Hendrik Auret is a professional architect and academic. His research interests revolve around finding architectural moments that reveal the distinct concerned relationships between dwellers and their emplaced existence as instances of care, thereby making the case for attentive, appropriate ways of designing and building able to dignify this lived totality. Architecture as an art of care. Hendrik obtained the degree BArchStud (cum laude) in 2004, BArchStud(Hons) (cum laude) in 2005 and the degree MArch(Prof) (cum laude) in 2006. All from the University of the Free State (UFS). His master’s design dissertation won the 2006 National Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year Award, the title accorded the best dissertation from all South African Architecture learning sites. This project was included in ‘Ora Joubert’s book, 10+ Years 100+ Projects: Architecture in a Democratic South Africa (2017).

Hendrik began his career as a candidate architect with Roodt Architects in 2007 before accepting a junior lectureship at his alma mater in 2009. This was followed by a sojourn in Canada, 2010-2013, during which time he commenced his PhD degree and was a studio instructor at the University of Calgary, Department of Environmental Design. On repatriation in 2014 and submitting his thesis, he re-joined Roodt Architects as a professional architect. In 2015 he obtained a PhD (with specialisation in architecture) from the University of the Free State.

From 2016 to 2019 Hendrik served as a postdoctoral research fellow and a part-time senior lecturer at the UFS Department of Architecture. He published several peer-reviewed articles and delivered public lectures including: a peer-reviewed congress presentation at the 2014XXV UIA Congress of Architecture (Durban), lectures at the 2015 and 2018 Sophia Gray Mini-Congresses (Bloemfontein) and guest lectures at the University of Calgary (2012) and the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO, 2017). During January and February 2017 Hendrik visited the AHO in Oslo as guest researcher.

In 2019 Routledge published his first book, Christian Norberg-Schulz’s Interpretation of Heidegger’s Philosophy: Care, Place and Architecture. Since January 2020 Auret has been appointed a full-time Senior Lecturer at the UFS. Since February 2020 he has served as chairperson of the Permit Committee of the Free State Provincial Heritage Resources Authority. In the same year he was also awarded a Y2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Auret, H.A. 2019. Christian Norberg-Schulz’s interpretation of Heidegger’s philosophy: care, place and architecture. London: Routledge.

For more information on the book and reviews:

https://www.routledge.com/Christian-Norberg-Schulzs-Interpretation-of-Heideggers-Philosophy/Auret/p/book/9780815378266

See also Environmental & Architectural Phenomenology 30(1), p. 8:

https://newprairiepress.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1084&context=eap

Journal Articles (peer-reviewed)

Auret, H.A. 2010. Toward the poetic in architecture. South African Journal of Art History, 25(2), pp. 97-111.

Auret, H.A. 2015. Architectural phenomenology and the tyranny of lived experience. South African Journal of Art History, 30(3), pp. 112-122.

Du Toit, C.C. & Auret, H.A. 2016. Welcoming the stranger with intention and architectural edifice: beyond the geopolitical hollowness of crimmigration. International Journal of Public Theology, 10(4), pp. 443-460.

Auret, H.A. 2016. Bloemfontein (1848-2015), mapping eight moments in time: measuring and appreciating that which is nearest. New Contree: a journal of historical and human sciences for South Africa, 76, November (supplement edition), pp. 193-212.

Auret, H.A. 2019. Care, Place and the Sophia Gray Laureates: architecture as an art of care. Architecture SA, March/April, 96, pp. 36-46.

Auret, H.A. 2019. Care, Place and the Sophia Gray Laureates: architecture as an art of life. Architecture SA, June/July, 97, pp. 30-38.

Auret, H.A. and Roodt, A.J. 2019. The history and promise of King Edward VII Park, Bloemfontein: resoluteness, restraint and regions of concern. South African Journal of Art History, 34(1), pp.1-20.

Auret, H.A. 2020. Care, Place and the Sophia Gray Laureates: pursuing architecture as a focal practice. Architecture SA, December, 98, pp. 28-33.

Auret, H.A. 2020. The responsibility of architecture: beauty, justice and the call of care. Acta Theologica, Supp 29, pp. 152-175.

Auret, H.A. 2022. Rescripting colonial landscapes: the Prince’s Rose Garden in Bloemfontein. South African Journal of Art History, 37(1), pp.12-30.

Auret, H.A. 2014. Architecture as the art of care: a Heideggarian augmentation of Christian Norberg-Schulz’s art of place. In: Osman, A., Bruyns, G. & Aigbavboa, C. (eds.). XXV International Union of Architects World Congress of Architecture, Durban 3-7 August 2014. Durban: UIA 2014, pp. 425-432.

Auret, H.A. & Van der Merwe, D. 2021. Architecture as an art of care in historically marginalised communities: the case of Heidedal, South Africa. Paper Proceedings of the XXVII International Union of Architects World Congress of Architecture, 1. Washington, DC: ACSA Press, pp. 512-519.

Raman, P.G. & Auret, H.A. 2010. Parsimonious Bloemfontein: refurbishment and upgrading of Free State Stadium. Architecture SA, July/August, 44, pp. 60-62.

Auret, H.A. 2020. Drawing on “interfinities”: a reflection on Jonathan Jacobson’s book and Sophia Gray Exhibition. Architecture SA, December, 98, pp. 8-11.

Auret, H.A. 2021. Digterlike (be)staanplek: ‘n gesprek tussen argitektuur en beeldhouwerk as vorme van verdigting. In: Mathews, P. (ed.). 2021. Musings: architecture, essays and art on the works of Mathews and Associates Architects. Pretoria: Protea Book House, pp. 227-230. 

Auret, H.A. 2022. Andersen, Anna Ulrikke. Following Norberg-Schulz: An Architectural History through the Essay Film. Book Review. Montreal Architectural Review, 8(2), pp. 5-9.

Auret, H.A. 2010. Campus Development as an Academic Ensemble. Campus and University Planning Congress, Bloemfontein, 12 February 2010.

Auret, H.A. 2014. Architecture as the art of care: a Heideggarian augmentation of Christian Norberg-Schulz’s art of place. XXV International Union of Architects World Congress of Architecture, Durban, 5 August 2014.

Du Toit, C.C. & Auret, H.A. 2014. The site of recapitalizing the spiritual capital of the city: welcoming the stranger with intention and architectural edifice. XVIII ISA World Congress of Sociology, Yokohama, 16 July 2014.

Auret, H.A. 2015. Mapping Bloemfontein (1848-2015): measuring and appreciating that which is nearest. 2015 Sophia Gray Mini-Congress, Bloemfontein, 27 August 2015.

Auret, H.A. 2015. Architectural phenomenology and the tyranny of lived experience. 9^th National Conference of the South African Journal of Art History. Bloemfontein, 29 August 2015.

Auret, H.A. 2018. Care, design and the site of the moment. 2018 Sophia Gray Mini-Congress, Bloemfontein, 30 August 2018.

Auret, H.A. 2018. Care, captivation and social cohesion. Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Community Conversation. National Museum, Bloemfontein, 12 December 2018.

Du Preez, J.L. & Auret, H.A. 2019. Transforming monuments amid shifting regions of concern. National Conference of the South African Journal of Art History. Pretoria, 10 May 2019.

Auret, H.A. & Roodt, A. 2019. The history and promise of King Edward VII Park, Bloemfontein: resoluteness, restraint and regions of concern. National Conference of the South African Journal of Art History. Pretoria, 11 May 2019.

Auret, H.A. & Van der Merwe, D. 2021. Architecture as an art of care in historically marginalised communities: the case of Heidedal, South Africa. XXVII International Union of Architects World Congress of Architecture, Rio de Janeiro (online), 8 July 2021.

Auret, H.A. 2022. Rescripting colonial landscapes: the case of the Prince’s Rose Garden in Bloemfontein. 16^th National Conference of the South African Journal of Art History. Bloemfontein, 11 June 2022.

RARC 6808 - Research in Theory of Architecture

DESN 6800 - Design Studio 4

Since January 2017 Hendrik has served as member of the Permit Committee of the Free State Provincial Heritage Resources Authority. In February 2020 he was appointed as chairperson.