about us
Meet the team that is changing how we build homes
Our Values
Our History
A devastating earthquake hits Haiti, causing up to 300,000 deaths and destroying nearly 90,000 buildings, leaving nearly a million people homeless. Andreas Graf, an agricultural engineer, founder of the Anthills think tank and future co-founder of Citra, starts working on concepts for rapid, robust, and economical housing solutions that could be rapidly deployed and scaled in disaster situations.
Andreas inspires co-founders Benno Büeler and Joel Baur, who establish Shellhouse, later rebranded as Citra.
After global market research, South Africa is chosen as the first target market.
As Citra building technology is superior to conventional building, a decision is made to target a broader market, not only emergency housing.
The first seed funding round is completed.
Our first show house is completed in Pretoria in the garden of the Swiss Ambassador.
Our first client signs a contract, and work begins on House Mahika
We acquire our property in Cape Town to develop our first eState.
Citra building technology gets officially certified by Agrément South Africa.
Construction of our first show house in CentralBlue commences.
Construction of the first ePod link to ePod Dragonstone begins.
Construction of Emerald Place 1 with 34 homes is completed.
Citra land bank grows to over 70 hectares for up to 3,000 homes.
Construction of the next 23 eHomes at Ochre Place 1 is completed.
Construction of the next 15 homes at Emerald Place 2 is completed.
Construction begins on a five-star hotel in Hazendal Wine Estate, Western Cape, https://www.hazendal.co.za/with the planned opening set for Q4 2023.
Construction of 111 apartments at Indigo Heights 1 starts.
Planning of 132 ePartments for Indigo Heights 3 completed Indigo Heights 3.
Planning of 57 homes at Emerald Village 1 completed.
Planning of 72 eHomes 2k22 started for Emerald Village 2.
Citra passes to the next round of the C40 competition for two sites in Cape Town.
The Citra team grows to over 20 office-based staff and over 25 construction workers.
The Citra land bank grows to over 100 hectares for up to 4,000 homes.
A devastating earthquake hits Haiti, causing up to 300,000 deaths and destroying nearly 90,000 buildings, leaving nearly a million people homeless. Andreas Graf, an agricultural engineer, founder of the Anthills think tank and future co-founder of Citra, starts working on concepts for rapid, robust, and economical housing solutions that could be rapidly deployed and scaled in disaster situations.
Andreas inspires co-founders Benno Büeler and Joel Baur, who establish Shellhouse, later rebranded as Citra.
After global market research, South Africa is chosen as the first target market.
As Citra building technology is superior to conventional building, a decision is made to target a broader market, not only emergency housing.
The first seed funding round is completed.
Our first show house is completed in Pretoria in the garden of the Swiss Ambassador.
Our first client signs a contract, and work begins on House Mahika
We acquire our property in Cape Town to develop our first eState.
Citra building technology gets officially certified by Agrément South Africa.
Construction of our first show house in CentralBlue commences.
Construction of the first ePod link to ePod Dragonstone begins.
Construction of Emerald Place 1 with 34 homes is completed.
Citra land bank grows to over 70 hectares for up to 3,000 homes.
Construction of the next 23 eHomes at Ochre Place 1 is completed.
Construction of the next 15 homes at Emerald Place 2 is completed.
Construction begins on a five-star hotel in Hazendal Wine Estate, Western Cape, https://www.hazendal.co.za/with the planned opening set for Q4 2023.
Construction of 111 apartments at Indigo Heights 1 starts.
Planning of 132 ePartments for Indigo Heights 3 completed Indigo Heights 3.
Planning of 57 homes at Emerald Village 1 completed.
Planning of 72 eHomes 2k22 started for Emerald Village 2.
Citra passes to the next round of the C40 competition for two sites in Cape Town.
The Citra team grows to over 20 office-based staff and over 25 construction workers.
The Citra land bank grows to over 100 hectares for up to 4,000 homes.
Our Team
Benno Büeler
Co-Founder, Board member
Phd Mathematics, MSc Mathematics, MSc Agricultural Sciences, MSc Corporate Finance
Benno is passionate about the environment and long-term sustainability.
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He has studies in mathematics and agricultural science and a PhD in modelling and solving international CO2-trade systems.
He is determined to work towards improving the quality of life of those who live in poverty. That’s why he joined Citra – to work towards green affordable housing for everyone.
“The resources of our earth are there for everyone. We are all affected by the destruction of these resources and have a shared responsibility to live more sustainably.”
Andreas Graf
Co-Founder
MSc Agricultural Sciences
Andreas studied agricultural engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich.
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He has more than 15 years’ experience in development cooperation, working for different organizations in 20 countries in Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa, including the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the International Federation of the Red Cross, and the UN.
He has a keen interest in sustainable resources, which is why, in 2010, he decided to dedicate a large part of his time to working as an independent developer and becoming the biggest driving force in the creation of Citra.
Joel Baur
Co-Founder, Board member, Managing Director
MSc Architecture, MBA
Joel loves reading and spending time with his family in nature.
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He even takes pleasure in sitting in traffic without plans or interruptions! He is passionate about changing the everyday lives of people and communities through the considered, high-quality design of houses and neighborhoods.
After completing his Masters in Architecture in 2016, he migrated with his wife to South Africa and started building up Citra in Cape Town. Joel leads the company with vision, humor, and by example, generally being the first in in the morning and the last out in the evening.
Cheryl Hillman
Board member, Director Development at Citra Development
National Diploma Architecture, Accredited Eco-districts Practitioner, Accredited EDGE Professional
Cheryl is driven by a passion for sustainable development.
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She has over 30 years’ experience in the development and management of affordable housing and has been professionally accredited both by EDGE and EcoDistricts.
In her free time, she is an outdoor enthusiast, who also plays the piano and dabbles in photography.
Erik van Heerden
Board member, Commercial Director at Citra Construction
Bachelor of Technology in Quantity Surveying
Erik finished a BTech in Quantity Surveying at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2001.
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He has been working in construction as a quantity surveyor or contracts manager ever since.
In 2007 he walked the Spanish pilgrimage trail, the Camino de Santiago, four months before the birth of his first daughter. He dreams about the day he can return to the Camino to walk it with his wife and two daughters.
Realm Chitando
Chief Operations Officer
Realm previously worked as a Client Accounting Supervisor for Grant Thornton and completed her SAICA articles with PKF.
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Realm delights in gaining insight into the operations of different entities in order to offer value-added solutions for business owners. She spends quality time sharing a good laugh with family and friends over a hearty meal, and she particularly enjoys decorating for social gatherings.
Marylee Xenakis
Financial Manager, Citra Development
BCom, University of Cape Town, CA (SA)
Financial Manager, Citra Development
Marylee studied at the University of Cape Town and went onto do her articles and SAICA board exams.
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In her free time she enjoys running, hiking and the outdoors.
Andries Joubert
Financial Manager, Citra Construction
BCom Homs, Management Accounting
He attained his Honours in BCom Management Accounting and is currently completing his CGMA qualification through CIMA.
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Rehana Stevens
Board member
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She is an experienced administrator with an outstanding track record in the construction industry. Most of her professional expertise is self-taught and comes from dedication and hard work.
She is passionate about everything that makes business work better, faster, and more smoothly.
Apart from her love for baking, her happy place is spending time with her kids or taking long walks on the beach.
Trinidad Moran
Head of Public Relations
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She has a great interest in sustainability and social development.
She loves spending time with her two little humans and friends, listening to good music, being in nature, participating in community-based activities or just trying to figure out how to travel more.
Our Partners
Passionate about design, innovation and sustainability
We work with a variety of organisations, companies and government institutions that want to create energy-efficient architecture and urban design.
