Team

Peerutin Karol has, over the years, developed strong leadership structure and collaborative methodology to fully realise the individual strengths of each member of our team. A clear focus on disciplined management and strategic planning allows the creative team the freedom to express their design vision clearly.

Simmy Peerutin and Tarryn Cohen are responsible for the overall strategy and management of the office and ensure the efficient running of the projects. David Peerutin is Design Director leading the firm’s projects, and Francois Hugo is responsible for all project technical and technological matters.

Dr Eitan Karol is responsible for business development, outsourcing and work in sub-saharan Africa.

The management team is supported by a strong design and technical team consisting of 25 architects and architectural technicians, and other support staff, committed to producing excellence in contemporary architecture.

Simmy Peerutin

Director – Management

Simmy graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1982, he then went on to gain experience in large commercial projects for more than 10 years as an Associate Partner at Shephard Robson, one of the largest architectural practices in London specializing in health care and public buildings. He returned to Cape Town in 1995 and formed Peerutin with his brother David in 1997.

He has extensive expertise in the management of large and complex commercial architecture projects, and a passion for management and programming of information and spearheads the overall strategy of the architectural practice.

In 2010 Simmy was made Vice President of the Cape Institute for Architecture and in 2013 he served as President. He is currently the chair of the SAIA practice committee and a member of the JBCC technical committee.

David Peerutin

Director – Design

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 and the context; 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 2 years at KSR Architects.

Tarryn was made Partner in 2017 and works alongside Simmy in managing the practice. 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 14,000sq.m 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.

Dr Eitan Karol

Director – Business Development

Dr Eitan Karol studied architecture at UCT, followed by art history at Columbia University in New York. He later completed his PhD at the University of Reading, UK. Eitan is a keen historian of early 20th century South African architecture, and his book, Charles Holden Architect 1875-1960 won the SAH-GB Alice Davis Hitchcock Medallion in 2008.

Having grown up in his father’s architectural studio Louis Karol Architects, Eitan has worked in the firm’s offices in London, Tel Aviv and Johannesburg and went on to take over the reins in 2010. He was committed to corporate social responsibility and education at Louis Karol and led the practice’s various development programmes. Eitan is focused on business development for Peerutin Karol, both in South Africa and abroad.

Henning van As

Associate – Design

Since joining Peerutin in 2015, Henning has worked closely with Design Director David Peerutin on all design and concept development of projects in the office. He was appointed as Associate responsible for ensuring the continued design excellence throughout all aspects of the office.

Giovanni Pivetta

Associate – Design

After studying ‘Restoration and Conservation of Cultural Heritage’ at the University of Parma, Giovanni graduated in ‘Architecture’ from the Polytechnic University of Milan.

Giovanni refined his design skills by working in Italian architectural practices during and after his studies. He moved to South Africa in 2014 where he joined Peerutin Karol working closely with David Peerutin on the design and concept development of high-end single residential, estates, and commercial buildings.

Giovanni is responsible for the development of architectural design, competitions and overseeing the office graphic standards. He was appointed as Associate, bringing international experience and particular attention to detail into every aspect of the design process.

Giovanni Pivetta, Peerutin Karol Cape Town Architects
Lance Muller

Associate – Technical

Lance completed his architectural studies at CPUT and gained experience at Revel Fox & Partners, Charl Roux Architects and Henry Fagan Structural Engineers. He joined Peerutin in 2014, and was appointed Associate in 2017 with responsibility for all IT strategies in the office.

Lance has an eye for detail and ensures that the construction technology aspects of all projects are coordinated and integrated within the BIM protocols of the office. This includes supporting the respective project teams and promoting BIM and technical excellence throughout the practice