The Design 66 Philosophy
We relate to a great Master of Architecture, Frank Gehry, who states in his Design Philosophy that the mission of an architect is clear and that is:
“To design something that one would want to be a part of. A structure one would want to visit and enjoy in an attempt to improve one’s quality of life.”
We add to this by interactively involving our clients as much as possible during the creative process to really make them feel part of this exciting journey of a project. By implementing this philosophy we’ve experienced great joy and satisfaction, experiencing the excitement when they realize that they are actually part of the design process of their own project.
We believe that exceptional architecture has the power to transform lives.
We approach every building plan with a deep sense of responsibility for the impact it will have on the environment, community, and individuals.
We place great emphasis on collaboration during the design phase; we urge clients to partake in the creative process as they carry ownership of finished projects. We incorporate each client’s unique vision, values and needs into our designs.
Bringing spaces to life where form follows function.
Barefoot Architecture incorporates design that contributes to the health and wellbeing of people, as well as the surrounding landscape.
Bringing harmony between the built environment and nature.
We value the preservation of historic buildings and heritage structures that have their own unique character. Rather than dismantle them, we appreciate opportunities to restore these structures with the utmost care. Transforming them into cherished homes that have an almost antique ambience while embracing modern style.
Vision Statement:
Ultimately, we believe that architecture has the power to not only shape the world around us, but to affect how we feel when interacting with these spaces.
By inspiring creativity, amplifying connection, or simply providing joyful experiences, our goal is to create designs that enrich the lives of those who engage with them.
We are honored to contribute our expertise in the industry and take pride in the work we do at Design66.
- Team -
Adriaan Schutte
Adriaan is an experienced Architectural professional with 38 years’ experience in the architectural environment with a demonstrated history of working in the architecture and planning industry. Strong technical and management abilities, with professional registration with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession as a Professional Senior Architectural Technologist (Reg. Nr. ST0503) and SAIAT (Reg. Nr. 32700) Adriaan was born on 26 December 1966 in a small town in the Free State. He grew up & spent his entire school career in Pintown where he attended Gelofte School. After National Service, he worked for 3 years as a Draughtsman in Windhoek before his studies at the University of the Orange Free State.
Francois Le Roux
Architectural Draughtsman (5+ years experience)
Francois grew up in Pretoria in Gauteng and matriculated in 2014. In 2016 graduated from IDT with a qualification in multidisciplinary draughting. In 2020, he went on to specialise in architecture and began working under Adriaan Schutte and the rest of the team, where he continues to develop his professional expertise.
- Associates -
Christo Potgieter
Professional Registered Architect (20+ years experience)
Christo matriculated from Academia High School in Windhoek Namibia in 1994 and in 1995 worked as a draughtsman at Claud Bosch Architects. From 1996 to 2000, he worked as a part-time draughtsman at the same company and during that time, in 1999, obtained his B.Arch.Stud, from the University of Orange Free State. Christo obtained his B.Arch degree from the same university in 2001, and became a registered architect in 2003.
He held the position of Project Architect at Pieter Mostert Architects, Windhoek for the period 2004 to 2006, and from 2006 to 2008, established and ran his own company, Christo Potgieter Architects, also in Windhoek.
In 2008 Christo Potgieter & At Schutte joined forces & established Christo Potgieter Architects - Architects INK.
Christo is a member of the Namibia Institute of Architects, as well as the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors.
Rita Hattingh
Professional Registered Architect (20+ years experience)
Rita grew up on a farm in the Free State and studied Architecture at Technikon Pretoria.
During a practical period in freezing Bethlehem, she hand-drew wall tile layouts and details for a Clarens client—and became hooked on design and detail.
After her diploma she worked in Johannesburg: 3 years designing factories and offices, 6 years with Standard Bank and Johnson Controls on internal layouts, and a brief stint designing light fittings for a well-known lighting company.
With Pangbourne Properties she created plans for old factories and warehouses lacking drawings, and designed ideal office layouts and installations for new tenants.
A career highlight was The Villa Mall with Osglo Architects and Ronell Scheepers; collaborating with international clients broadened her design perspective significantly.
Since 2010 she has focused on residential design in the Garden Route area.
While Rita values form and function in architecture, she prioritises her clients’ happiness and comfort above all in their new homes.