About
Welcome to Peerutin Karol, a dynamic architectural practice based in Cape Town.
Founded in 1997 by Simmy and David, Peerutin Karol focuses on creating buildings that balance beautiful and appropriate design with management.
With a portfolio that includes landmark Cape Town projects such as Wembley Square, ETV and Radisson Red, our practice has earned a reputation for excellence across South Africa and beyond. We have also expanded our reach into Africa, with successful projects in Nigeria, Ghana, the DRC, Somalia, Zambia, Malawi and the Seychelles, and have contributed to numerous international projects in the UK.
At Peerutin Karol, we pride ourselves on the talent and expertise of our team. Each member is valued for their unique contribution, ensuring that every project we undertake is an innovative and collaborative effort. We are committed to delivering designs that not only meet but exceed our clients’ expectations, while creating spaces that inspire and endure.
Meet
the team
Meet the team
The leadership at Peerutin Karol has evolved to establish a robust and effective management structure. With a clear emphasis on disciplined operations and strategic planning, the practice enables its design and technical teams to work efficiently while maintaining full creative freedom.
Day-to-day management is led by Director Tarryn Cohen, who ensures the smooth execution of all projects – whether in the conceptual phase or under construction. Design Directors David Peerutin and Giovanni Pivetta uphold the firm’s strong design ethos, guiding the creation of refined, contextually responsive, and timeless architecture, while Henning van As ensures that the practice’s design intent is rigorously upheld through all stages of technical development and construction, translating creative ideas into technically sound, buildable solutions.
Supporting the Directorate is a team of experienced Project Architects, who bring both technical and qualitative leadership to each project. They guide the firm’s twenty architects and technicians in maintaining focus on the goals and values that form the foundation of every Peerutin Karol project.
David Peerutin
David graduated from UCT in 1988 and gained valuable experience at New York firm, Gensler, while working in corporate space planning and interiors. David’s passion is design and he has been the driving force behind the design process in all the residential and commercial projects at Peerutin since its establishment in 1997.
He has a particular interest in interiors and space planning, but has an extensive and varied design portfolio. Some of those projects include luxury houses, hotels, call centres, apartment blocks and office parks. David has designed buildings throughout Sub-Saharan Africa including Somalia, Ghana, and Nigeria. He continues to strive for excellence in design, while understanding the clients’ specific needs, the context, and the technical and practical elements of the project.
Tarryn Cohen
Director – Management
Tarryn Cohen completed her architectural studies at UCT and joined Peerutin immediately after graduation, when the practice was formed in 1997. She also worked in London for two years at KSR Architects.
Tarryn was made Partner in 2017 and has been managing the practice since 2025 as Managing Director. Her strength is organization, management, coordination and the delivery of projects, and she also oversees hiring, resource planning, programming and compliance of projects.
Tarryn’s experience is largely commercial, and includes the Radisson Red Hotel, the Queen Victoria Hotel, a 14,000m2 call centre, and various office buildings and apartment blocks. She also leads Peerutin Karol’s outsourcing projects in the UK, and design projects in West Africa.
Henning Van As
Director – Technical Design
Henning graduated from the University of Pretoria in 2003. After working in Namibia at Jaco Wasserfall Architects and in Germany at Michael Deterding he returned to South Africa in 2006.
With experience ranging from large-scale urban design, sustainability, and transport infrastructure projects at ARG Design and Luyanda Mpahlwa Design Space Africa, to residential projects for private clients, Henning joined Peerutin in 2015. He has worked closely with Design Director David Peerutin on all design and concept development of projects in the office. In 2018 he was appointed as Associate, with the responsibility of ensuring the continued design excellence throughout all aspects of the office.
With a strong affinity to the technical side of design and understanding of BIM, he leads as the Director ensuring that the design concepts are effectively translated into technical documentation and buildable solutions.
Giovanni Pivetta
Director – Design
After studying Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage at the University of Parma, Giovanni furthered his studies with a degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan.
Giovanni refined his design skills by working in Italian architectural practices during and after his university years, where he immersed himself in projects spanning private and public buildings, sports facilities, and urban planning.
In 2014, Giovanni embarked on a new journey by relocating to South Africa, where he joined Peerutin Karol, working on the design of high-end single residential, estates, hotels, and commercial buildings. In 2022 he was appointed as associate responsible for the development of architectural design, competitions, and overseeing the office graphic standards.
As director alongside David, Giovanni guides the studio’s design direction. His international experience and a keen eye for detail ensure innovation and high standards across all aspects of our architectural practice.
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Commercial
Outsourcing
The Studio
Take a look behind the scenes and meet the team of Peerutin Karol.