Women's Month Profile: KIRSTY SCHOOMBIE, 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.

KIRSTY SCHOOMBIE, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, PARAGON INTERFACE ARCHITECTS

Newly-appointed Paragon Interface Senior Associate Kirsty Schoombie says she is very excited about the challenges presented by her senior role. “I will continue to strive for excellence in design, to learn and grow every day, while mentoring the younger generation of talented designers,” she says.

Kirsty graduated from Design Time in Cape Town in 2003, receiving the top student award in both 2002 and 2003. She joined Paragon in 2007. “I have always been a creative person, with a love for design,” she says. “It’s the balance between creativity and order of interior architecture that inspires and motivates me. Seeing a design become reality and witnessing the way people interact with our designs is always a gratifying experience.”

Her roles include design lead and project lead, and she is involved in concept design development, space planning and workplace

strategy. She has worked on many award-winning projects, including Sasol Place and Discovery Place, both of which received SAPOA awards for interiors and as overall winners. Other noteworthy projects include Bidvest Financial Services, Peregrine and Citadel, all at 1 Park Lane, Goldman Sachs, Ninety One, Long for Life and ACSA.

“I believe that, particularly in the field of interior architecture, women bring a level of sensitivity to the human and emotional experience of architectural design,” she says.

Kirsty acknowledges that COVID-19 has brought about both opportunities and challenges for the team. “We have endeavoured to instil a balance between work and home lives by creating a strong support system within the group,” she says.

“As a woman in the architectural profession, I endeavour to accomplish [this] on a daily basis, with my team and the larger female community of designers. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish.”

33 Fricker Road, Illovo, Johannesburg Email: info@paragon.co.za Tel: +27 (0)11 482 3781