Tag Archives: Architecture

Herbert Baker

Old Mill.

I encountered Irene de Bod, working at the National Institute of the Deaf. Our conversation led us to the “Old Mill “building on the grounds of the NID. Seeing the building is like love at first sight. such a beautiful, stately house glittering in the last rays of the setting sun.
I immediately wondered about the possibility of it being a Herbert Baker house. It has all the necessary essential elements to qualify: small shuttered windows facing west, windows set flush with outside walls and with broad windowsills on the interior, signature small mosaic tiles in the reception area, high pitched red tiled roof and beautiful gables, to name a few.


I contacted Connie Burger, who worked as an art teacher at the School of the Deaf/ De la Bat School for many years and has a lively interest in art and architecture. She confirmed that Herbert Baker was indeed the architect of the Joubert family, that built the house close to the old mill, that has since been torn down. According to Connie many a grand garden party was hosted in the gardens. The daughter of the Jouberts, known as the Maid of the Mill, hosted her wedding reception in the gardens. The municipality confirmed that the architect was indeed Herbert Baker.



Philosophy and influences of Herbert Baker

As an architect Herbert Baker was not a theoretical man. His contemporaries in Europe and America like Le Corbusier and Franc Lloyd Wright changed the face of architecture worldwide with interesting and new concepts. Baker was much more practical. He liked beautiful houses and stately buildings and helped establish his unmistakable style in Southern Africa. He constantly adapted and changed his style according needs of clients and to adapt to local conditions.
Baker grew up in England. The English Arts and Craft movement played a huge role in his design style. Arriving in Africa he fell in love with the Cape-Dutch building style. This influenced the way he saw architecture.
The so-called Queen Anne style may perhaps describe his style the best. It is an English style associated with the Arts and Craft movement: Small red Bricks, steep roofs, thin high gables and pediments, white sash windows, wooden balconies and bay windows.
Later in his life he aimed to be known as an imperial architect. He designed state buildings in England, South Africa and India.
Well known buildings in South Africa include the Union Buildings, Groote Schuur, St George’s cathedral in Cape Town and the impressive Rhodes memorial. It also includes many churches, houses throughout South Africa and many public buildings. He had offices in Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Pretoria.

Recessed windows



The Old Mill House

This unknown gem in Worcester is currently standing empty. It is lovingly cared for by the National institute of the Deaf and is in a perfect condition. The interior of the building might need some tender love and care, but not much more than a layer of paint, a spring clean and a few minor reparations.
We have many plans to use this building to the benefit of the deaf, but also to the advantage of the whole community of Worcester. So please watch this space and come and support us.

History of Architecture as told by Pillars

History of Architecture explained by pillars

The history of architecture is as old as civilization itself. A subject as big as the history of mankind. I decided to break it down to easier small parts.

A living space has got four elements. Roof (and floor), support for the roof and walls to keep the elements out.

The first supports for primitive roofs must have been tents supported by a pole. Unfortunately history is remembered in more permanent structures. One of our oldest man made structures to survive today is that of Stonehenge. It comprises of vertical free standing stones with a horizontal support . A basic pillar and lintel structure.

IMG_20151221_152655 Continue reading History of Architecture as told by Pillars

Chairs of the Twentieth Century

I am fascinated by the idea of the renaissance man. The kind of person who can do anything. Michaelangelo, who started of as a painter but branched into architecture, sculpture, poetry and architecture. Leonardo Da Vinci, the painter of the worlds most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, was sought after as a war strategist, designer of things ahead of his time like parachutes, diving boats and explosive devices, to name but a few.

In our time with major technological advances on every front it is difficult to be the best in your own field, let alone other fields of expertise. It is hart warming to still find such people. In architects I found some modern renaissance men. Especially in the field of furniture design.

Chairs is one of the most essential of household and interior decorating furniture. The end of the nineteenth century saw a big change in how people saw their surroundings. Changes in social structure caused people to discover their own worth and allowed people of all social levels to surround themselves with beautiful things. The industrial revolution with mass production made costs of many products come down. New technology made designs possible that were previously not even draemt of. All this caused an explosion of design in chairs.

The first development in chair design came from the father of the Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris. Morris was a designer, artist, poet and novelist. His life motto was that one should surround yourself with objects that is both useful and beautiful. The arts and Crafts movement emphasized the use of handcraft and material of high quality.

.image Continue reading Chairs of the Twentieth Century

Mont Saint Michel

IMG_1690

There are a few names of special places that conjures up magic in my brain. Names like Casablanca and Zanzibar. Mont Saint Michel sound like dreams come true to my ear. As a child I read about this island stronghold surrounded by sea, only reachable at low tide. According to the story the tide came in at the speed of a horse at full gallop. This sounded like true science fiction at the time. I was surprised to learn that the difference between high and low tide can be as much as 14 meters here. From the ramparts one can watch the process of the tide coming in. Over the wide sandbanks one can see the ocean streaming in. Continue reading Mont Saint Michel

Jean Novel, Architect

Architecture fascinate me. The city of Paris is heaven for anyone interested in architecture. From Roman ruins up to the most modern, up to date buildings can be seen.

On my last visit the architect Jean Nouvel’s buildings cought my interest. Years ago I was fascinated by the windows of the Instetut du Monde Arabe in the french city. It is located on the banks of the Seine just upstream of the Notre Dame. It was designed by Jean Nouvel.

IMG_0924

Continue reading Jean Novel, Architect

Victorian houses

Victorian architecture means it is buildings built in the United Kingdom and former British colonies, during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901). The Industrial Revolution played a big role in the developing of this style, especially in the colonies. Most of the buildings typical of the style was built between 1840 up to the early twentieth century.

Picture 955
Continue reading Victorian houses

Pergamon Museum and the city of Pergamon

In the centre of Berlin is the Museum Island. Four of the worlds biggest museums can to be found here. Because of my love for Greek ancient history and culture the Pergamon museum was my first stop on a visit to the great German city. The museum houses the Altar to Zeus from the city of Pergamon in the now modern Turkey.
The Pergamon Altar dates from the 2nd century BC, with a 113 meters long sculptural frieze depicting the struggle of the gods and the giants, and the Gate of Miletus from Roman antiquity.

Art 035 Art 034

Continue reading Pergamon Museum and the city of Pergamon