The Pretoria Institute for Architecture (PIA) is a Voluntary Association recognised by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP), and is a ‘Regional Institute’ of the South African Institute of Architects.
The PIA has its origins in the Pretoria Architectural Society, which was founded in 1945 and was created to:
- Serve the interests of architects in the capital city,
- Further good architecture,
- Take care of Pretoria’s unique architectural heritage.
Well known architects including Norman Eaton, Tobie Louw, Adriaan Louw, Peter Kuhn and Thomas Honiball served as architects, in various capacities in Pretoria through the Pretoria Architectural Society (PAS).
The Transvaal Provincial Institute of Architects, having existed for the better part of a century, ceased to exist in the early 1990’s and the South African Institute of Architects was established.
The Pretoria Architectural Society became the new Pretoria Institute of Architects. However, the constitution and subsequently the name changed to acknowledge and provide for other forms of membership, such as Technologists, Artists, Historians and Friends. Thus the name changed to Pretoria Institute for Architecture.
With a current membership of more than 600 architectural professionals across all categories of registration, in Johannesburg and Pretoria, the PIA is well placed within the Gauteng region to serve the professional needs of its members.
Past PIA Presidents are Gerrit Jordaan, Niel Crafford, Louis Bouwer, Ronald Remmers, Phillip Crafford, Ian Alexander, Braam de Villiers, Gideon Schoonraad, Pieter Mathews, Faan Nel and Gerd Bolt.
Isia Ortner is the current PIA President as well as the first female PIA President.
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