14 Oct Dutch-South African Architectural Exchanges 1902–1961

Heritage research news: Common Ground:

Marguerite is proud to have contributed a chapter with Catherine Deacon to the book Common Ground: Dutch-South African Architectural Exchanges 1902–1961, edited by Nicholas Clarke, Roger Fisher, and Marieke Kuipers, which is about to be released as part of Dutch History Month. We made many unexpected discoveries in doing the research and were struck by the resilience and longevity of the physical structures. Similarly, the power of archival information confirmed how architecture exists in different modes. The book contributes to the dialogue around heritage and representation in South Africa.

It is the result of a transnational study into the work of emigrated Dutch built environment professionals from 1902–1961; and was initiated by the University of Pretoria and carried out with support from the Embassy of the Netherlands in South Africa, the South African Heritage Resources Agency, the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency, Zuid-Afrikahuis and DutchCulture.

From the press release:

More than seventy Dutch architects chose South Africa as their new homeland after the end of the South African War. They designed hundreds of buildings and residential areas, from swimming pools to the ‘model township’ Atteridgeville. These contributions are now partly controversial because they were created at a time when apartheid politics and segregation were on the rise. The question is therefore to what extent the Dutch-South African history and heritage are shared. Yet the built heritage of the 20th century is an unmistakable part of South Africa and often still in daily use. In that sense, it stands on the Common Ground of makers and users.

The new research results will be briefly explained during an interactive panel discussion. Participants include Ben Mwasinga (SAHRA, Cape Town) and the three editors on 19 October 2021. This event will occur simultaneously in Amsterdam, Pretoria and Cape Town and can be followed online via Live Stream (https://lnkd.in/dD8Q3iPP ontdekte-nederlandse-architectuur-in-zuid-afrika/).

Book details

Common Ground : Dutch-South African Architectural Exchanges, 1902–1961

Nicholas J. Clarke, Roger C. Fisher, and Marieke C. Kuipers (editors)
Publisher: LM Publishers, Edam ISBN: 9789460225338 (hardcover)
Dim.: 25 x 32 cm, 270 pp, 436 illustrations (colour and black & white)
Available at bookstores in both South Africa (incl. at Protea, https://proteabooks.com) and the Netherlands, the publishers (https://lmpublishers.nl/product/common-ground/) and the Washington University Press (https://uwapress.uw.edu/book/9789460225338/common-ground/)