Sophia van der Meulen

With a heritage rooted in architecture, Sophia’s path into design felt almost inevitable. Raised in South Africa in an environment that valued creativity and precision, she developed a passion for crafting spaces that evoke emotion and connection — inspired equally by her childhood dreams of becoming a game ranger or an architect.

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Deeply connected to nature, Sophia draws inspiration from the African bush, seeking to bring a sense of presence, spirituality, and the outdoors into the spaces she designs. Her work focuses on creating immersive environments that reconnect people with nature, themselves, and their surroundings.

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Sophia earned her Master of Architecture with top honors from the University of Pretoria and spent 18 years refining her expertise at Nico van der Meulen Architects, gaining international experience across project and interior architecture. Her work spans leadership, creative strategy, and project delivery, and in 2019 she was nominated for SAPSA Woman Professional of the Year.

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In 2019, Sophia co-founded Alinea Architects with Rudolph, shaped by five years in Barcelona that deepened their belief in community-driven, purpose-led architecture. Through Alinea, she champions design where luxury, sustainability, and social responsibility converge to create meaningful, lasting impact.