ABOUT ME
MATT LANKERS
African born of Dutch heritage, I love solving problems! 40 years of passionate architectural design and execution all over sub-saharan Africa, has allowed me widespread experiences in various locations.
From sub-economic housing to cutting edge commercial and industrial design, I have been privileged to generate or collaborate with projects ranging from upgrading urban ghettos to locating and building remote wilderness lodges.
From container health clinics to international hotels; each commission has called for free-thinking and innovative use of time and materials.
While endeavouring to deliver the best design and pleasant experience to all clients, embracing “the different” under challenging circumstances remains a powerful inspiration.
Perhaps my most fulfilling work has been to inspire and up-skill young designers and aspirant construction workers during projects.
I enjoy drawing, painting, playing the clarinet, photography, sport, nature-based walking, exploring ruins and good communication.
DESIGN MOTIVATION
“Good design doesn’t necessarily cost more money – Its more about using resources in a creative way – sometimes to save money – always to create value.”
I delight in taking simple materials and designing them to create unique and timeless spaces for my clients.
These are the values which I have brought to over 400 projects in 40 years of practice:
- Buildings should be responsive to the client’s needs and desires.
- They should be useful and beautiful, expressive of structure and function.
- Good design should be respectful of its neighbours - be it people or nature, never pretentious, bombastic or domineering.
- Buildings should be simple in execution while fully embracing the complexity of interrelated components.
- The design should strive for timelessness and avoid superficiality, allowing each material to express its own integrity with maximum elegance.
- The building itself should be understated, instead evoking the experience of being in and around it.
- With renovating existing structures, care should be taken to preserve their integrity whilst elevating them to a new and more appropriate status.
- There should be responsible, sustainable, creative use of resources.
- There should be integrity in the use of materials, with a view to maturation over time.
- The building should make economic sense at the same time as expressing great beauty regardless of size.
- An element of lightness and playfulness reflective the client’s personality should be present.
- The interplay of light, shapes, textures and vistas creates intriguing beauty.
- The design service should offer inspiration, good value and solid client rapport.