Paul Elliott

Paul is an enthusiastic architect who, after qualifying at the University of Cape Town, spent fifteen years abroad gaining life experience, learning three new languages, and working with the renowned architect Ricardo Bofill. During this time, he honed his skills in designing commercial, office, and residential buildings across the USA and Europe, guided by classical principles.

Since returning to South Africa, Paul has contributed to the design of several clinics, two schools, university buildings, and the Mitchells Plain Hospital. More recently, he has designed and built two mass timber houses—projects driven by a moral ambition to make meaningful improvements through architecture.

He sees architectural competitions as a vital way to keep his creativity alive, especially during quieter periods. Recognising that South Africans live in a Mediterranean climate, Paul draws on a deep understanding of African space-making traditions and their underlying patterns. He is committed to passing on the architectural culture he has absorbed to the next generation.

Quoting Beethoven, he reflects his design philosophy:
“Music (Architecture) is the wine which inspires one to new generative processes, and I am Bacchus who presses out this glorious wine for mankind and makes them spiritually drunk.”