Page 13 - Landscape-Issue123

LANDSCAPING FEATURE

Yes& studio

Yes& studio is a firm of young landscape architects who aim to better understand the

dynamic relationships between people and place. They strive to design spaces that
promote safety and equality in order to provide secure areas for social interaction
and inclusion, fostering healthy environments and communities. The company’s

designs are largely based within urban areas and regardless of context, aim to
create positive places that directly address some of the complex issues facing South
Africa’s contemporary environs.

he firm is led by Amy Thompson and
Rhuben Jacobs, both professional
Tlandscape architects.
Amy has experience in both academia
and private practice. She previously
worked with the urban design team at
Gapp Architects and Urban Designers,
and has taught at the University of
Cape Town. Rhuben has experience in
private practice, having “cut his teeth” at
Square One Landscape Architects. He is
a dedicated professional with experience
in design development and project
management, and has successfully
delivered complex landscape projects.
What were your reasons for going
on your own?
When starting our company, we wanted
to try and create a new kind of practice
that allowed space and time for hands-on
experimentation and research through
design. We modelled ourselves as a
landscape firm seeking to solve, head-on,
the problems faced within the South African
public realm through creative business
practice and hands-on engagement with
communities.

How did you decide on your
company name? It’s unusual and
quirky
YES AND is a double positive, a “can do
attitude”, the opposite of NO BUT. We
wanted the ideas of creative problem-
solving to permeate through our company Amy Thompson and Rhuben Jacobs, owners of Yes& studio
culture (and it’s pretty useful to have a
consistent reminder of what you stand for
in the name of the firm). project approach that breeds innovations Cape Town’s academic year as part time
to ensure that spaces are loved by those staff members, as well as participate in
What are the advantages of who use them, and are maintained over fellowships. Most recently, Amy undertook
working on your own versus time by communities. In addition, we a residency in Rome as the 2022 Rome Prize
working for a company? believe that true community engagement in Architecture award holder (until recently
Our business model is focussed on public is empowerment, transferring skills and called the Scholar’s Prize in Architecture)
realm upgrade projects in a hands-on opportunities for long-term employment from the British School in Rome.
manner. We have streamlined our operation and job creation.
to allow flexibility to spend more time on the What are the disadvantages of
development of projects, the testing of ideas The company was conceived to allow for working on your own?
and importantly, the co-creation of projects. time to experiment and to bring academic Our company approach and ethos are
We do not regard community rigour to the projects undertaken. The all-consuming and as any small business
engagement as a token or step in the flexibility of the firm has allowed us to owner will tell you, there is very little down
process of design, but rather as an ongoing actively participate in the University of time. We have no hobbies! n

Landscape SA • Issue 123 2023 11