The pursuit of people-centered place making

×
white circular opaque play icon

Iyer is an interdisciplinary design practice that seamlessly weaves together
planning, urban design and architecture in a purposeful, people-centred approach to place-making.

Founded in 1996, Iyer has a diverse range of specialisations, but a single-minded philosophy. The firm has offices in Durban and Johannesburg, and has been the driving force behind the built environment and planning for a number of iconic projects. These include the Point Waterfront Development, Moses Mabhida Stadium Precinct, Cornubia, Sibaya Coastal Precinct and GO!Durban Stations.

Iyer designs spaces by considering how they should be experienced as much as how they should look. This means the firm’s process is based on four key beliefs.

WE BELIEVE...

THE PEOPLE WHO USE A SPACE SHOULD INFLUENCE ITS DESIGN

Iyer starts every project by listening to the people who will live, work and interact in the space every day so they can shape built environments around their needs.

WE BELIEVE...

Good design challenges expectations

A brief is only the starting point. With a range of complementary professions and a fresh approach to every project, Iyer challenges expectations to create exceptional spaces.

WE BELIEVE...

You have to balance intellect with inspiration

Place-making is a process-driven field, but at Iyer this is always balanced with creativity and inspiration. It’s by being open to possibility that the firm can continually explore new and better ways to do things.

WE BELIEVE...

Interdisciplinary design makes for better architecture

At Iyer, architecture is considered as a vital contributor to a street, square, centre, precinct and city. Working in an interdisciplinary manner incorporating urban design and landscape architecture, the firm creates buildings that respond to social context, bring dignity to people and serve both today’s users and those yet to come.

WE BELIEVE...

Urban design should make people’s lives better

Urban design and architecture should open possibilities for people and Iyer approaches all of its work with this intention. It’s about more than just balancing form and function. It’s about combining them seamlessly, and with purpose.

Nathan Iyer is the Founder, Chief Creative Director and Tahira Toffa is an Associate Director responsible for the Johannesburg Studio. These experienced individuals are the firm’s leaders in their focus areas, complemented by 30-strong studio of practitioners with a range of skills. The team includes architects, urban designers, planners, landscape architects and other, related professionals.

Contact Us >

×

NATHAN IYERChief Creative DirectorMore info >

Nathan has practised since 1996 and in this time has led several large-scale urban design projects, such as the Point Waterfront, Bridge City Town Centre, Cornubia and Sibaya. He was the lead Urban Designer for the Moses Mabhida Stadium, for which the practice received the President’s Award for design excellence from the Institute of Landscape Architects of South Africa. He is the also lead Urban Designer for two Smart Cities in Mauritius and was the lead concept designer for the GO!Durban BRT Stations.

Outside of his role in the practice, Nathan has chaired and served on several Design Review panels in his career and is a past Planning and Development Commissioner for the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. He has lectured at the Masters level for Town Planning at UKZN, and served as external examiner for several universities. As a widely recognised thought leader in the fields of planning and urban design, Nathan has also presented at various academic events, seminars and conferences, including the American Planning Association in Washington.

Specialisation: Urban Design, Strategic Planning and Housing
Qualifications: NH Dip TRP, MTRP
Organisations: SACPLAN, SAPI, ILASA
×

KAMALEN GOUNDENDirector of PlanningMore info >

Kamalen Gounden is an Urban and Regional Planner with over eighteen years’ experience, both in the private and public sectors. This includes extensive experience in managing large, integrated planning projects with the firm. His work at Iyer includes involvement in the Point Waterfront development, Bridge City Town Centre, Msunduzi IRPTN and international projects in Mauritius. His core focus is strategic and spatial planning across all levels and contexts, and in the past few years has been extensively involved in urban design, design coding and street enhancement projects. These include housing projects as well as the planning and development statutory processes.

Specialisation: Strategic and Statutory Planning, Layout and Design
Qualifications: N Dip TRP, B Tech TRP, MTRP
Organisations: SACPLAN

To support Iyer’s intentional approach, the culture at the firm is collaborative, open and focussed on learning and reflection. This ensures that all of its work is considered, inclusive and always people-focused.

NOKUTHULA BHENGU

Receptionist

SUMAIYA BHAYAT

ARCHITECT

(SACAP)

REBEKAH VARATHAN

Urban Planner

(SACPLAN)

CLIVE TSIMBA

Landscape Architect

(SACLAP)

TAHIRA TOFFAH

Associate/Architect/ Urban Designer

(SACAP, UDISA)

AMITH SURAJBALLI

Senior Architectural Technician

(SACAP)

AVEK RUGHOO

Senior Urban Planning Technologist

LUSANDA NGWENYA

Technologist

(SACAP)

WARREN SIMON

Architectural Technologist

ANDRE MAISTRY

Architectural Technologist

(SACAP)

CHARMAINE MAHARAJ

Administration / Finance

The team at Iyer believes that good design can make a positive change in the world, and sees urban design and architecture as much as a movement for social change as it is the creation of a built form. It’s about approaching design at the intersection of people, built form and place, and ensuring that every project speaks to all three.

VIEW SIGNATURE PROJECTS

Completing the Link

The extension of the Durban beachfront promenade provides visitors an exciting experience, linking the harbour mouth and the Point Beach with its new and future development to the city’s major attractions along the Golden Mile completing the pathway to the necklace of venues and activities of Durban’s Beachfront. This has created the opportunity for pedestrians to move freely without direct traffic. Parking is provided in under croft areas of the promenade and is out of sight of the environment. The promenade deck will over time afford the opportunity of activation through bars, restaurants, retail and provision for temporary local markets. It will complement the high tourist activity of uShaka and offer prolonged stays within the precinct.

DURBAN POINT PROMENADE

More info

DURBAN POINT PROMENADE

LOCATION : Durban DATE : CLIENT : eThekwini Municipality in partnership with the Durban Point Development Company

UPLIFTING THE CITY

The beach at the Point is one of the safest and most popular in Durban. Sheltered by Vetch’s Pier it is also the only north facing beach in the City offering a calm, warm, all day swimming area for all ages. The new Promenade structure has been designed to connect to the existing Beachfront promenade and to the North Pier at the harbour mouth, and to improve public convenience and access to the Point Beach. As part of the Promenade project new facilities for the Water Sports Clubs and Seine netters have been integrated into the lower level of the Promenade Infrastructure along with public ablution amenities, parking and hotel facilities.

UNRESTRICTED ACCESS

The promenade deck will over time afford the opportunity of activation through bars, restaurants, retail and provision for temporary local markets. It will complement the high tourist activity of uShaka and offer prolonged stays within the precinct.

The beach at the Point is one of the safest and most popular in Durban. Sheltered by Vetch’s Pier it is also the only north facing beach in the City offering a calm, warm, all day swimming area for all ages. The new Promenade structure has been designed to connect to the existing Beachfront promenade and to the North Pier at the harbour mouth, and to improve public convenience and access to the Point Beach. As part of the Promenade project new facilities for the Water Sports Clubs and Seine netters have been integrated into the lower level of the Promenade Infrastructure along with public ablution amenities, parking and hotel facilities. This design provides the general public with full access and use of the beach in front of the new Promenade. The intention of the redevelopment is to ensure free and unrestricted access to the Point beach for all members of the public.

THE CONCEPT

The inspiration for the residential component of Cornubia was to create people-centred places. A significant part of this was in bringing public space into part of the basic infrastructure of the city and understanding its vital role in shaping community. Cornubia is a long-term project, but when it is complete what will set it apart is that it will be a well-considered, total living environment. It addresses human existence in a city from various levels, incorporates green spaces as part of the urban fabric and creates a sense of community through a celebration of the public realm.

At a glance

The new Promenade structure has been designed to connect to the existing Beachfront promenade and to the North Pier at the harbour mouth.

CREATING A VISION FOR A NEW KIND OF PRECINCT

Iyer was tasked with developing the master-plan and architectural guidelines for one of the largest mixed-use developments in the country, Sibaya Coastal Precinct. In doing this, the firm developed a vision for not only what this place would look like, but how life would be experienced there too.

SIBAYA COASTAL PRECINCT

More info

SIBAYA COASTAL PRECINCT

LOCATION : KZN North Coast DATE : 2005 CLIENT : Tongaat Hulett Developments (THD)


LINKING HOME, WORK, LIFE AND NATURE

The Sibaya Precinct, located on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast spans some 1,000ha of formerly agricultural land. The developers tasked Iyer to come up with a master-plan and architectural vision for this unique site, encompassing residential, commercial and leisure offerings. Key to this end product however, was understanding the lifestyle that could be created in the Precinct. By starting with finding the linkages between home, public life and the natural world, Iyer could ensure that this would not be simply another development, but a concept that did justice to its surroundings.














ENSURING BUILT FORM IS INSPIRED BY LANDSCAPE

In developing the architectural code, the firm chose to work with the landscape rather than imposing built forms upon it. Instead of dictating specific styles or aesthetics, Iyer developed a vision for Sibaya where the hilltops were developed but the valleys and coastal forest were left in their natural state. By preserving over half of the green space and ensuring that the built form blended seamlessly with it, the overall experience of unique landscape at Sibaya could be enhanced in a sensitive, sustainable way.


At a glance

At the outset of the project, Iyer facilitated a design charrette with the landowners and a team of designers and environmentalists, a process that led to the formulation of a development vision for Sibaya. Following this process, Iyer were retained as Lead Designers in preparing the Urban Design Framework for the project, as well as a detailed Urban Design Layout for the first phase of development.

SHAPING A COMMUNITY THROUGH PUBLIC SPACE

As part of designing a town, a range of users and activities that support life within it have to be considered. For Iyer, Cornubia is really about design that considers all of the facets of life and lays the foundations for a future city.

CORNUBIA PHASE 1 HOUSING

More info

CORNUBIA PHASE 1 HOUSING

LOCATION : Durban DATE : 2011 CLIENT : eThekwini Municipality


CONNECTING A DIVIDED CITY

Cornubia sets out to restructure the city by providing an almost completely new town that sits in a space that was previously held as a buffer strip that separated communities. Iyer challenged the initial brief by designing the urban space on the basis of sustainability and understanding public transport as a fundamental component of it. So as opposed to the previous city of separation, Cornubia is a demonstration of the connected, sustainable city of the future.

 






BUILT FORM INSPIRED BY COMMUNITIES

The inspiration for the residential component of Cornubia was to create people-centred places. A significant part of this was in bringing public space into part of the basic infrastructure of the city and understanding its vital role in shaping community. Cornubia is a long-term project, but when it is complete what will set it apart is that it will be a well-considered, total living environment. It addresses human existence in a city from various levels, incorporates green spaces as part of the urban fabric and creates a sense of community through a celebration of the public realm.

At a glance

Iyer was commissioned as the Lead Urban Design firm on the project, working with a multidisciplinary team in developing the Urban Design Framework for the precinct. The project area measures 55ha in extent and accommodates 550,000m2 of development bulk.Iyer was appointed to undertake an urban design and town planning layout on a greenfield site within the Cornubia Development for affordable housing. The development yielded 2586 units in total.

REGENERATING URBAN SPACES THROUGH URBAN DESIGN

Urban decay is part of the life cycle of a city. By repurposing neglected space extending the experience of the urban space, the Point Waterfront Development unlocked and rejuvenated a historic part of Durban for all of its residents.

POINT WATERFRONT URBAN DESIGN

More info

POINT WATERFRONT URBAN DESIGN

LOCATION : Durban DATE : 2001 CLIENT : Durban Point Development Company


USING HISTORICAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR CONTEMPORARY PLACE-MAKING

The Point represents an important project for city of Durban. It is a precinct that has been neglected for many years and in this project, Iyer was tasked with an urban design vision and framework to rejuvenate the area. The key inspiration for the design was the way in which buildings engage with water here. So the concept was built around interfaces and edges, with the introduction of a central canal into the precinct to extend qualities of water within it. It was a strategic move in unlocking the zone and playing to the historic characteristics of place that define the area.

 






INTEGRATING A DISCONNECT PRECINCT TO A LIVING CITY

Revitalising the precinct was only part of the job of work for Iyer. Key to the success of the concept was the way in which it integrates into the rest of the city. Linkages to the city as a whole were key, including the vision to ultimately extend the promenade from the Point to the Golden Mile to the rest of the city. It was part of a conscious effort to ensure the point became an extension of the recreation spaces Durban is known for and a way to extend the uniquely urban African fabric of the city into the space to enliven the zone.

At a glance

Iyer was commissioned as the Lead Urban Design firm on the project, working with a multidisciplinary team in developing the Urban Design Framework for the precinct. The project area measures 55ha in extent and accommodates 550,000m2 of development bulk.

INTEGRATING ICONIC ARCHITECTURE INTO THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF THE CITY

The Moses Mabhida Stadium Precinct and People’s Park are a testament to the ability of urban design to connect spaces and encourage engagement.

MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM PRECINCT

More info

MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM PRECINCT

LOCATION : Durban DATE : 2006 CLIENT : eThekwini Municipality


A DIFFERENT VIEW ON ICONIC ARCHITECTURE

Designing the Moses Mabhida Stadium precinct presented an interesting challenge to the Iyer team. Not only does a built form like this have to meet the exacting needs of a large-scale event, but also the everyday life of a city. Additionally, iconic architecture by its nature sets itself apart from its surroundings. As a practice dedicated to people centred place-making, the team went beyond simply creating an isolated precinct for the stadium and People’s Park. Instead, the vision was to locate it in a carefully-crafted public space that encouraged engagement.







ENCOURAGING ENGAGEMENT

The design of the Moses Mabhida Stadium precinct and People’s Park was fundamentally driven by understanding how people engage in space and was inspired by the movement of the city. This meant the surrounding streets had to be comfortable for pedestrian use, and the public spaces had to be multifunctional and generous enough to encompass a range of events. Urban design in a space like this is about enabling the interaction of a diverse range of users who all share common values. By responding to the needs of people and place, through considered design, Iyer ensured that the stadium precinct has become part of the experience of Durban as a whole.

At a glance

Iyer were the lead Urban Designers for the stadium as part of the Ibola Lethu Consortium and responsible for the design of the overall stadium precinct. This included the design of the various approaches and public spaces leading to the stadium. The project earned the firm the ILASA Presidents award for excellence in design for its involvement.

01 Architectural Projects

×
CLIENT : Private DATE :
STATUS : Completed

THE SHED

CLIENT : Signature PTY LTD DATE :
STATUS : Completed

SIBAYA SIGNATURE GATEHOUSE

Sibaya Signature Estate is a private estate gently perched on the slopes of Sibaya enjoying views over the Indian Ocean. The estate accommodates 45 sites ranging in sites sizes from 1000m2 to 2000m2 which are generally east and north east facing. The overall concept is to establish a place of the highest quality of landscape design with beautifully composed residences perched amongst a lush coastal planting and forest matrix. The overall vision established by IYER for Sibaya Signature Estate aimed at setting a new benchmark for an architecture of distinction where an architecture of refined elegance, made with the restraint of timelessness and simplicity which are nestled in a lush, natural coastal setting.

IYER are the Urban Designers and Architects for the overall development and as part of the implementation of the estate infrastructure, IYER were tasked with designing and implementing the entrance gatehouse building and services block. A key approach to these ‘first buildings’ of the estate was to use these buildings in a way that showcases the future architecture and materiality proposed for Signature.
 
The design of the gatehouse as a portal into the estate serves to frame the view and entrance. The entrance portal is made of Corten steel as a bold structure and frame that houses the management and security office. The strong horizontal bold lines of the entrance building is offset against a sculptural curved concrete ribbon wall which forms the façade of the services building. The bulk of the services building is embedded in landscape under a sloping green roof as a ‘non-building’, apart from the exposed curved off-shutter concrete.

CLIENT : Johannesburg Development Agency DATE :
STATUS : Completed

NOORDGESIG LIBRARY

The Noordgesig Library emerged as a result of three scales of conceiving urban design and architecture. At the city scale, the City of Johannesburg’s ‘Corridors of Freedom’ is a spatial development programme aimed at ‘re-stitching’ the segmented city and creating people-centered, inclusive, and integrated urban environments. At the neighbourhood scale, the clustering of social facilities represents a key strategy in providing a basis for growth and intensification within the corridors. The redevelopment of the social cluster at Noordgesig in Soweto forms one part of this larger strategy, comprising a library, community hall, recreation center, park and public swimming pool. Lastly, at the architectural scale, the Noordgesig Library is located within this social cluster that is the heart of Noordgesig.

CLIENT : DATE :
STATUS : Completed

NANCEFIELD – KLIPSPRUIT SPORTS CENTRE

The Noordgesig Library emerged as a result of three scales of conceiving urban design and architecture. At the city scale, the City of Johannesburg’s ‘Corridors of Freedom’ is a spatial development programme aimed at ‘re-stitching’ the segmented city and creating people-centered, inclusive, and integrated urban environments. At the neighbourhood scale, the clustering of social facilities represents a key strategy in providing a basis for growth and intensification within the corridors. The redevelopment of the social cluster at Noordgesig in Soweto forms one part of this larger strategy, comprising a library, community hall, recreation center, park and public swimming pool. Lastly, at the architectural scale, the Noordgesig Library is located within this social cluster that is the heart of Noordgesig.

CLIENT : eThekwini Transport Authority DATE : 2012
STATUS : Completed

GO!DURBAN IRTPN

eThekwini’s Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRPTN) – currently under construction – is a flexible, high performance system that combines physical, operational and systems elements. Iyer was appointed to undertake the Phase 1 preliminary design stage for the stations, station precincts and park and ride facilities. Understanding the potential of public transport to empower communities, these have been conceived of as focal points for revitalisation of surrounding communities and the catalyst for future sustainable development. Iyer’s scope also included the infrastructure in the station precincts, such as improved lighting, signage, landscaping, street furniture and sidewalk and road finishes. This involved the inclusion of sustainable and universal access thinking in the concept for the facilities and environments.

CLIENT : Private DATE : 2007
STATUS : Completed

BOX IN THE SKY

With Box in the Sky, Iyer undertook the design and construction management for a new extension to an existing residence in the form of a master bedroom, a new spa bathroom and office. The final design conceived of the master bedroom space as the eponymous “Box in the Sky,” elevating the residents in their own private sanctuary space while remaining inherently connected to the rest of the house.

02 Planning Projects

×
CLIENT : Espral & ENL Properties DATE : 2007
STATUS : Completed

LES ALLES HELVETIA

For this project, Iyer was tasked with conceptualising the Urban Design Framework for the development of a medium density residential precinct in the Moka district in Mauritius. The project was being undertaken by ENL properties, a Mauritian based property Development Company and aimed to establish a residential community supported by an appropriate public space system in a pedestrian-oriented environment. To date some 200 units have been built and are occupied.

03 Urban Design and Landscape Architecture Projects

×
CLIENT : City of Ekurhuleni DATE : 2019
STATUS : Completed

GERMISTON URBAN RENEWAL

CLIENT : Johannesburg Development Agency DATE : 2019
STATUS : Completed

ROTUNDA LINEAR PARK

Turffontein, one of the oldest suburbs of Johannesburg, has declined steadily over the last few years but has been earmarked by the City of Joburg for regeneration.The redevelopment of the area forms part of the City of Joburg’s vision for the Corridors of Freedom’s transit-orientated developments that will see Johannesburg transcend apartheid-era town planning by bringing schools, services, work opportunities and other benefits closer to the people, especially those who live on the outskirts of the city. Rotunda Linear Park forms part of the Turffontein Residential Precinct earmarked for densification through the Corridors of Freedom initiative. Due to the planned densification of the area there was a need for more extensive passive & active open recreational space.
Public space plays a vital role in shaping communities and local stakeholders played a key part in the conceptualization of the park. The design brief resulted from extensive consultative engagements with the local & broader community affected by the development. Several committee meetings and workshops were held for the community to have a better understanding of the project and be given an opportunity to influence the design. Subsequently a concept was co-created for the design of a meandering green corridor with a rich variety of activities plugged into it.
The linear park transforms a wide, 1.2km stretch of underutilized road reserve along De Villiers Road. The park includes facilities such as outdoor gyms, play areas, and futsal court. The project further included public environment upgrades of adjacent streets. The sidewalks were upgraded, street lighting replaced, street furniture and artwork installed, and cycle lanes added to some sections.

CLIENT : Tongaat Hulett DATE : 2017
STATUS : Completed

SASA Boulevard

SASA Boulevard is the name of the street that traverses the Cornubia Mall and connects with the future Cornubia Town Centre. IYER was tasked with preparing the urban design for transforming the road into a street within the Mall, including hard landscaping. One of the interesting elements of the project is the urban sculpture. The sculpture is based on cut sugar cane stalks hence the angular tops and the slot of light runs vertically along the 3 sides of each column. There are 15 lights generated from the 5 columns. The columns are constructed of Corten steel, collectively to provide a landmark and bring some elevation to the relatively low-rise retail precinct. The over-scaled stalks of sugar cane are a reference to the key economic basis for the region’s heritage.

CLIENT : Msunduzi Municipality DATE : 2013
STATUS : Completed

PIETERMARITZBURG URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT (PURP)

In this project, Iyer undertook the urban design for an urban renewal project targeting portions of Pietermaritzburg’s CBD. The aim was to improve the public space in the zone, enhancing the character and experience of this important city. The firm’s role involved the conceptualisation, detail design and construction management of the Chief Albert Luthuli Street and Langalibalele Street within the Msunduzi Municipality. Primary aspects of the design included the creation of a multifunctional street space, a renewed context for the City Hall and the introduction of bespoke lighting, seating, bins and bollards all designed by the firm. An iconic aspect of the finished project was the creation of a large-scale art installation in the form of five corten steel sculptures of figures that celebrate the transition and resilience of the city. When it was completed, the KZN branch of the South African Planning Institute (SAPI) conferred an award of Excellence to the firm for its work.

CLIENT : Msunduzi Municipality DATE : 2015
STATUS : Completed

ALEXANDRA PARK

Alexandra Park is a significant public space for the city of Pietermaritzburg, and hosts a range of sporting and recreational activities. Iyer was appointed by the city to design an important link within the park, providing access to the historic Harry Qwala Stadium. The firm saw this as an opportunity to create a new promenade based on organic and sculptural forms, incorporating seating, an outdoor gym, feature lighting and soft landscaping to extend the qualities of the park into the new space.

04 Interior Design

×
CLIENT : Scuderia South Africa DATE : 2016
STATUS : Completed

FERRARI SHOWROOM

Iyer was appointed by Scuderia South Africa, the official Ferrari dealer in the country, to create a showroom for the brand in uMhlanga. Taking Ferarri’s international identity as a starting point, the brief included the expansion of the existing showroom and the creation of interior layouts, including establishing a new delivery bay and workshop. This project was a significant one for the firm, with Iyer designing and managing the entire construction process, including liaising with Italian brand design architects.

Durban: 5 Parklane, Parkside, Umhlanga Ridge, 4319
P.O. Box 17390, Congella 4013
t 27312029550 f 27312029551
View google map

Johannesburg: 26 Baker St, Rosebank, 3 North Block, Ground Floor Courtyard
P.O. Box 17390, Congella 4013
t 27115920510 f 27865660003
View google map

Contact us online / info@iyer.co.za

Please fill in your full name
Please fill in your email address
Please fill in your contact number
Please tell us a bit about your query

Thank you for getting in touch!

We appreciate you contacting us, we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Instagram