Wild Banana Design — Ecological Land Regeneration

What We Do

Water Restoration & Retention

Slowing, spreading, and sinking water back into the landscape. We design and implement water retention infrastructure that rebuilds the natural water cycle, reduces erosion, and increases land resilience.

Soil Regeneration

Rebuilding soil biology and structure through strategic interventions that restore fertility, increase water-holding capacity, and support long-term land productivity.

Agroforestry

Integrating trees, shrubs, and productive species into land systems that generate food, habitat, and income while restoring ecological function.

Farm Planning

Whole-property planning that sequences interventions in the right order — water first, then soil, then productive systems — so resources are deployed where they have the greatest long-term impact.

Land Regeneration Consulting

For larger or more complex projects, we work as strategic consultants — assessing land condition, defining priorities, and building a sequenced restoration plan your team can execute.

Close-up of a sunflower with a bee — regenerative agriculture and biodiversity

Who We Are

Gonzalo and Shaan working on their regenerative homestead garden

Wild Banana Design is a land regeneration consultancy founded by two architects with over thirty years of combined experience across large-scale built environment projects on four continents.

Six years ago we made a deliberate transition. We left major infrastructure behind and invested in formal education under leading global practitioners in soil science, water retention, agroforestry, and land planning. We built our own regenerative homestead from the ground up — designing, implementing, and living inside the systems we now design for others.

Gonzalo Prieto is a registered Water Cycle Restoration Professional with Water Stories and has completed the Farm Planning Programme with Regrarians — one of the world's most recognised regenerative farm planning platforms. Shaan Steyn is a qualified architect and registered permaculture practitioner. Both hold formal permaculture qualifications and bring combined technical rigour across architecture, water systems, soil, and productive land design.

We work with landowners and developers across Southern Africa and Europe.

Selected Projects

Regenerated swale with dense planting and water flow

Water retention pond at dusk on a restored landscape

#1Our Coastal Homestead — South Africa — 1 acre — Water retention, food forest, land planning
#2Despi & Pat Homestead — Monzi, South Africa — 8 ha — Banana farm transformation, water retention, food forest
#3Elemental Ecosystems Collaboration — Samothrace, Greece — 8 ha — Swimming pond & water retention infrastructure
#4Thanda Eco-ECD School — Mtwalume, South Africa — 1 acre — Water retention, erosion control, food forest
#5Farm Lewis — Fairview, South Africa — 7 ha — Two residences, water retention, food forest
#6Farm Leitch — Fairview, South Africa — 8 ha — Water retention, erosion control, food forest
#7Riverli Development — Umhlali, South Africa — 170 ha — Regenerative green belt, mixed-use development
#8Andreas Claassens Property — Heidelberg, South Africa — 220 ha — Water retention, eco-tourism, community living
#9Elle & Chris Homestead — Porto Covo, Portugal — 15 ha — Water retention, agroforestry, land planning

What Our Clients Say

Gonzalo and Shaan reviewing a land plan on-site with a client

“I now have an integrated plan I can trust — every decision considered both on its own and as part of the whole. The onsite visit was the turning point. When I saw how the spring streams could be used, everything clicked. The steps are all there in the plan.” — Andreas Claassens, 250ha farm, Heidelberg, South Africa

“The insights and experience Gonzalo and Shaan bring ensure the plan reflects not only what you actually need, but what will best serve you and your property long term. They are masterful at guiding you through it.” — Despi & Pat, 8ha homestead, Monzi, South Africa