One of KMH Architects’ senior designers, CHRIS SMIT tours Cape Town’s Art Deco buildings
The most prestigious Art Deco buildings are to be found in the city centre as their futuristic nature is best expressed in a densely developed urban environment, such as our CBD. The old PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION building on the corner of Wale and Victoria streets is an automatic inclusion in any selection of Art Deco buildings in Cape Town due to its status as a grade one heritage site. With its position on a prime piece of real estate next to St George’s Cathedral and the Company Gardens, combined with a simplistically solid aesthetic, this building has a dramatic presence. It features beautiful figurative carvings and impressive arches which are the link between Keerom and Wale Streets, creating an interesting pedestrian way through the building.
The MUTUAL HEIGHTS building on the corner of Darling and Parliament streets, previously occupied by Old Mutual, has officially been declared the most prestigious Art Deco building in Africa. It held the status of the tallest building in Africa for a long time and is a pristine example of Art Deco proportion and detailing. These details are found on the exterior and interior – carved figurines are combined with detailed relief work and the triangle-shaped windows help create a dramatic facade. The entrance foyer is an impressive double-volume space in black. With a generous budget allocated to the initial development of this building, it is obvious that only the very best materials and workmanship were used. This has allowed the building to stand the test of time. The latest modification of the building has seen it being adapted into an apartment block which has arguably compromised the status of the interior. Elements that were once part of the boardroom, such as the relief carvings depicting the history of South Africa, are now inside an apartment. Declared a National Heritage Site, it is a pity these precious relics of our heritage are not able to be viewed by the public.
The OLD POST OFFICE building on the corner of Darling and Parliament streets is a simplistic example of Art Deco. While it is clad in the typical granite, it does not show the usual elements of detail. Its charm, however, lies in the way its tower mirrors that of the opposite Mutual Heights tower. This creates a very dramatic scene.
MARKET HOUSE on Greenmarket Square is my favourite example of Art Deco. Its facade is ornately decorated with detailed figurines and relief work that sets it apart from the more budget-driven versions of Art Deco around Cape Town. The verticality of its facade creates a dramatic, futuristic aesthetic. This building has also recently been modified into an apartment block. The beautiful original timber flooring is proposed to be tiled over, with the lowest quality ceramics. The sandstone of the interior is to be plastered in much of the areas to link it with the new dry-wall partitioning.
The majestic old PROTEA ASSURANCE building on the corner of Longmarket Street and St George’s Mall is positioned next to Market House, forming part of the historic tapestry of Greenmarket Square. While its base is neo-classical, blending with the surrounding buildings, the top floors are typically Art Deco. A dramatic tower hosts a stained glass window in bright greens and blues, depicting the African sun. A worthy aspect of the Greenmarket Square scenery.
MULLERS OPTOMETRISTS on the corner of Parliament and Longmarket streets, is hosted in a shop that is probably the best preserved piece of Art Deco in Cape Town. Untouched by the advances of time, it still shows all the elements of a great Art Deco shopfront design. Futuristic, shiny black metal cladding is set off against lead glass windows in various textures. This creates a delicate pattern enhanced by the shiny chrome inlays into the facade. The protruding window displays resemble jewellery boxes, with geometrically profiled chrome trims.
Chris Smit BTech Interior Design (CPUT) 2003
KMH Architects, 116 Loop Street, Cape Town
021 423 4141, chris@kmh.co.za