Contact Me Call 083 260 2205
Gabled heritage house in Melrose after the alteration, with slate roofs and a new garden verandah
Glazed gable pavilion added to a tiled-roof heritage house in Saxonwold
New house in Bryanston — long gabled garden front with lavender beds and pool
Garden elevation of the Atholl house after the alteration, with the new covered living pavilion
Symmetrical stone manor house at Steyn City with arched dormers and a columned entrance

Residential & heritage architect · Johannesburg

Houses that make room for light.

Alterations and additions, new homes and hand-drawn artist's impressions — by an architect who is also an artist, with more than 25 years in Johannesburg's established and heritage suburbs.

Who I am

Read my story

I specialise in residential architecture, both new and alterations and additions, and in architectural presentation. I am passionate about making people's spaces work for them.

Selected work

Nine projects · five disciplines
Garden elevation of the Atholl house after the alteration, with the new covered living pavilion 01 / 09 Alterations & Additions · Atholl, Sandton

House in Atholl

A 1990s face-brick house reworked inside and out — a recessed entrance portico, and a double-volume living pavilion with an open pine truss opening onto the lawn.

View project
Double-height stone-pillared entrance porch with timber-truss gable at a new house in Simbithi 02 / 09 New Residential · Simbithi, Ballito

New house in Simbithi

A double-height entrance between two stone pillars, under an open timber gable — and behind it, a house of verandahs turned toward the hills and the sea.

View project
Hand-painted watercolour artist's impression of a lagoon-side resort in Mauritius, signed Debby Searle 2006 03 / 09 Artist's Impressions · Hand-painted watercolour

Mauritius

A set of presentation paintings for a lagoon-side resort: thatch, water, and the soft violet of the mountains behind.

View project
Trompe-l'oeil mural of a Tuscan landscape painted into stone archways on a Bryanston patio 04 / 09 Artworks & Murals · Bryanston

Wall mural in Bryanston

A trompe-l'œil Tuscan valley painted directly into two stone archways — vineyards, lavender and a hill town where a blank wall used to be.

View project
Glazed gable pavilion added to a tiled-roof heritage house in Saxonwold 05 / 09 Alterations & Additions · Saxonwold

Heritage house in Saxonwold

A glazed gable pavilion, light and deliberately contemporary, set against the clay-tiled roofs of a Saxonwold heritage home.

View project
New house in Northcliff — gabled wing over a stone-clad base with covered patio 06 / 09 New Residential · Northcliff

New house in Northcliff

Plaster gables over a stone-clad base, with a covered patio running the length of the garden front.

View project
Hurlingham house after the alteration — glazed gable patio on a stone plinth above the pool 07 / 09 Alterations & Additions · Hurlingham, Sandton

House in Hurlingham

A glazed gable patio on a stone plinth, stepping down to the pool and the garden.

View project
Arched vineyard mural at the end of a brick-vaulted wine cellar in Glenadrienne 08 / 09 Artworks & Murals · Glenadrienne, Sandton

Wine cellar mural in Glenadrienne

At the end of a brick-vaulted cellar, an arched 'window' onto the vineyards the wine came from.

View project
Contemporary new house at Blair Atholl with stone-clad piers, a cantilevered balcony and a reflecting pond 09 / 09 New Residential · Blair Atholl Estate

New house in Blair Atholl II

The contemporary one — stone piers, a cantilevered balcony and a living room that opens onto water.

View project

Before and after

Drag the handle
Atholl house entrance after — recessed portico under a simplified gable Atholl house entrance before the alteration — face brick and timber framing BeforeAfter
Entrance court — recessed portico, simplified gable, new steel and glass screenAtholl, Sandton

Alterations & additions

The same house. The same spot. A different life.

Most of my work starts with a house that already exists. Rather than describe what changed, every alterations project on this site lets you drag between the day I first saw it and the day the owners moved back in.

See the whole Atholl house
Mauritius, lagoon-side villasDebby Searle, 2006 · Watercolour and ink on paper
Presentation painting

Also an artist

Drawn and painted by hand.

My artist's impressions are not renders. Each one is set up as a measured perspective, then drawn and painted by hand — for my own clients, and on commission for other architects and developers. The same hand paints murals directly onto walls.

Debby Searle, architect and perspective artist, in her Johannesburg studio

About

Debby Searle, PrArch.

With over 25 years of experience as a professional architect, I have worked all over South Africa as well as in neighbouring countries — with a particular focus on alterations to many heritage homes across Johannesburg. I recently completed my Master's in Heritage Studies.

SACAP 6782SAIA 8191PrArch. MIArch.B.Arch (Wits)
More about me

In my clients' words

“Selecting to work with Debby as our architect has, without a doubt, been the best decision we made in terms of our building project. She took great care in listening to our wishes and dreams, and successfully managed to incorporate them all into the design of our new home.”
Mike and Jenny
“The flow of air and the light in all the rooms, throughout the day, is perfect! Thanks again for the lovely heart-warming spaces all around. The garden has grown so much — just amazing with the house allowing us to feel a part of it. You are so good at what you do! We are over the moon!”
Sonja
“Debby, thank you so much for your invaluable help with council, and for everything that you have done for us on this renovation. We couldn't have asked for more.”
Graham and Shannon
“The flow and feel of the house are awesome! We really love what we have, and we know that we would never have had the finished product without your architectural flair, creative input, and insistence on specific aspects.”
Justin
“Debby, thanks for all your help in getting us through this build. We are loving our spaces... Everyone that comes to our home is amazed by the transformation. You had a vision which has materialised and you kept us going.”
Linda
“Hi Debby. I've sent you so many virtual messages just to say that our neighbours have implemented your changes, and WOW! Not only does that house now look stunning, but our view and sound experience has changed completely! You are an amazing architect and lifestyle designer!”
Sonja — on a neighbouring project
“I just love this space. It always feels so special when I walk through the double doors to our bedroom. My bedroom, dressing room and bathroom — still my favourite spot — I love it more and more!”
Linda
01 / 07

Start a conversation

Have a house in mind?

Tell me about the house, the stand or the drawing you need. I reply to every enquiry personally.

083 260 2205 Contact Me