Henrico Bruwer grew up on a farm near Vrede in the Free State, SA, where he matriculated. 

He started drawing and painting from an early age, finishing his first painting "The Roses" when he was seven. He experimented widely (and still does) but never received any formal trianing in painting or drawing.

In 1989 he started studying architecture at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, and in 1992 received his first Honorable Mention in the International William van Alen design competition for his design for the completion of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain.

The William van Alen architectural memorial fellowship/ International Competition was establish in 1971. The Van Alen Competition is open to any student of any age enrolled in a school of architecture anywhere in the world. Since 1894 the National Insitude for Architectural Education (formerly the Society of Beaux Arts Architects and recent the Van Alen Institude) has enriched the field of architectural education with prestigious design competitions.

In 1993 he became the first South African to won this competition with his design for a bridge over the Nile, Luxor, Thebes, Egypt.

In 1994 he received an Honourable Mention for his design of a companion for the Chrysler Building, New York, USA. He become the first student ever to won three mentions in this competition.

In March 1993 De Kat magazine published an article on the winning design, while various news papers also curried the story.

In SA, he has won various design competitions, and was also named Corrobrick student of the year for his thesis (a Companion for the Chrysler, New York, USA). In 1997 he obtained his B. Arch degree, cum laude.

Using his prize money for winning the Van Alen Competition he travelled abroad in 1995, being exposed to architecture in a variety of countries.