For the first time, only the boys

Just the three boys....

Dickson. Chadwin. Siseko.

Three architects sitting down to talk about where it all started — architecture school.

The late nights. The critiques. The pressure. The friendships. The uncertainty. The dreams we had about what life would look like after graduation.

And then the reality of actually becoming architects.

How has architecture shaped us? What did we think we were getting ourselves into? What would we tell our younger selves now?

This is less of an interview and more of a conversation between three friends reflecting on the journey — from architecture school to where we find ourselves today.

IN FRAME | With DR MARTINS

Some conversations are interviews. Others feel like a reunion.

For our latest episode of In Frame, four of us had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr Elao Martins.

Two of us studied with Elao during our Masters years at the GSA, so this conversation carried a familiar energy from the beginning. Old memories, shared experiences, laughter, and reflections on how far the journey has taken us since architecture school.

This time, however, we have the honour of chatting with Dr Martins.

Having recently defended his PhD, Elao has entered a new chapter in his journey. Alongside his academic work as a lecturer at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), he has also established his own practice, Elao Martins and Associates.

We talk about his journey through the GSA, the transition from student to educator, his experience teaching and running studio in Namibia, the PhD, establishing a practice, and the questions that continue to shape his architectural journey.

At one point, Elao says it feels like a reunion.

And it really did.

🎙️ In Frame — Dr Elao Martins

A conversation about architecture, education, practice, friendship and the journeys we continue to make long after leaving the studio.

Full episode out now.

#InFrame #DrElaoMartins #ElaoMartins #Architecture #GSA #NUST #ArchitecturalEducation #ArchitectureStudio #PhD #ArchitecturalPractice #AfricanArchitecture #ArchitectureAfrica

Today, we’re joined by someone who has been part of both our architectural journeys in more ways than one.

Dr Jabu Makhubu is an architect, urban designer and lecturer. He has been a supervisor to both of us at different points in our journeys, and Dickson also had the opportunity to teach alongside him at Unit 15X at the Graduate School of Architecture (GSA), University of Johannesburg.

And today, we’re very happy to welcome him to In Frame as Dr Makhubu, following the successful defence of his PhD. Congratulations, Jabu!

Jabu is currently leading first-year architecture at Wits University through a studio he calls Xtra Care.

And that idea became the starting point for a much bigger conversation:

What does it mean to bring care, love and tenderness into the architecture studio?

In a South African context shaped by histories of trauma, violence and inequality, can the studio become a space where we imagine something different?

How do we move from trauma to love?

That’s where this conversation begins.

In this episode of In Frame, we explore the ideas behind the book Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon and ask an important question: Is originality a myth? From architecture and design to film, art, and storytelling, we discuss how creativity is shaped by influence, observation, imitation, and transformation. Rather than creating in isolation, we examine how artists, designers, and thinkers build upon the ideas that came before them to create something new and meaningful.

Join us as we reflect on inspiration, authorship, creative identity, and the courage to embrace the work that influences us.

#InFramePodcast #StealLikeAnArtist #AustinKleon #Architecture #DesignThinking #CreativeProcess #Storytelling #ArchitectureStudents #ArchitecturalDesign #Creativity #FilmMaking #VisualCulture #DigitalCraft #Education #BaseBeaconStudio

What Is Heritage?

What do we choose to remember, and what do we allow to disappear?

Heritage is often reduced to old buildings, monuments, and historic sites. But heritage is far more complex. It lives in memory, ritual, language, landscapes, craftsmanship, and the stories we inherit and pass on. It shapes how we understand who we are and how we imagine our future.

In this episode of In Frame, we explore fundamental questions surrounding heritage in architecture and the built environment:

• What is heritage?
• Who decides what is worth preserving?
• Is architectural heritage only about age and beauty?
• How should societies remember difficult or contested histories?
• What makes a place truly significant?
• Can new architecture become heritage?

Through reflection and conversation, we examine heritage not as a static collection of objects, but as an evolving relationship between people, place, memory, and identity.

Whether you're an architect, student, designer, historian, or simply curious about the places we inhabit, this episode invites you to rethink what we preserve—and why.

Because remembering is never neutral.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we think, create, and design—but what does that really mean for architecture and the future of creativity?

In this episode of In Frame, we sit down with Akheel Khan, a machine learning specialist and architect, to explore AI beyond the hype. Together, we discuss creativity, first-principles thinking, the future of architectural practice, education, and why AI is more than just another tool. Whether you're an architect, designer, student, or simply curious about the future, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on one of the most important technological shifts of our time.

🎙️ Watch now and join the conversation.

#InFramePodcast #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Architecture #MachineLearning #DesignThinking #Innovation #FutureOfWork #Architects #CreativeTechnology #ComputationalDesign #DigitalDesign #BuiltEnvironment #Technology #Design #FutureOfArchitecture #Podcast #ArchitecturePodcast #BaseBeaconStudios #AduAgyeiArchitecture

This episode of In Frame is a little different. Rather than sitting down with a guest, we share a conversation about our passion for film and the unexpected ways it connects with architecture. From storytelling and atmosphere to movement, emotion, and world-building, we reflect on how these two creative disciplines continually inform and inspire one another.

Episode 6 of In Frame, titled Pivoting in the Industry,features a compelling conversation with architects-turned-project-and-construction-managers,Tumelo Makofane and Boipelo Masibi. We unpack the realities of pivoting withinthe built environment industry, the challenges women continue to face in architecture, and how redefining your path can open new opportunities for growth and leadership. powerful discussion on resilience, identity, andshaping spaces beyond the drawing board.

Episode 2 of Stories We Build features a compelling conversation with Nqobile Lombo—an architect, lecturer, and director of Umhlaba—whose work navigates the intersections of practice, pedagogy, and place. In this episode, she reflects on the responsibilities of shaping spaces within complexsocial and cultural landscapes, offering insight into how architecture can be both grounded and transformative. Her perspective brings a quiet intensity to the series, reminding us that the stories we build are deeply tied to identity,land, and the futures we choose to imagine.

The Stories We Build is a new series within our In Frame segment, opening up conversations around the narratives that shape architecture beyond the built form.
We begin with Daniel Dzansi, architect, artist and thinker navigating the space between disciplines. Together, we explore how stories move through architecture, how art reshapes the way we see space and why the most compelling ideas often emerge from outside the field.
This is not just about buildings. It’s about the stories that make them possible.