Last month, Cape Town architect Carin Smuts was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by France. Why architecture?I wanted to study drama, but my father decided I needed to study architecture. I hated the first three years. In my practical year I worked in Israel on a kibbutz and this changed my life. The last two years back at UCT architecture school were far more pleasant as I had to work hard to get good marks. In 1986 I enrolled for medicine. I only did one year and went back to architecture full time.Influences?People. Our work is focused on listening to them and having them take part in design and building.Proudest achievement?Setting up an architectural practice, CS Studio Architects, in 1989 with Urs Schmid.Your favourite creation?Guga's Thebe Culture and Heritage village in Langa, Cape Town. It is a favourite because of the dynamic design process which culminated in the building.Your most challenging project?The SA Navy submarine escape simulator in Simon's Town. We were not allowed to design with the end-users, causing many alterations since it was completed.The most fulfilling thing about your job?Working on a building site doing physical manual labour and mosaic work, getting dirty and tired.What are you working on?We are turning an old woodcutter village in Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, near Barrydale and Swellendam, into tourist units for Cape Nature.We have worked with Jakupa Architects and urban planners on 4 Dorp Street in central Cape Town and will finish off some mosaic work on kiosks on Longmarket Street.How will your latest award affect your work?It will give more respect for the work we do. I hope the City of Cape Town will stop destroying our community projects by painting beautifully coloured walls grey. I hope this award will help the communities, and especially Langa and Guga's Thebe Culture and Heritage village not to be destroyed by the changes the City of Cape Town intend to do next year.www.csstudio.co.za, 021-433-1334..