THEART Wy n berg Li brary

Exa mple of fifties architecture

MARIANNE ELLIOTT building where at present the stoep Regional Librarian, Southern Region and a garden are situated.It was only at this stage (April 2002) that the his- ynberg Library is an excel- torical value of the building was rea- lent example of an impor- lised, as the South African Heritage W tant building style in the Resource Agency asked for the architectural history of South Africa. extensions to be reviewed and even Together with the South African offered to assist with drawing up Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) alternative plans, so thatthe present building at Three Anchor , front elevation could be preserved. mentioned in Drie eeue van Suid- Afrikaanse kunsby Hans Fransen, it in CapeTown represents one ofthe few civic build- Similar to the SABC building, the ings builtinthe modernist stylein Cape Wynberg Library was designedinthe To w n. 1950s as a rare example of Cape Top left: LibrarianVivian Jones atthe entrance withits`floating' modernism.Modern technology, Proposed alterations concrete roof, supported by slanting, slim steel columns, cast-iron especially reinforced concrete, was This year the Wynberg Library railing and decorative stone wall, alltypical examples offifties used innovatively in both buildings. building is 45 years old.In 2001it cir- architecture. The administration wingontheleft-hand side shows a Formandspacehavebeentreatedin a culated 316 780 books and has by far sculptural effect achieved by positive and negative spaces `surprising measure of freedom and the highest audio circulation of all the Top right: The concrete shading feature, also supported by slant- playfulness'.Wynberg Libraryis also a municipallibrariesintheWestern Cape ing, slim steel pillars, is visible on the north elevation, as wellas the noteworthy step inthe progression of Province.When extensions became large windows, interspersed with a narrow wall structure. The South African modernism:Transvaal necessary to provide more space for stone surface atthe entrance is repeated on the northwest corner architects had been experimenting the children's section and to add a Above: The stone wall is also visible from the west elevation. The with modernism since the thirties, much needed hallforlibrary activities sculptural effect achieved by formed concrete can be seen on the butthere was hardly anything similar and public use,Vivian Jones, the western side, as well as the administration wing on the north ele- in CapeTown at the time the librarianin charge, had plans drawn up vation Wynberg Library was built. for extensions to the front of the While the originalityof its designis

Cape Libr., Nov/Dec 2002 46 an important factor, formal trends, for example, making use of stone and concrete surfaces and angled steel columns, were used by architects Le Corbusier,Eric Mendelsohn and Helmut Stauch (the latter from Pretoria).The north-south orienta- tion of the building, unusual in its time, is typical of a Stauch design.The buildingis visually pleasing from all angles and `consti- tutes an expressive sculptural presence'. Because of its setting, itcan be appreciated from all angles as well as from a distance. The entrance islocatedinthe highly- sculptured north elevation.A heavy pre- cast shading feature is supported on slim slanting steel columns.A`floating'concrete roof atthe entrance is supported on similar steel columns.These features, together withthe`highlyordered'administrationwing on the left-hand side are excellent examples of the technical innovation of fifties Above left: Bob's Big Boyc.1950 in Pasadena architecture. (demolished in 1982). The formed concrete At the east and west ele- shading feature and stone covered walls are vations (on the narrow sides similar to Wynberg Library of the building) the zigzag line Aboveright: Googie'sin1985. Ithassincebeen of the roof creates a `distinc- demolished tive ``d a ncing'' ro of sh ap e'. Left: Googie's,1949, . The red New plans slanting roof, with economical structural steel decking and plate glass wallsled to the name of The proposed new plans this coffee shop being used to describe the fif- follow the guidelines and ties style of architecture have the approval ofthe Heritage Resource Section/ Urban Conservation Unitof (often angled) brokethe traditionalbarriers the South Peninsula betweeninside and outside. Administration.The archi- Newly-available materials were exploited tectural aesthetic appear- innovatively: sheet glass, glass blocks, ance is respected, with no asbestos, plywood and plastic.Steel and development along the cement were also used in difficult ways. northern fac° ade.Timber Instead ofthe previously-used box-like mezzanine decks, sus- spaces, with holes brokeninto walls for pended from existing col- elements thatcreate the`extremes, meta- windows and doors, concrete shells could umns, will provide the desired space for a phorical qualities and humour'that charac- be shaped with curves and angles.Thick, bigger music section, reference section, terise this style.Googie has also been supporting walls at regular intervals were and coffee shop, with a liftfor easy access. known as`Coffee Shop Modern'and not necessary anymore.Space could be Because ofthe high ceiling, theroofdoes `Extreme Modernism'. exploded.Curving roofs could sweep not need to be altered.Atconsequent Googie'sred painted roof, made of eco- upwards (to create alight, expansivemood) stages a children'swing and hallwillbe nomical structural steel decking, tilted or downwards (resulting in a more shel- added (as separate buildings) atthe backof upwards at a 45³ angle as if swung by a tering form).Upswept`butterfly'roofs look the building. hinge, with the building seeming to move like they could take off and fly.There is no Googie Style skyward withit.Alarge window under- boring repetition - elements of this style Thelibrarybuildingcontains elements ofthe neath provided a view of Hills. could be adapted and were applied to a Googie Style, which peaked in California With the use of sturdy steel support struc- variety of buildings. between1954 and1964.The term`Googie' tures and sheet glass, roofs often appear to The main objective of this eye-catching, was coined by Professor Douglas Hall of be floating - seemingly defying gravity. eccentric style was to attractthe attention Yale to describe modernistic roadside These features of Googie'stypically of motorists and potential customers to architecture ofthe fifties.When he drove describe this style. businesses along the side of the road: past a coffee shop in Los Angeles named Fifties architecture also includes rock and ,bowlingalleys,carwashes,car Googie'she immediatelyrecognised the fake rock walls.Vast plate glass windows dealers and coffee shops.Tocoffee shop % Kaapse Bibl., Nov/Des 2002 47 THEART entrepreneurs the architectural style for a Googie elements ofWynberg successfulrestaurant was therefore as At Wynberg Library elements of Googie important as a well-designed kitchen. are: Buildings do not only require good taste, . the solid concrete structures of the they need to`taste good'as well:The prac- shading structure and entrance roofthat tical use of the building was seen as more seem weightless as the slim, angled steel importantthan the conventional structural pillars seem their only link to the earth requirements. Careful attention given to and appear to be floating materials and the space used shows thatthe . the stone wall sections on the western design was not superficial either. The needs side and atthe entrance, contrasting well of the California`car culture' were met suc- with the plastered walls of the rest of the cessfully, where every commodity offered building was available bycar,frombuying doughnuts . the large sections of the north and south to banking along shopping strips. elevation that consist of strips of floor to Signs and extravagant roofs were an ceiling windows, interspersed with excellent answer to the commercial narrow wallstructures. This feature demand for visibility and an appealing allows plentyof naturallightinto the image. Symbolslike sputniks and rockets building and expands the feeling of space celebrated the dawning ofthe on inside by breaking down the barrier bright neon road signs and billboards. Large, bold signs attracted the attention ofroadside travellers that incorporated star bursts and decorative betweenthe interior and the exterior Other typical Googie motifs were boom- arrows . the zig-zag shape of the roof visible from erang and amoebae shapes used for furni- the eastern and western fac° ades ture, roadside signs and textile patterns, . cast-iron railings at the entrance popular symbolism. The elaboration and atomic models for decoration, star bursts . light fittings suspended from the ceiling, excess foundinthis style has been equated (including shining stainless steel surfaces) also found in Googie interiors. and flying saucer shapes. withjazz. Thisgaietyreflectedin Googie Toachievethe Googielook, the following architecture, contrastswiththe seriousness Otherreasonsforconservation rules had to be followed: of the current modern style. Because of the According to the Wynberg CBD integrated . a house canlookorganic, but must be disregard for`good taste', as it was conven- study the libraryis situatedin animportant abstract (for example, an abstract tionally known, conservative architects of `civic zone'. It is also built on the same erf as mushroom) the International Style rejected Googie the Maynardville Park, which has historical . gravityhadtobeignored.Ithadtolook originally as`honky tonkdevelopments'. significance. The park will also form part of as if a building hangs from the sky. Clas- Roadside buildings in the Minimalist Inter- the proposed Coghill Conservation Area, sical architecture, columns counteract national Style, withtheir right angles, lim- asidentified by a conservation study. the downward pullof gravity by pushing ited materials and massive glass walls were Bibliography theroof away fromthe ground. Using not popular or successful. The creative the Googie style a heavy stone wallcan solutions applied by Googie commercial Googie architecture online.28May2002. easily be made to reston a glass wall, architecture eventually influenced the work Grad,Shelby.Googie architecture. Googie while it appears notto be supported by of these high art designers. architecture. 28 May 2002. anything. By1958 supersonicjets, earth- Googie wentoutof fashioninthe mid- http://www.anaheimconoly.com/googie.htm. 1970s when popular taste shifted towards orbiting satellites and atomic power sug- Haskell,Douglas. Googie architecture. gested new forces that surpassed the traditionalmaterials and styles. Instead of House and Home,February1952. forces of gravity. Popular architecture aiming to grab attention, an attempt was http://www.spaceagecity.com/googie/ mirrored this freedom made to blend in. Googie buildings had to househome.htm. make room for more trendy ones. Road . multiple structural elements had to be Heritage Resources Section / Urban Con- signswere taken down orchanged because used as opposed to minimalism, applied servation Unitofthe South Peninsula by architects ofthe current modern television advertising and computer reser- Administration,CapeTown. Wynberg Public architectural style. vations now fulfilthe same function. For the Library,CapeTown Heritage assessment and The Googie style became a symbol and sake of conformity town planners provided motivation for protection. April 2002. guidelines for the size andlookof billboards. cultural expression ofthe fifties. It reflects Hess, Alan. Googie - Fifties coffee shop the post-war prosperity and optimism for Between the initial popularity and popular architecture. Chronicle Books. 1985. the future. The continuing trends in rediscovery in the future, the fifties style has become vulnerable to destruction. At MacDonald,Brady.GoingGoogieGone. American culture of originality,novelty and More Googie.28May2002.http:// thesametimetheprejudiceofcritics newness are reflected in Googie. www.anaheimcolony.com/googie2.htm. Googie architecture was modern as well decreased and books were published on as popular. The common designlanguage roadside architecture. A Society for Com- Note: More can be read about the significance used was understood by a large cross sec- mercial Archaeology was also formed to ofthe Maynardville Park inWynberg a special tion ofthe American population. A land- document and preserve the Googie phe- place, by Helen Robinson, recentlyreceived by scape of Pop Art developed, with bright nomena. libraries. primarycolours, bold delineations and

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