Leading South African architectural studio dhk Architects announced today that it has joined 10N , a collective of expert practices in the fields of urbanism, architecture and design, brought together by Egis Group . This strategic move enables dhk to expand its access to a broader global network of opportunities beyond South Africa, while continuing to build on its strong local presence. dhk's brand and company leadership will remain in place under the 10N Collective. 10N Collective has deep roots in the communities it serves, building authentic, lasting relationships across cities and cultures. Individually, each firm within the collective delivers expertise that's people-focused, creative, responsible and tenacious. As the latest addition, dhk joins globally recognised architectural and urban design studios: WW+P Architects and 10 Design , headquartered in London; Spanish firm FIA (Fenwick Iribarren Architects) ; U+A based in Dubai; and Omrania , headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. dhk is one of the largest studios in Africa, established in South Africa in 1998. With an award-winning team of more than 140 people, dhk is a multidisciplinary studio bringing together architects, urban designers, and interior designers, supported by an in-house visual communication and graphic design team. The studio has a diverse portfolio of projects spanning multiple sectors. Operating from offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg, dhk's design-led approach is underpinned by its technical implementation expertise and a deep commitment to sustainable design, historical building retrofit and people-centric placemaking. Headquartered in Paris with a global presence across five continents, Egis is a leading force in architecture, engineering, consulting and mobility solutions. Laurent Germain, CEO at Egis, said: "This acquisition reflects Egis' vision of building a truly global design network. dhk's reputation for excellence will reinforce our ability to deliver world-class projects while nurturing local talent." Colin Hutchison, CEO at 10N Collective, said: "dhk's commitment to superb built quality in architecture and public realm, coupled with an amazing track record of historical building retrofit and interior design brings deep knowledge and huge skill sets to our 10N collective. Perfectly placed to help further raise the bar in our vision for designing and delivering future cities, we are truly thrilled to be able to welcome them onboard." Derick Henstra, Chairman at dhk Architects, said: "This agreement represents decades of hard work, diligence and dedication by our teams whose collective talents have helped dhk to become the design force it is today. We also look forward to a productive, creative, and mutually beneficial relationship with our new colleagues who are highly recognised as leaders in their respective fields. The decision to join the Egis Group presents an opportunity to bring our talents and experience into the network for the benefit of our whole team, and the global group." Renske Haller, Managing Director at dhk Architects, said: "We are very excited to be joining the 10N Collective. This move is an opportunity for us to take the next leap forward in our expansion, and for our teams to extend their horizons by contributing their significant expertise at a global level, in conjunction with global leaders in our industry. We are especially inspired by the opportunity to represent the broader group in Africa, tapping into the continent's immense potential for sustainable, people-centered design and development."

Our interior design team, dhki, delivers bespoke interior designs and turn-key fit-outs that meet intelligently at the intersection between architecture, brand and place. dhki’s recent collaboration with Rockwell Group on the renowned Nobu restaurant located at the five-star One&Only Cape Town hotel situated at the V+A Waterfront perfectly showcases the team’s ability to act as architect of record and effectively collaborate with other designers to meticulously implement their design from concept through to completion. dhki were pivotal in sourcing and specifying materials and finishes appropriate to the local context while maintaining the luxury and quality of an internationally renowned brand. ‍ The project to refurbish Nobu began in late March 2025 and was successfully delivered in December 2025. It includes the reimagining of the Nobu dining space on the ground floor as well as the private Reserve Room, on the upper level. The Reserve Room serves as wine experience room for the hosting of exclusive private events and functions. The globally renowned Nobu brand is the brainchild of chef and restaurateur Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, known for his unique take on traditional Japanese cuisine with Peruvian ingredients, a style often referred to as "Nobu style". With over 50 Nobu restaurants and hotels across all continents, One&Only Cape Town is home to the only Nobu restaurant in Southern Africa. design intent According to dhki Director Lisa Bridgeford, the core idea behind the Rockwell Group design was to integrate Cape Town's local essence into every detail, from joinery to artwork, to reflect the unique craftsmanship of the region. She explains: "We worked closely with Rockwell Group to commission local suppliers and artisans who could achieve the high standards set by Nobu and the Kerzner Group. We're proud of what we've achieved together." On the project, dhki was the architect of record, focusing on construction documentation, implementation and overseeing the design's execution. implementation and coordination Senior Interior Designer Robyn van Ryneveld led the project, drawing on her extensive hospitality experience and skills in concept design, technical detailing, furniture design and product sourcing and specification. Since joining dhki in 2023, Robyn has worked on a range of dhki and dhk projects such as the refurbishment of a new campus for Good Hope Studies in Cape Town and premium mixed-use residential developments in Cape Town and Mauritius .

Over the last ten years, dhk Architects has more than doubled in size and our global footprint has grown exponentially. More than 60% of our work is based outside South Africa, with several projects in the Middle East and over 40 projects in 18 countries across Africa. Our international reach began as one or two early international project wins and expanded over the years into a deliberate global growth strategy. dhk Chairman Derick Henstra says the expansion into international markets happened organically. "We had started to entrench our reputation locally and in parallel started winning work beyond South African borders. We wanted to grow our profile internationally and so we followed the opportunities," Derick explains. This strategy culminated in our announcement in March 2026 that we are joining 10N , a collective created by Egis Group . In this article, we unpack that trajectory. Here, we tell the story of how a studio deeply rooted in South Africa has grown into an internationally recognised brand, evolving in terms of skillsets and technology, and turning shocks like the Covid-19 pandemic into catalytic opportunities.

Nhloso Nzimande, a Professional Senior Architectural Technologist, joined our team in June 2014. His time with dhk has been a journey through his career and through the country: he’s worked in our offices in Gqeberha (now closed), Cape Town and Johannesburg. We caught up with him to hear more about his time at the studio. Please tell us a bit about your professional background and how you started at dhk? I studied architecture at the Durban University of Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Architectural Technology. Some may not know this, but dhk used to have an office in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, when we were working on several projects within Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. That's where I started. The Gqeberha office opened in 2010, but I joined in 2014. My key focus was tenant coordination on Baywest Mall [a 90 000m² super regional mall]. In 2018, I moved to the Cape Town office, and later moved to the Johannesburg office in 2021 where I now work as a Professional Senior Architectural Technologist under the leadership of Peter [Fehrsen, dhk Partner] and Martin's [Lardner-Burke, dhk Partner and Head of the Johannesburg studio]. What are some of the projects you've worked on? Besides Baywest Mall, I've contributed to smaller but complex buildings like municipal sewer pump rooms and an electrical sub-station for Conradie Park [a 22-hectare mixed-use development] in Cape Town. I also worked on Parklands College in Cape Town, where we expanded the campus to include a new learning and innovation centre dedicated to creating spaces that could facilitate progressive teaching techniques and philosophies. I’ve also worked on some of our flagship projects in Johannesburg, including Phase One of One Rosebank [a mixed-use development under construction]and Phase 2 and 3 of Ellipse Waterfall [a landmark high-rise luxury apartment development in Waterfall City]. The final tower of Ellipse Waterfall was completed in October 2025, and it's rewarding to have been part of the construction journey which began in 2019. What are some of your dhk highlights? Working on Baywest Mall in Gqeberha. It is the largest mall in the Eastern Cape. It was my first time working on a massive project at that scale, and it really set the foundation for my career at dhk. The Parklands College learning and innovation centre also stands out because I had never worked on a school, let alone an innovation learning centre. It was great being part of that team and seeing what future school design will look like. Are there any other portfolios or initiatives you're involved with at the studio? Yes. I'm part of dhk's technical review committee which ensures that everyone in the studio follows the correct dhk standards, to ensure consistent delivery on projects. We also look at how we can improve our workflow by reviewing drawing packages and identifying ways of doing them smarter and faster. It's a great platform as we also get to collaborate with the building information modelling (BIM) team , and benefit from their technical support and training on BIM software and workflows. How would you sum up your 12 years at dhk? It's been a stimulating experience filled with lots of learning opportunities, and it's been great to work on several large-scale projects.

Hospitality design thrives when it anchors guests in place, weaving local art, craft and sensory detail into experiences that inspire comfort, belonging and return journeys beyond the trend-driven algorithm.