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Sarah Calburn’s Call to Arms.

A Call to Arms

In answer to this question: ‘Is there anything unique about South African architecture?’ from Nicole Hijbeek of Design Mind following the Open Think Box debate, I wrote this… “South African architecture is unique to South Africa: in its weakness…”

Office, Umhlangane, KwaZulu-Natal. Ruben Reddy Architects for Eiger Group.

So, this is dull. The northern edge doesn’t address the street in any meaningful way. The western edge flat-out ignores it. It ignores the sun too! I’m not sure how the wavy bit relates to the rest of the scheme. Materials have been applied to surfaces in what must be a desperate attempt to distract us from the fact that the building’s really a plastered lump, painted a smoggy grey-blue. And the red? Really?

The southern elevation tries a little harder. But becomes an essay in the disparities between the vision sold and the cynical, developer-trodden reality.

Greenstone Mall, Edenvale, Gauteng. Unknown for Sasol Pension Fund

Room Without a View from The Naked Architect.

Contextually this mall is as absurd as the developments surrounding it. This constant reassurance that the area is now vibrant and young, with new energy and market power, does little to squelch our insecurities. Where are the parks and playgrounds, the open entertainment venues ? Does the mall not consume this enormous void and create a false sense of validation for the entire development?

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Lincoln on the Lake, Umhlanga New Town / Gateway, KwaZulu-Natal. THA Architecture & Design for Growthpoint, Louis Group and Key Developments.

Seriously!? It’s usually pretty difficult to knock buildings in the Umhlanga New Town / Gateway precinct. They generally have their urban hearts in the right place. There’s a decent mix of residential and commercial, with retail along the street. Parking is concealed in a way that doesn’t leave the pavement lined with carbon-monoxide-exhaling ventilation and little else. Indeed, this scheme – although still under construction – looks as if it might just tick all those boxes.

But, I guess this is what happens when the major contextual indicator is a shopping mall of Disney proportions. The building borrows liberally from the City Beautiful movement of the 1890s and 1900s in Chicago. Which in turn borrowed from the French Beaux-Arts that preceded it. How is this relevant to an African town centre in the tropics? In 2009? It isn’t. Not even a little bit.

And it has the audacity to tout itself as an environmentally appropriate response. I don’t see any sun control.

Plantations, Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal. Nsika Architects for eLan Group.

Let’s start with the obvious. It’s Tuscan. It’s gated. It’s god-awful! It sits on top of a hill overlooking the M13. If it had arms it’d be throwing stones at the passing traffic. It’s the essence of all that’s wrong with current South African urban design, planning and architecture.

I’ve tried to find the parties responsible for this. Unsurprisingly, I can’t.

Edit: It seems as though Owen Kemp for the eLan Group and Brent Buchanan of Nsika Architects are largely responsible. Correct me if I’m wrong.

In the beginning

Sarah Calburn’s article on Mail & Guardian Online finally prompted me to start what I’ve been considering for a while.