Page 59 - Thetha Issue 7

DOUBLE ACT: ALUMNI COUPLES

Building Dreams

he lure of designing had only two years of postgraduate
destination-worthy buildings experience.
in the desert catapulted this “The opportunity to travel and
T husband-and-wife team into go on an adventure in the desert was
swapping familiar South Africa for also a big motivating factor. I needed
fantastical Dubai seven years ago – to get out of my comfort zone and
and they’ve never looked back. test myself.”
The sky really is the limit for Theunis’s notable projects include
Theunis and Crystal Goosen, who leading design on numerous luxury
have clocked up several big-name mansions from Emirates Hills to the
projects between them. Palm Island, Jumeirah, senior architect
The power couple, who graduated for the upmarket Westin Marriot Hotel
from then Nelson Mandela in neighbouring Ras Al Khaimah and
Metropolitan University with a his current coup: design managing
B Architectural Studies (BAS) each, and developing for the Trojena/
moved to the luxury city in the NEOM Luxury Mansions Portfolio.
United Arab Emirates in 2016. Crystal, senior architect at Orange
Currently design lead in Design Group, continues to reside
Saudi Arabia for Trojena’s NEOM and work in Dubai, while Theunis
development - an ambitious new works at NEOM, visits Dubai regularly
urban area and economic zone – while the couple continue to build
Theunis says that Dubai proved an their future together.
ideal launchpad for flexing the pair’s Her career highlights include the
architectural muscle. Address Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah,
“Dubai was already well-known the Jumeirah Golf Estate residential
for an explosive building industry development, the Emaar Dubai
with almost unlimited budgets, Creek Harbour residential tower
a mecca for an up-and-coming development in Dubai, and numerous
architect, when, at the time, I VIP luxury villas.

Mandela Magic

The couple credits Nelson Mandela University for giving them a solid
foundation for growth.
“My lecturers played a key role in helping me to step up, particularly
in my second year,” says Crystal. “Each one contributed to my skills and
abilities, both professionally and personally.”
Theunis says that the University’s School of Architecture produced a very
strong graduating class in 2013, with numerous success stories.
“The department has a philosophical approach to the role that
architecture plays in society – this kept us grounded and humble, partially as
a result of the need that the built environment has to fulfil in the challenging
context, and socio-economic climate, that is 21st-century South Africa.
“The lessons we learned in class keep our feet on the ground – we don’t
allow ourselves to be overly swept away by the very competitive and fast-
moving international industry scene.”

2023 | mandela.ac.za | 57