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about ALCHEMY
Welcome to Alchemy Architects
Originally founded as Alchemy Architects Johannesburg in 2003, Principal Architect and founder, Amândio Castanheira has 25 years experience dealing with a multitude of varing and complex architectural projects. His reputation was built on dedication and commitment to each client's end product, leading to the establishment of Alchemy Architects Sydney.
The practice specialises in commercially driven developments in Corporate Architecture and Brand Identity and provides a full range of architectural design services. All aspects from initial planning and briefing, through to detailed design development and technical documentation to on-site administration.
The practice specialises in commercially driven developments in Corporate Architecture and Brand Identity and provides a full range of architectural design services. All aspects from initial planning and briefing, through to detailed design development and technical documentation to on-site administration.
About Me
My Story, Amândio Castanheira is the founder and director of Alchemy Architects South Africa and Alchemy Architects Australia.
Alchemy Architects Pty Ltd was established in 2003 as a commercially driven design practice, specialising in Corporate and Brand Identity Architecture in the Retail Sector. Amândio's other passion involves community work such as child care centres, schools, healthcare and aged care facilities for which he has received various community awards and recognition for.
As a multiple award-winning Architect, Amândio's core expertise in the practice is as design director and principal on complex, fast track projects that rely on cost effective engineering and workshopped construction solutions.
Amândio moved to Australia in 2017 and Alchemy Architects was formally established in 2019. Amândio studied architecture from the University of Pretoria and graduated with a Master’s Degree with honours ’cum Laude’. Amândio is an accomplished Senior Architect [Registration No. 11413] and Project Manager.
Philosophy
Alchemy Architects have always been guided by a belief that the quality of our surroundings has a direct influence on the quality of our lives, whether it's in the workplace, at home or in the public realm. Further, we acknowledge that architecture is generated by the needs of people, which are both material and spiritual, maintaining a concern for the physical context and sensitivity to the culture and climate of place.
The central drive of the practice is to create elegant, rigorous and innovative design solutions that respond to each developments site constraints, operational, financial and program requirements of the client. The design and management of all projects, regardless of scale, complexity or building typology is approached on the same basis with the following core values of simplicity, efficiency and legibility being its driving force.
As professionals we have a dual responsibility firstly to our clients we serve, but also to the public domain who ultimately become the many users of our designs. The design of each new project is reviewed regularly, both formally and informally, so as to meet the projects initial objectives.
The central drive of the practice is to create elegant, rigorous and innovative design solutions that respond to each developments site constraints, operational, financial and program requirements of the client. The design and management of all projects, regardless of scale, complexity or building typology is approached on the same basis with the following core values of simplicity, efficiency and legibility being its driving force.
As professionals we have a dual responsibility firstly to our clients we serve, but also to the public domain who ultimately become the many users of our designs. The design of each new project is reviewed regularly, both formally and informally, so as to meet the projects initial objectives.
