Solid Foundation

MASHUDU TSHIVHASE, 34, owns a thriving architectural business.

- Felicia Molefe

Growing up, Mashudu Tshivhase was “a very artistic child. My mom always showered me with crayons, paints and all the other tools to enhance my skills.”

In hindsight, that laid the foundation for Mashudu’s career in architectural design. Today she owns MPlan Architecture, which does renovations and all the engineering works. “I also have a team of building contractors and interior designers.”

During our interview, Mashudu shows us past projects she’s worked on. These include mostly residential houses and a mall. She’s currently working on a house building sits on a steep slope; the difference between the front and the back is huge. “Designing on such a tricky site is difficult but that’s what I love – challenging projects and buildings keep me excited. I’m actually not a fan of mall structures because they tend to be generic and less personal as opposed to houses.”

Mashudu’s designs are curvy and have a very feminine signature, which, she says, was inspired by the late Zaha Hadid, the famous Iraqi-born architect who was the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004 – the Oscars of design. “I never mess with form and functionality; there must always be synergy between the two.”