FGG Architects

COMPANY PROFILE

2015

FFG Architects

www.fggarchitects.co.za | +27 (0) 31 208 2272

company profile

Shaping the skyline Editorial: Rebecca Bingley

Shaping the skyline of Durban since 1960, FGG Architects has built the foundations of a successful and reliable company manufactured solidly from expertise and industry knowledge. IndustrySA speaks with co-director, Kevin Bingham, who explains that with a change in architectural practises in recent years, the company is looking to concentrate on securing provincial projects and retaining its fundamental ethos, making it an enduring success for many more decades.

The subject of architecture can be traced back through the centuries to the early 1st Century AD to Roman architect, Vitruvius, who recognised in his works of De Architectura, the three fundamental principles which still stand in modern architecture today: durability, utility and beauty.

Of course, with two millenniums passing, the process and designs used to construct so many of the historic and influential landmarks located across the world today demonstrate these changing times with huge advancements in labour, construction and technology. But the majestic build of Notre Dame in the heart of Paris, the uniform design of one of London’s biggest tourist attractions – the Houses of Parliament – or the magnificent pose of the Taj Mahal in India, all firmly showcase these fundamental values highlighted all those years ago.

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While the aesthetic values of an architectural design holds much weight; the social, environmental and functional implications must also be carefully considered before the scheduling, cost estimations and construction administrations can be implemented.

AN ARCHITECT’S PROCESS The official process of the architect’s role, from the initial design brief to sketching the rendered drawings of a proposal and the final ‘close out’ phase, can be divided into six stages.

Naturally, the first stage welcomes the approach from the design client to discuss what it is the client wants done and to assess the project budget.

Conversations with local municipalities follow and a contextual review of where the site is to establish whether the building can be constructed

FGG Architects

taking legal issues and building restrictions into consideration.

Following this approval, the architect reverts back to the client with both the fee proposal and a local agreement (client architect agreement) to sign. The next stage involves the rendered drawings which highlight the intention of the building design, between both the client and architect and from there, the commission and planning approval drawings are completed. Further approval is then needed from the local authority before converting the commission drawings into working drawings – the latter are what both the builders and contractors will work from. At this stage, the architects assist with recommendations for building contractors, playing the role of Principle Agent and working with the Structural and Electrical Engineers and Quantity surveyors, before reaching

the final stage. The architects will go on site and manage the project accordingly before a ‘close out’ with the municipality and building sign off is settled.

STRONG FOUNDATIONS Initially started by two architects in 1960 - Deryk Franklin and Patrick Garland - Patrick Gibson joined four years later following a stint working with the firm as a student, and so formed the wellestablished Durban company, FGG Architects.

Following its inception, the firm established its second office in Pietermaritzburg in 1969 and was joined by many more associates and partners over the years, growing extensively in the early 1990’s and building a team of 40-plus staff working across both offices.

FGG Architect’s stature over the years has

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company profile

grown tremendously following many notable and landmark buildings, shaping the skyline of Durban city. From the Durban Sugar Terminal, recently voted in the top five regional landmark buildings in an architect’s vote held in KwaZulu-Natal to the former Head Office of Standard Bank in Durban. The firm’s first hospital - Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg – was built in the 1970s, and stands as the first of 20 medical facilities FGG Architects has since built globally.

More than five decades on and with Jeremy Hathorn and Kevin Bingham proudly at the helm, the company has continued to establish a hugely successful history. Speaking to IndustrySA this month, Kevin Bingham explains that although both he and Jeremy initially joined the company in 1980, their paths took a rather different route: “Jeremy started with FGG on gradation from university in 1980 and I also joined as a student in 1980 for holiday work at the company. Jeremy has

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“There’s a big push on our side to encourage local students, both at the technician level and professional architect level”

FGG Architects been with the company ever since and soon became a partner. I however took a different career path.

“I had been an architectural technologist and decided to go to university to become a professional Architect. I worked in the UK during the late 1980s and returned to South Africa in 1990.

I returned to working with FGG in 1993 before I was approached by the local university to consider a full time academic post. Accepting this, I lectured at the architectural school of the Natal University / University of KwaZulu-Natal for a decade. On leaving the university in 2008, I was approached and decided to merge with FGG. I re-joined as an associate and have been a director now since 2012,” Bingham explains.

STUDENT SUPPORT As with so many successful and long-serving companies, the employees remain integral to the success and day to day running. Joining himself as a student back in 1980, Bingham explains he is very passionate about the company’s intake of students,

providing opportunities and education. A dedicated advisor for the local university’s architectural department, Bingham explains FGG Architects takes on between two and three students every year: “With a team of only 15, this is a relatively large percentage for the company. We take them mainly on their year out, after their third year of study – yesterday we had a request from a technician to come and do his in-service training with us for six months, so we have accepted him. There’s a big push on our side to encourage local students, both at the technician level and professional architect level.”

A CHANGE IN DEMAND Inevitably, over the last 55 years and with the current and enduring state of the world economy, the industry has seen a shift with larger architectural practises not as much in demand today as perhaps they were ten years ago. Despite this change, Bingham explains the firm is managing a comfortable work load

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company profile

“I believe we have made a mark provincially and internationally, and we have a number of landmark buildings we are proud of�

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Kevin Bingham

FGG Architects and has the advantage of a strong network of expertise and a sterling reputation within the industry, provincially and internationally.

“We now have a team of 15 which we find to be an ideal number, allowing us to comfortably manage the work load we have,” he explains. “Having purposefully come down from a team of more than 40, it is now more fitting and an ideal number for a smaller practice.”

Exercising its expertise within the medical industry – Bingham explains FGG Architects has worked on many local and international hospitals.

Completing the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central hospital during the 1990s, commendations on its design are still received today. “This is a landmark building and I believe a good example of how hospitals should be laid out and planned,” adds Bingham.

Completing a number of medical projects internationally in Mauritius with hopefully another on the horizon, Bingham explains the company continues to build on its medical building research skills whilst currently focusing on residential and shopping mall projects.

“In any field of business there will always be competition. I think one’s expertise and skills should be the defining factors but it’s becoming apparent that clients want their jobs done for much less these days in trying to save money,” explains Bingham.

While Architects rely on a guideline to set their fees – “this used to be 6% of the contract value but it’s now open season,” explains Bingham – companies are now bidding on projects at unviable rates, inevitably raising the competition and the danger of companies not breaking even month to

month.

However, Bingham has a refreshing take on this and on the competition the company will unavoidably meet, and that is to continue to build upon the respectable name FGG Architects has assembled for itself over the decades and through its many expert consultants that have graced its walls.

“I believe we have made a mark largely provincially, and we have a lot of landmark buildings here. The Hilton Hotel, The Sugar Terminal and many residential blocks on the Umhlanga coastline,” explains Bingham.

SHAPING SUCCESS Responsible for so many of Durban’s landmark buildings and provincial projects, FGG Architects certainly has no plans to slow down. “Jeremy and I are well into our careers and we will no doubt look to bring on associates over the coming years. The hope would be that FGG could continue forever, but looking at the history of many companies globally, they only last for a few generations; I see FGG going from strength to strength.”

Despite changes in the industry, with fewer people looking to remain with a company for the entirety of their careers, Bingham has unwavering faith in this company that was started over five decades ago by three young architects and has little doubt that FGG Architects will continue to shape the skyline of Durban and beyond for many more generations yet.

“We have such strong support and a good name, I think having a strong background and ongoing mentorship from our past partners is key, and I hope Jeremy and I will continue that ethos going forward. I think FGG will continue far into the future,” concludes Bingham

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