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There are moments in every profession that remind you exactly why you chose it in the first place. For me, Barcelona became one of those moments. Ever since architecture first captured my imagination, Barcelona has been at the top of my architectural travel list. For many architects, a Barcelona architecture tour is more than sightseeing; it's an opportunity to learn from some of the world's most influential buildings. It sits alongside a handful of places that every architec

Meet the architect behind We Do House Plans. In this first post, Donette Werkman shares the person behind the profession, why architecture has always been about people, and the journey that shaped her approach to designing homes.

In today’s property market, buyers aren’t just looking at bedrooms and finishes. They’re looking at risk — and nothing kills a deal faster than uncertainty.That’s why a fully compliant property is worth more. It’s safer, easier to finance, easier to transfer, and gives buyers absolute confidence in what they’re purchasing. Here’s why compliance adds real, measurable value: 1. Buyers will pay more for peace of mindA compliant property removes doubt. No hidden municipal issues.

An Occupation Certificate (OC) is often misunderstood, yet it’s one of the most important documents linked to a property. In simple terms, an OC confirms that a new building or addition was built according to approved plans and passed all municipal inspections. Here’s the part most homeowners don’t realise: Most older homes don’t have an OC — and that’s completely normal. Municipalities only started enforcing OCs properly in the 1980's. If your home is older, or if previous o

Many homeowners assume the National Building Regulations requires municipalities to keep record of plan approval or that the City of Tshwane keep perfect, permanent records of every approved plan. The reality is different. The NBR doesn’t say who must keep plans — but in practice, the responsibility falls on the homeowner. Municipal archives only store what they can manage. Older plans may be missing, damaged, or never captured properly. And when you want to sell, renovate, f