ICA Architects and Urban Designers is a full-service practice established in 1984 by Haroon Cassimjee and Ismail Cassimjee in their parent’s garage. Our aim is to maintain the highest levels of design quality, technological excellence, and business integrity. The success of our work is achieved through active collaboration with clients and specialists – from structural and environmental engineers, to cost consultants and project time managers. The practice work ranges in scale, from small to large projects. The scope of its work includes: Master plan for cities, Urban design, Viability and assembly of Turnkey Projects, Building design, Public Buildings, Medical healthcare facilities, Industrial and Commercial Facilities, Restoration of historic buildings, Interior Design and Facilities management. The office from inception has been driven by the pursuit of quality design, regardless of size and scale. The quality of a project is not necessarily related to how much it costs but rather how wisely resources of time and money are spent to produce a poetic balance between building and nature, between modern and traditional, between earth and sky.

In pursuit of the above the offices have received the following awards:

In pursuit of the above the offices have received the following awards:

1987 – DELUX AWARDS MENTION

1989 – INSTITUTE OF SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHITECTS CONSERVATION AWARD,

1990 – SPECIAL MENTION PIETERMARITZBURG SOCIETY AWARD

1991 – INSTITUTE OF SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHITECTS MERIT AWARD,SPECIAL MENTION

1992 – CITY OF PIETERMARITZBURG AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE (CONSERVATION)

1992 – CITY OF PIETERMARITZBURG AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE (NEW BUILDING)

1995 – PIETERMARITZBURG SOCIETY AWARD

2000 – IMPUMELELO TOP 300 BEE AWARD

2005 – PIETERMARITZBURG MASTERPLAN (LEAD CONSULTANTS)

2016 – THE PIETERMARITZBURG HERITAGE SOCIETY (NEW BUILD)

2016 – THE PIETERMARITZBURG HERITAGE SOCIETY (ADAPTIVE REUSE)

2016 – THE PIETERMARITZBURG HERITAGE SOCIETY (RENOVATION/STEWARDSHIP)

2019 – SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS KZN AWARD

The practice subscribes to and is compliant with Broad Base Black Economic Empowerment and actively pursue the principles of ASGISA, JIPSA and the NDP. Mentorship is provided to high school students intending to study architecture. This programme is followed through by providing internship once students enter university, encourages the idea of “learning by doing” and craft like participation in architectural design projects.

Architectural Digest 2019 • SAIA-KZN Journal issue2/2019 – 2019 Awards for Architecture • ICA an intuitively and digitally led architectural company – Mercury 10/2018 • Ten years of inspiring better building, GBCSA South Africa 2007 – 2017, Oliver Tambo House Department of Public Works KZN, Pietermaritzburg • Mercury, 29 September 2017, At the disruptive forefront of design technology • Natal Witness, 15 September 2016, Celebrating PMB’s remarkable buildings • Sunday Times, 5 June 2015, Durban 2022 Commonwealth Games Cycling – Mountainbike, Pietermaritzburg • Architecture otherwhere, Durban 2014 – Architectural conservation SA since 1994, 2014  – August 2013, Volume 64 Issue 4 Ingonyama Trust Board Headquarters, Pietermaritzburg • Digest of SA Architecture 2013 • Natal Witness, 17 June 1998, Architects view of a post-apartheid city • KZNIA Issue 3/1996 Volume 21, Architecture SA July – August 1994, Mosques of Pietermaritzburg • Architecture SA, November – December 1991, Medical Centre, East Street, Pietermaritzburg • NPIA Issue1-1990 Volume 15, Soorti Sunni Mosque, Pietermaritzburg • Quietly they restored the mosque, The Natal Witness, 17 November 1986