Women's Month Profile: KIRSTIN CAVANAGH, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, PARAGON INTERFACE ARCHITECTS

This August, in celebration of Women’s Month, Leading Architecture + Design has profiled a dozen inspiring women in the fields of architecture, urbanism, interior design and engineering, showcasing their skills and achievements, as well as their views on the challenges that the industry faces.

KIRSTIN CAVANAGH, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, PARAGON INTERFACE ARCHITECTS

Kirstin Cavanagh studied architecture at Wits University, completing her Master’s degree in 2009, and began working at Paragon Interface in 2010. She was drawn to the interior realm of architecture by her fascination with how people use space, and how good design can influence and improve people’s behaviour.

She has worked in project teams on large projects such as ABSA Towers West and Alexander Forbes’ head office in Sandton. She has also been responsible for designing and implementing office fit-outs in a variety of countries throughout the rest of Africa.

Kirstin is currently focused on running a number of smaller projects, ranging in size from 300m 2 to 10 000m 2 and including offices, schools and showrooms.

She believes that interior architects are privileged to be exposed to

the inner workings and culture of many different industries and businesses, and have a responsibility to share their knowledge with clients to help optimise their companies’ functioning through highperformance workplace design. “As a woman working in the construction industry, one often finds oneself in a room filled with professionals and contractors, and yet you may be the only woman present,” she says. “Perhaps we have to speak a little louder to be heard and display a little more confidence to be taken seriously, but what I have seen emerge as a result is a good number of strong and brilliant women.”

On her recent appointment as senior associate, Kirstin says, “It confirms that one can continue to progress in a career and establish a family simultaneously – something that I was afraid would not be possible for me when I became a parent two years ago.”