonde, and her demure brunette partner, Carla Gerber – both mothers – founded the business in 2012. Having met as colleagues at another architectural firm in Stellenbosch, they hit it off while working together on a number of projects and soon decided the time was right to start an independent venture.
SKEP is their brainchild. “Being first-time mothers, we needed to work flexitime and SKEP enabled us to do that,” explains Carla. “I don’t always know how we manage it,” admits Geraldine. “But we do, and we love it!”
Geraldine and Carla are the epitome of vibey sophistication. Wearing a bold yellow dress, Geraldine is the extrovert; Carla, in a black dress and mod black flatties, is more reserved.
The name of the business says it all. After playing around with various different Afrikaans names, they decided on SKEP – ‘to produce through artistic or imaginative effort’. Short and to the point, it defines their mission. Being passionate about South Africa, sustainability and a future for their children, they are also committed to creating jobs.
And respecting those who work for them. Democratic leadership is their motto: ‘Team members are colleagues, not underlings’.
Funky, innovative and edgy are the adjectives that best describe SKEP. While aiming for professional eminence in their field, the two women always bear their clients’ wishes in mind. Carla exudes creativity. “It seldom feels like work. My work is my passion – we have so much fun.” Geraldine agrees, recalling that in childhood she could amuse herself for hours on end with Lego. From the age of four, she knew she wanted to be an architect.
Their chosen career, they agree, is challenging. “Clients expect excellence. You have to work responsibly and interpret briefs respectfully, but you must also be prepared to persuade clients to sometimes push the envelope,” explains Carla. And, they add, thorough training from the ground up has taught them resilience, patience and psychological skills.
“We don’t sweat the small stuff,” laughs Geraldine. “We get on with the job and try to make everyone happy.”
Over the past 13 years referrals have been by word of mouth. “We work with interesting clients – corporates as well as individuals – who are willing to trust our creative expertise and vision,” continues Geraldine. Thanks to their top-notch credentials, their expertise is diverse and sought after. Their portfolio includes commercial, retail, hospitality and residential projects, and they have even spread their wings internationally.
Geraldine graduated with an MArch from the University of Pretoria and completed her MBA at Unisa in 2011. Carla has a Higher Diploma from the Design School of Southern Africa, which is affiliated to the London School of Arts.
Theirs is a lucrative business, but they agree there is much more to life than earning money. So they prioritise a healthy work–life balance. Carla and her husband Dandre, co-owner and director of a fruit export company, have two daughters, Katrien (9) and Kayla (11). “Dandre is incredibly supportive and encourages me to follow my dreams,” Carla says. Geraldine lives on Oudeberg, the family farm outside Stellenbosch, and adores her youngsters, Genna (10) and Etienne (13).
For both women, the fulfilment they experience when a concept comes to life is priceless. They are inspired by the fascinating creative process: the ideas that flow from a brief, followed by plans that eventually take shape at the building site. “Sometimes we even surprise ourselves. And that is such a great feeling,” says Carla with a smile.
Geraldine reckons the magic of friends working together is that they are ruthlessly honest with each other and believe in teamwork. “Our egos are never bruised; we want each other to succeed. Jealousy isn’t an option.” Each project is aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. They believe that being women – and mothers – often helps them to make practical design choices.
Carla says she loves working with a wide variety of professionals and learning all the time. Geraldine agrees. “Every day we are inspired by exciting developments in ‘green’ architecture, which is such a hot trend.
And then there are things like innovative technology and exciting new textures in tiles and materials – the sky is truly the limit.”
No two days are the same, which is what makes her job so exciting, continues Geraldine. “As a student, I used to think that architects just sat in a corner, designing and drawing. But each project is multifaceted and made up of teamwork, project management and problem-solving skills.”
For the Oude Postkantoor renovation project, the quirky shape of the office and impressive ceiling height required creative solutions. SKEP created an open-plan office that incorporated a boardroom, a breakaway space, one closed office and a standout feature – a show kitchen.
Gauging a project’s success comes with experience. Seemingly effortless synergy and a balance between the outside and inside spaces are pointers. “It has to feel comfortable and be a happy space,” she adds.
Carla believes two friends working together is to their mutual advantage, especially when they share holistic views on assignments. “Geraldine and I consider various angles and then we have in-depth discussions with our team. This ensures that everybody is on the same page.”
The South African Council for the Architectural Profession keeps a close watch on registered architects. To complete an assignment well, it is crucial to stay ahead of the latest developments in technology and design. Keeping abreast of trends, doing research and taking extra training courses are part of their job.
“A thorough knowledge and understanding of the law is a massive component of our trade. Building regulations change regularly and if you are not up to date, there could be repercussions with municipalities in the short and the long run,” explains Geraldine.
At the top of their wish list for 2025 is attending the annual Milan Design Fair, a must for creatives.
Overseas travel, especially to view Italian architecture and modern Dutch designs, as well as visits to heritage homes in historical towns like Stellenbosch, inspire them. The proud mothers admit that, thanks to their influence, even their children have developed an appreciation for beautiful buildings and homes.
As creatives with business acumen who juggle several projects at once, Geraldine and Carla are now also working on the design of a house that they would like to build one day and sell at a profit.
Our conversation is winding down and I realise that the word ‘magic’ has popped up so often in it. That makes perfect sense when you’re talking to the two driving forces behind SKEP.
CHALLENGING PROJECTS
GERALDINE: In the Durbanville Hills Brand Home Visitor Centre project, which we completed in 2023 (top picture), the attention to detail required, the value of a strong team and our years-long relationship with the client stood out. We had to convey what makes Durbanville Wines distinctive by constructing exhibitions about the vineyards, sustainability projects and the wines themselves. There were a couple of challenges. Firstly, the visitor centre was created in the old barrel cellar, a moist area with no natural lighting. And then we had a limited budget and a specific deadline for construction that had to be coordinated with the harvest and with other projects going on at the same time in the cellar, for example a new fire protection system. We had to coordinate joiners to construct the displays, signage suppliers, lighting specialists and script writers. To illustrate the different areas where grapes are harvested, an extra-large contour map was designed with LED lights to indicate the different farms. We included slices of terroir to show the different soils and inserted blocks with interesting facts. The centre pod has a virtual reality glass display. Our clients thought we had created magic, and on a tight budget too!
CARLA: In 2019, we undertook a remarkable transformation of a private apartment near Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront (bottom picture). The original space was dark and outdated, with finishes that felt depressing. Despite the challenges posed by the limited space and the body corporate’s stringent rules regarding renovation, we embraced the opportunity to innovate. By introducing natural light and removing isolating walls, we reimagined the apartment into an airy, serene environment that harmonises with the tranquillity of the surrounding gardens and lagoon. This project underscored the profound impact of thoughtful design and meticulous planning, and it exceeded both the client’s expectations and our own.