SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHITECTURAL RECORD THE JOURNAL OF THE CAPE, NATAL, ORANGE FREE STATE AND TRANSVAAL PROVINCIAL INSTITUTES OF SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHITECTS AND THE CHAPTER OF SOUTH AFRICAN QUANTITY SURVEYORS

M T im FOR DECEMBER 1019

RESIDENCE IN CYRILDENE, JOHANNESBURG. Jacques Morgenstern, Architect 250

HOUSE FISHER, GREENSIDE, JOHANNESBURG, Axelrod and Siew; Gilbert Herbert, Associated Architects 254

HOUSE RABBIE, GREENSIDE, JOHANNESBURG. Gilbert Herbert, Architect 256

A LETTER FROM ANTHONY CHITTY 259

CONTEMPORARY JOURNALS 262

OBITUARY : Donald Ele Pilcher 264

BOOK REVIEWS 265

NOTES AND NEW S 266

EDITOR VOLUME 34 The Editor will be glad to consider any MSS., photographs or sketches submitted to him, but they should be accompanied by stamped addressed envelopes for return if W. DUNCAN HOWIE unsuitable. In case of loss or injury he cannot hold himself responsible for MSS., photographs or sketches, and publication in the Journal can alone be taken as evidence ASSISTANT EDITORS of acceptance. The name and address of the owner should be placed on the back of UGO T O M A S E L L I all pictures and MSS. The Institute does not hold itself responsible for the opinions 12 expressed by contributors. Annual subscription £1 I Os. direct to the Secretary, GILBERT HERBERT 612, KELVIN HOUSE, 75. MARSHALL STREET. JOHANNESBURG. ’PHONE 34-2921.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT: G. J. McHARRY (PTY.), LTD., 43, BECKETT’S BUILDINGS, JOHANNESBURG, P.O. BOX 1409, ’PHONE 33-7505. RESIDENCE IN CYRILDENE, JOHANNESBURG JACQUES MORGENSTERN, ARCHITECT

The house stands on a steeply sloping, nearly triangular plot with two of its sides facing streets which meet at an acute angle. The building lines on these two streets are 30 feet and 15 feet from the boundaries respectively. The requirements included three bedrooms, and the total area of the house was to be limited to between 1,400 and 1,500 square feet. The result is a compact plan, very economical in space, with less than thirteen feet of total passage length. The two main bedrooms and lounge are facing North, the dining-room East onto a patio. Folding doors separating lounge from dining-room and hall allow these rooms to be combined into one S large volume when so desired. The space between / transome and ceilings is filled in with a clear glass screen, acting as a sound cut off but providing no visual interruption to the ceiling pattern. north The ceiling in the passage has been lowered to just above the fanlights for better daylight reflexion and less disproportion between height and width. To take ad­ vantage of the steep site the laundry has been placed below the kitchen and the yard at an intermediate level. 250 LEFT: General view from the North-East.

R IG H T : Close up view of the trellis defining the Living Room Zone. N o te the direction of the eaves slatting, echoing the soldier course brick dado.

Iivm q root

^ *■ , entrance hall bed rp6m .s. pa»»aq« li*. »• >

251 SECTIONAL EAST ELEVATION

These levels were so calculated that all ground needed for fillings could be obtained from excavations on the site. The house is under tiles and externally fine rough cast plaster has been used in conjunction with 2 inch face bricks. The slats to the eaves are set running at right angles to the walls, thus repeating the pattern of the soldier course brick dado below. The blue black faced brick plinth becomes a 6 feet high wall enclosing the yard on the lower slopes of the site, linking together out­ buildings and house. The 4 inch square rainwater pipes were concealed by recessing them into the outer skin of the 11 inch cavity wall, then nailing expanded metal onto the wall and across the gap and finally plastering right over. Com­ plementary tints are used for the colour schemes internally and externally.

R IG H T : To the East, the Dining Room opens out onto a patio enclosed on three sides and partly roofed with wired glass on wood rafters, the ‘‘Slasto" wall screens off the low er yard behind. 252 A B O V E : The main entrance. R IG H T : Folding doors with clear glass above between Living and Dining Rooms.

PHOTOS BY FRED FISHER

AND GILBERT HERBERT

253 HOUSE FISHER, GREEN SIDE, JOHANNESBURG AXELROD AND SIEW; GILBER HERBERT, ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS

A long, narrow site, with a twenty-five foot building line, dictated a long narrow plan, with all major rooms facing North, and Dining-room facing East across a Breakfast Porch. A feature of the house is the extended, precast concrete screen, which acts as a lead-in to the entrance, giving definition and direction. Externally it separates entrance porch from loggia, and it continues internally to act as a partition between Entrance Hall and Living-room. Above the lintel over the concrete screen is a light trough, and the ceiling to Living-room and Hall is continuous. Intern­ ally, the screen is glazed with ribbed glass. There was a natural break in the ground level of the site, with the ground level of the eastern half of the site several feet below that of the western half. It seemed desirable to utilize this change in ground level, and the house has thus been designed partly as a double-storey structure, the lower ground floor containing two garages, a store-room, and a workshop. The servants' quarters and laundry are situated at the back of the house, in an enclosed yard. The house is under slate, and is finished externally A view of the living room, showing the glazed concrete screen in rough cast plaster and face brick. separating living room from entrance hall. 254 A B O V E : The cantilevered staircase linking terrace and garden, necessitated by a sudden sharp drop in ground level. BOSEfTlCNT TO P, L E F T : The honeycomb parapet wall to the breakfast porch.

PHOTOS: UGO TOM ASELLI AND GILBERT HERBERT

255 HOUSE RABBIE, GREENSIOE, JOHANNESBURG

GILBERT HERBERT, ARCHITECT

This is a small house designed to accommodate The resolution of these many different demands in two married couples and two small children. The accom­ plan form has resulted in a house of T-shape. The cross­ modation required was thus to include in addition to a piece of the T, parallel to the street, contains the Living Living-room and separate Dining-room, three double zone, with North and East aspects to the Living-room, bedrooms, two of which were to be equipped with built-in and West aspects to the Dining-room. The leg of the wardrobes. T contains the sleeping and service areas, with North The designer of a small house usually faces three aspects to two bedrooms and East to the third. The house major problems: Restriction of area, restriction of cost, is sited quite close to the street, and the main garden and restriction of site. In this particular case building development is to take place on the East. The open control and economic considerations determined the terrace flanking, and forming an extension to, the Living- maximum area of the house to be 1,400 square feet. room, is close to the North boundary of the site, and The accommodation required by the client was five major has been so placed as to obtain an attractive prospect rooms, plus the usual services. To complicate matters, over the adjoining garden. the site itself was a long, narrow one, with a west aspect. While a separate Dining-room was required by the It was considered essential by the architect that the client, it was felt that the cutting up of a relatively small major rooms should be suitably orientated, and his area into separate rooms might lead to a sensation problem was to accomplish this while heeding his client's of spatial congestion. The Living-room, Entrance Hall request that the house should not present a narrow end and Dining-room were thus designed en suite, with elevation to the street. a light wrought iron screen between the former, and 256 A BO V E, L E F T : Looking down the pergola-covered terrace towards the entrance. A B O V E: The bedroom wing, facing north onto the private garden at the side of the house.

PHOTOS BY UGO TOMASELLI

PLAN AND GILBERT HERBERT 257 A general view of the house: the rough cast walls are a pale green, the pergola facia is painted w hile, and the steel pipe columns are a deep maroon.

Below: Two views showing the living area. The fireplace with its raised hearth can be seen on the left, while the photograph on the right is taken from the dining room, looking across the entrance vestibule towards the living room.

large sliding doors between the latter, so that, unless however, was not acceptable, and the final solution privacy for dining is required, the three rooms relate embraces a high foundation on the East. The underfloor visually one to the other, resulting in an interrupted vista space, however, has been utilized as a storage cellar, of some forty feet. A sense of spaciousness is conse­ and has proved a successful disposal spot for all the quently achieved with a relatively economic use of floor flotsam and jetsam which any household seems to area. accumulate. There is a fall from the N.W. corner of the building to The house is of orthodox cavity wall construction, the S.E. of some five feet. The original solution separated with a gable-ended, marseilles tiled roof. The external the Iwo wings of the T, placed each on ground level, finishes are rough cast plaster and dark brindle facebrick, and connected the two with an articulated link containing and internally these facebricks reappear in the Living-room. a staircase to negotiate the change in level. This plan, Built in 1947, the house cost approximately £3,300.

258 A LETTER FROM ANTHONY C H I T T Y

Mr. Anthony Chitty, well-known architect and town planner of London, spent some five weeks in Johannesburg as a guest lecturer at the School of Architecture of the Witwatersrand University. He devoted much time and energy in the school fulfilling an arduous programme of instruction, criticism and lecturing. In spite of his having been hampered by a throat complaint which unfortunately laid him low on the eve of his return to England, he managed to include short visits to other parts of the Union, and see something of the country and its architecture. Haring been unable to deliver his last lecture he has kindly recorded his impressions in this letter. (Editor).

Dear Mr. Editor, upon the Anatolian rock plateau. For in addition to the As you know, last month before leaving for England common elements of barren scene, high altitude and dusty I was to have given a talk on my impressions of South tree-lined roads, both cities lack the element of time in Africa. I was unfortunately prevented from doing this by growth, an element of the presence or absence of which illness, but in case your readers are interested I now record one is immediately aware, an element which indeed is the my impressions in letter form. Some of you suggested very essence of the greater European towns. Further, that it would be just as well for this talk to be given on Johannesburg and Ankara share in their make-up other the immediate eve of departure, but I do not think that factors : an impression is given in both of hasty and make­ the implications of that suggestion are justified. For an shift temporariness, each gives a strong feeling of being Architect’s first and greatest reaction to a new scene lies encamped, not so much against marauders as against the in intense and magpie interest : discrimination and criti­ very countryside, against the vast and to me terrifying cism must always be second to this sense of interest. Your expanses of rolling rock and veld land. My second point country, or that small part of its activities that I saw in a is that in every land there are cities with souls and over stay of a few weeks, holds such a wealth of interest that against them, but just as interesting and essential, there early discrimination is not easy. You may at once there­ are cities with guts. Johannesburg is in the latter class, fore set your mind at rest — my judgements will not be and must be seen and judged accordingly. For without over-sharp — my sympathy great. the dust in the air and the sweat below ground, without the harsh commercialism that is obvious on every hand, First I must speak of arrival in this continent. A little without the millions of man hours sunk in these reefs, the islander, however widely travelled, must needs be over­ Union of South Africa would not exist. To me Johannes­ whelmed by Africa's immensity, its contrasts, its colours, burg has all the thrilling strength of Manchester and the weight of its huge half hidden problems of the future. Newcastle, as well as the accompanying less attractive The approach to South Africa by flying boat is an excep­ traits. tional experience— a rapid succession of first impressions In this city the things that delighted and entranced me each overlaying the last before it can take root— France, were the larger views, the broader effects. In England Corsica, Sicily, evening in Syracuse, a night at Augusta, spring comes slowly, slowly— the buds press through with Tobruk and Alamein, Alexandria, Kannak and Luxor by slow hard continuity from Christmas-time to M ay Day. But moonlight, feluccas on the Nile, the terrible red and white with you, in a few short weeks the scene was transformed deserts burned by an inexorable sun, over whose aching — the thorn tree turned from black to green; the newborn rocks vile snakes speed swiftly to and fro. Then lush colours of poplar, gum and wattle suffused the outer Uganda, the Lake and the vast marshlands, and at night­ fringes of the town; plum and peach blossom turned to fall the Victoria Falls whose thunder I still hear. This four leaf— even the black burnt spaces of hard land sprouted days’ pilgrimage alone must stagger the European whose with green— all in three weeks. This was a miracle. sense of terrestial scale is set by the limits of a thousand As to man’s handiwork (though more by chance than miles. otherwise) the broad views are very fine indeed. The ***** city’s towering grey heights seen from the University at Now I must speak in detail of Johannesburg but sundown are unforgettable, there being something quite before doing so two important points must be made. First : special about the quality of evening sunlight in Johannes­ that between Johannesburg and the older cities of the burg and its penetration of the opalescent dusty haze. I European world no comparison can or ought to be made did not experience this elsewhere in Africa. This unique for there is no comparison between dissimilars. For my evening view reveals what is still a mining camp though first two days in the city I was puzzled to account for a now grown up, a town breathing the haphazard careless familiar tang in air and scene and atmosphere. Later I spirit of pioneers, a town like none before (and one may recognised the strong affinity between Johannesburg and hope few after) where every rule and regulation that Ankara, the lately built capital of Turkey nursed high governs the plan and growth of other cities is cast aside. 259 For within two generations indiscriminately into this small concerned with housing to foster and recreate this unique area has been packed all that today is dubiously called tradition of Johannesburg suburban beauty. civilisation, with the aid of the shoehorn of American Of course, there were things that shocked me too : technique. the native war dance in the goldmine compound, where It is essentially a city of contrasts : corrugated iron one sees too clearly how the impact of Westernism upon shanties and skyscrapers, hitching posts in city streets, a more primitive culture results in nothing but a squalid horse stables in a church, ox waggons and trolley buses, and meaningless delay, where spear and shield become rickshaw and Pontiac, the antiquated and the borax. gamp and cardboard, the warrior's mask becomes the There are also the human contrasts— the great old houses arc welder's helmet, ankles are adorned with cocoa tins of Saratoga Avenue and the great new houses of North- and the whole tradition is contaminated by vaudeville cliff, compared with the shacks and squatters of Pimville and gum boots. There was also the Hindu lady of high and Moroka; the luxury of the Reef compared with the birth and Oxford accent turned off the bus for being native tuberculosis death rate of 39.5 in a 1,000, three "non-European"; and there was the Dakota Cafe! There times that of Singapore under Japanese duress; again, were also the rumours that the South African Broadcasting strangest contrast of all perhaps, the fact that Moroka has authority were insisting on the new Broadcast House being the highest health record of any native location in designed in the style of the Dutch Reformed Church ! South Africa. For recreation I had to choose between Game Reserve Among other more detailed aspects of the town that and Drakensberg— being a mountaineer I chose five interested me was the beauty of the inner suburbs such as lovely days at Cathkin; to Solitude, with horses, beefsteak Parktown, Westcliff, Greenside and Saxonwold, and more for breakfast, brandy at bedtime and deep sleep under especially the older grander districts of Berea and Doorn- the pinetrees ! I can still recall the laughter of baboons fontein which still bear the stamp and atmosphere of as we sought the bushman paintings in the Little Tugela great old pioneers and spendthrift magnates. In the valley. former, rock outcrop, terrace, tree and infinite variety of I must not bore you with the other impressions of natural growth somehow subdue the prolific exuberance Johannesburg, more trivial though no less lasting : the of builder and architect alike. In the further modern strangeness of the sounds both town and country, the suburbs vulgarity of design reaches such peaks of extrava­ nightly barking of a thousand watch-dogs, the unexplained gant variety that one walks through these districts in a earth tremors and explosions, the pleasant taste of the maze of admiration for such energy and joie-de-vivre. Vaal water after London's stale chlorine, the panorama Those other grander relics have all the romantic sway of of the city’s lights, swinging and glittering like moonlit late Victorian power and wealth both in their siting and sequins. their extraordinary design, but raised however to a degree unknown in Europe. What if these houses should ever I have been given a hasty and high compressed view of come to the notice of the Architectural Review? While so much. Led by my hosts Mr. Boyd and Mr. Pitt holding speaking of the residential quarters I want to tell you one hand and Professor Fassler the other, and supported that the imaginative and ingenious skill with which the and sustained by my sister-in-law, I have been rushed smaller plots have been gardened and laid out is very up mountains and down goldmines, through native dances striking. Welwyn Garden City, an early contemporary at Roodepoort and through chattering baboons at Cath­ development with certain architectural and atmospheric kin ; I have been hurried along by bus, train and plane, virtues, has nothing to compete with these beautiful and on horseback, on foot, by motorcar and by cable-way, varied gardens, their many trees, contrasting colours, till the 6,000 mile trek home was a rest-cure. I have shady vines, their exotic growths of succulent and cactus spent a day at Vanderbijl new town with its vigorous side by side with rich and tender flowers. chief engineer— an operation (it seemed to me) likely It is a tragedy that in this ruthless, tasteless age and to be one of South Africa's most successful; a day in the time the best things in the Johannesburg scene are disap­ hopeless chaos of Welkom and Odendaalsrus, whose pearing fast. It is I suppose inevitable that as the memory unplanned future hitched to such flimsy hopes seemed to fades of Arturo Bonamici, of Jeanne Brola, and of Miss me capable of utmost disaster. Agnes Delaporte, the charming Standard Theatre that Thence to the lovely Cape and the charming hospitality was their background should also be destroyed— only to of Professor Thornton White and his family. Five days be replaced with larger and quite hideous palaces of were all too short to see the town and peninsula, the entertainment. In the same way the newer suburbs lack beauties of Paarl and Stellenbosch, the charms of Groot the charm and seclusion of those earlier ones. Every Constantia, Tokai and other wineries, and the view from effort should be strained by individuals and public bodies the top of Table Mountain. Nevertheless, these were 260 achieved and much else besides, but the strongest im­ at Johannesburg, Meiring's gymnasium and Thornton pression left is of the School of Architecture there, its White and Pryce Lewis's combined lecture hall at Cape enthusiasms, its success and its atmosphere of family Town ; much of Gordon Mackintosh’s work at Pretoria friendliness, the whole set in a scene more beautiful than and a great many of the new industrial buildings at Port any other I saw in Africa : the tree clad undulations of Elizabeth and Durban— to mention just a few items. the Rhodes Estate, with buck and zebra grazing among Of the older material, Paarl took first place with its the arum lilies. exquisite Dutch M alay church and also the Plein at So to Port Elizabeth and Durban, where Professor Stellenbosch, still beautiful in spite of the ruin to its scale Connell, Colin Bennett and Noe! Bell were kindness itself where redevelopment has taken place upon the north side. and entertained me royally. Undoubtedly the finest single building group I saw And what of architecture ? I was surprised and in the Union was the Klip Power Station, with its grand pleased to find how large a quantity of good modern and simple basic forms, the coolers, ten of them, the design there is in South Africa to-day— especially in the pyramidal dumps, blue, grey and black, the forest of field of the medium sized middle-class houses. Houses thin plumed chimneys— the whole set in a flat and I have seen by Gordon Mackintosh, Stauch, Fassler, desolate scene. I flew over and around this group four Howie, Douglas Cowin, Westood, Colin Bennett, Thornton times, and saw it repeatedly from various ground views White and many others surpass in quality (as well as in and in varied lights, and never tired of what is probably quantity) similar work in Europe or in the States. They an aesthetically unconscious grouping. appeared to me free from the slick vacuity of design we W ell, this letter must draw to a close, but before doing see illustrated on the glossy pages of the “ Forum” and so I must once again thank warmly all those whom I met the “ Record" and to have a quiet and dignified feeling for their kindness and their hospitality. For my part I of good planning and comfortable domestic commen- return to England with an immense stimulus and a host sense about them that I found most attractive. It is a of new friends. And so, Mr. Editor, I will not say tragedy that this type of house is no longer permitted "goodbye" but "au revoir," for I shall certainly visit in England nor is it likely to return. Of course, there you again ! were many other buildings of great interest, George Steg- Yours ever, mann's Princess Nursing Home, Mallowes and Meadley's department store at Pretoria, the new station buildings ANTHONY M. CHITTY.

261 CONTEMPORARY JOURNALS

APARTMENTS (2) Residence in Concord Mass., Architect, Hugh Stubbins, Jnr., designs a small but spacious residence “Architectural Record” May, 1949, pp. 106— 107. for a Music Teacher. "Manhattan House." providing 582 apartments, totalling (3) Residence at Malibu Beach, California. A storey and 2,486 rooms replaces old carbarns. Mayer & Wittlesay - a half house on a narrow lot designed by G. Roetze. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Associated Architects. Architect. “Architectural Review’’—May, 1949, pp. 231—236. (4) Residence in Contra Costa County, California. Recent Flats in London Boroughs: Clarence Mayhew, Architect. (1) Flats at Cromer Street, St. Pancras, by R. Hening (5) Residence in Ladue, Missouri, planned for no servants. and Anthony Chitty, Architects. This scheme consists of R. Elkington, Architect. 274 flats divided into 12 separate blocks which fit into (6) Modular House planned for G.I.’s in Miami. I. Pole- an area of five acres. vitzky. Architect. (2) A scheme of 162 workers flats in the Great Ormond (7) Project for a house in Locust Valley, N.Y. P. Blake. Street area planned eventually to accommodate 4,000 Designer. people. Robert Hening & Anthony Chitty. Architects. (3) Flats at Kenmure Road, Hackney. E. Mills, Architect. “Architectural Record" May, 1949, pp. 98— 107. “ Architectural Review” —June, 1949, pp. 299— 302. A house designed with two wings and having rare privacy, Flat in Kensington for a single professional man. Tayler in Burlingome, California. C. Mayhew, Architect. & Green, Architects. “ Architectural Review”—June, 1949, pp. 287—290. “ Architectural Forum” May, 1949, pp. 115—124. House in Florida, designed around a Patio. R. S. Twitchell Three private housing developments are illustrated:— & P. Rudolph, Architects. (1) Modern apartments in Maine. E. Tarbell & Associates, “ Architectural Forum” —March, 1949, pp. 90 -99. Architects. (1) Architect’s House in Bethayres. Pa., by E. Lavino & (2) Geoi-gian apartments in New Jersey. E. Schmidlin, W. Amenta, Architects. Architect. (3) Row housing on a wooded campus site, combining (2) House in South Bend, by L. Yost. Architect. rural setting with low cost. Bishop & Wright. Architects. (3) Architect’s House and Studio demonstrate unusual Heating System in Salt Lake City, Utah. Snedaker & ARCHITECTURE MacDonald, Architects. “ Architectural Review”—June, 1949, pp. 295—298. (4) House by Architects S. & W. Wiener in Shreveport. Sullivan against the world, by Frank Lloyd Wright. A chapter from Wright’s new book “ Genius & Mobocracy.” “Architectural Forum”—April, 1949, pp. 81— 142. The Builder’s House 1949. Architectural Forum devotes “ Architectural Forum”—March, 1949, pp. 100— 106. an issue to the work of the Merchant Builder, covering Design Analysis. The Cape Cod Cottage, Part II. the following:— ART CENTRES (a) The Builder’s House by size: a detailed comparison of three builders’ approach to the suburban New York “ Architectural Forum” —July, 1949, pp. 65—69. City Housing Market. Art Centre. Des Moines houses its Art Collections and (b) Site Planning, Plan and Design, Construction and Art School in an environment which strives for simplicity Selling: A survey of the most interesting aspects of 33 and homeliness. E. Saarinen & Swanson, Architects. builders’ current work. (c) Merchant Builder Survey: A Forum poll of the COMMERCIAL Industry on the economic trends which are shaping it. “Architectural Forum”— March, 1949, pp. 83— 90. 114— 124. (d) Builder Developments: a detailed analysis of nine of (1) Bigelow-Sanford Showroom in New York, by Donald the most significant builders’ operations and their 1949 Deskey Associates, Ralph Gulley, Architect, to display houses. floor coverings. (1) Kaiser Homes, Los Angeles, California. (2) Remodelling of a Book store. Warner-Leeds. Archi­ tects. (2) C. Freeman, Inc., Tacoma Park. (3) Drug store in Times Square. C. Tilton, Architect. (3) Zamore Builds Inc., Waldwick, N.Y. “Architectural Forum”—May, 1949, pp. 83—95. (4) Advance Development Co., Los Angeles, California. Two office buildings in Los Angeles: (5) Gerholz Community Homes Inc., Flint, Mich. (1) The Prudential Building on an eleven acre site with (6) Pennurban Housing Corp., New York City. facilities for parking 1,000 cars. Wurdeman & Becket, Architects. (7) Willis Foster, El Cerrito, California. (2) Petroleum Building, by Architects Wurdeman & (8) David Bohannon Organization. San Francisco, Cali­ Becket. fornia. “Architectural Forum”— July, 1949, pp. 70—78. 79— 82. (9) Del Webb Construction Co., Tucson, Arizona. (1) General Motors Technical Center. A group of buildings for General Motors in rural Michigan demon­ “ Architectural Forum”- May, 1949, pp. 96— 101. strating new ideas in design, construction and lighting. House by Marcel Breuer. A house designed for the Saarinen, Saarinen & Associates. Architects. growing family. (2) Showroom for contemporary furniture. Knoll Planning “Architectural Record”—June, 1949, pp. 96— 101. Unit, Designers. “Tamalpais House,” north of San Francisco, California. DOMESTIC Henri Hill, Architect. “ Architectural Record”—April, 1949, pp. 102—134. “Architectural Forum”—July, 1949, pp. 82—89. Building Types Study No. 148—Houses. (1) A low-lying California Residence created within the limits of a prefabricated Concrete Panel system. J. Stein, Articles comprise:— (1) Home Life and House Architecture, by A. Stires. Architect. (2) Confessions of a Cape Codder, by Royal Bany Wills. (2) A long Island Beach house with the Living-dining Projects comprise:-— snace above the bedrooms for the View. S. Sharp, (1) Residence in Beverly Hills, designed so that the Architect. house and site are carefully related. Allison & Rible, (3) A Conservative two storey house in Pennsylvania. Architects. L. Israel, Architect. 262 (2) Design of Television Stations, by J. P. Allinson. FACTORIES "Architectural Review”—May, 1949, pp. 216— 222. (3) The Television Producing Plant. Notes on some Nylon Spinning Factory in Wales. Sir Percy Thomas & essentials, excerpted from a comprehensive study, by Son. Architects. Elwell. “ Architectural Review" June, 1949, pp. 268—272. Projects illustrated:— New Factory at Gateshead on the Team Valley Trading (. 1) Station WBZ, Boston, Mass., by the Architectural Estate, built for the manufacture of pumps. F. R. S. Department, Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Yorke, Rosenberg & Mardall, Architects. Company. “ Architectural Forum” —May, 1949, pp. 102—106. (2) Experimental Television Station for Teaching, Sands Master Plan for the redesign and expansion of the Heinz Point. N.Y. plant in Pittsburg. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Architects. (3) Station WICU, Erie, Pa. Nelson & Goldberg, Architects. HOSPITALS (4) Station KHJ. Hollywood, California. Claude Beelman, “ Architectural Record” —May, 1949, pp. 108 139, 145- 146. Architect; H. Spackler. Associate. Hospitals. Building Types Study No. 149. (5) Station WHAM. Rochester, N.Y. Kaelber & Waas- The articles comprise: dorp, Architects. (1) Tomorrow's Hospitals, by C. Erikson. (6) Station KWKC, Abilena. Texas. Hughes & Olds. (2) Hospital Planning— Study in Ingenuity. Architects. (3) Functional Colour in Hospitals, by F. Birren, Colour Consultant. Projects: - SCHOOLS (1) 43-Bed Hospital with ingenious plan. F. Schwartz & “ Architectural Record” —April, 1949, pp. 98— 101. W. Hyberg. Architects. School Planning and Costs, by Alonzo Harriman. (.2) 32-Bed Hospital in Nowata, Oklahoma. Black & West. “Architectural Forum”— May, 1949, pp. 124— 127. Architects. School addition, crowded against the street, is held to (3) Physical Therapy Suites developed in Co-operation intimate scale and cheerful character by reduced heights, with American Physical Therapy Association. Physical natural materials, and bi-lateral lighting. Ganster & Therapy Suites for 50, 100 and 200-bed general hospitals. Hennighausen, Architects. (4) 100-Bed Hospital with Doctor’s Office Building in Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia. Dent & Aydelott, Architects. (5) Psychiatric facilities for the General Hospital, by STREET FURNITURE Paul Haun. “Architectural Review”—May, 1949. pp. 248— 250. (6) Roosevelt Medical Center. E. Whiting, Architect-in- Outdoor Publicity, by Gordon Cullen. "One Contribution Charge. to the Modern Townscape, startingly conspicuous every­ “Architectural Forum" -July, 1949, pp. 92—93. where you look, is street Publicity." The Review, with A Hospital Room streamlined to cut construction costs the aid' of drawings by Gordon Cullen, suggests some and nurses’ work for a Boston Hospital. ways of introducing vitality and avoiding vulgarity and unseemliness. HOTELS “Architectural Forum”—July, 1949, pp. 94— 106. THEATRES A portfolio of five new Resort Hotel projects in the West “ Architectural Record"—April, 1949, pp. 86—97. typifying the Trend towards comfort, convenience and (1) A Bermuda Theatre with a Floating Screen. Schlanger informal Recreation. & Hoffberg, Reisner & Urbahn, Architects. The Interior, (1) Small Hotel, displaying simplicity of design, disguises which is far superior in treatment to the heavy exterior, its two-storey height by using a sweeping roof, in Palm has a patiented arrangement of screen and surround which Springs, Colorado. W. Cody. Architect. gives a synchronous lighting or surround by light spilled (2) Broadmore Hotel, Colorado Springs. Colorado. The from the picture, destroying sharp contrast, fading Hotel swimming pool, used throughout the year has a hard outline, varying with picture intensity. glass windscreen and built-in lighting. B. Hoyt, Architect. (3) Shore Club Lodge. Fayette Lakes, V. Jones, Architect. (2) Tacna Theatre, Lima. Schlanger & Hoffberg, Reisner (4) Holiday House, Escondido Beach, California. Richard & Urbahn, Architects. This theatre seats 2,000 patrons Neutra designs a small, simple, but deluxe Hotel with a on three levels, each with its own complete lounge grandstand view of the Ocean beach. facilities. (5) A 10-room Resort Hotel designed on the ranch system. W. Kesling, Designer. TOWN PLANNING AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN “Architectural Review” —May, 1949, pp. 223—230. METHODS AND MATERIALS County of London Plan: Progress Report by Aileen “ Architectural Record” April, 1949, pp. 135— 143. Tatton-Brown. (1) M.I.T. Builds Solar-Heated House. This Test House “Architectural Review” —June, 1949, pp. 263— 267. combines Solar with Electric Auxiliary heat to minimise Attitudes to Landscape, by Lionel Brett. installation expense. “ Architectural Forum”—March, 1949, pp. 114— 124. (2) Progress in House Heating Equipment, by C. Stack. Markets in the Meadows. A design and economic analysis “ Architectural Record” —June, 1949, pp. 145— 147. of the integrated retail centres which are changing Glare-free Lighting Methods, studied by M.I.T., by H. America’s Shopping Habits. Four post-war examples are Beckwith, C. Peterson & P. Moon. illustrated:— “ Architectural Forum”—July, 1949, pp. 109—125. (1) Neighbourhood Centre for a housing development at (1J British Prefabricated System uses bolted Aluminium Levittown caters for 2,000 families. Panels to build permanent school additions and complete (2) District Size Centre is typified by a modern 35 store schools. shopping square at Bellevue, Washington. (2) Radiant Heated Swimming Pools to maintain even temperature throughout depth. (3) Regional Shopping City for Seattle’s North end to serve a five mile radius, and 335,000 residents. RADIO AND TELEVISION (4) Regional Centre for Framingham, Mass., is one of “Architectural Record”—June, 1949, pp. 120 141. several to be developed from a master design. Radio & Television. Building Types Study No. 150. “ Architectural Forum”—May, 1949, pp. 93— 95. Articles comprise:— Chicago Civic Center. A proposed plan for the grouping (1) Radio and Television Buildings. of all the public offices in the heart of the City. 263 visual arts. He considered that the humanist approach, as O B I T U ARY he put it “ provides us with the Ariadne's thread which can DONALD ELE PILCHER lead us through the labyrinth of architectural history." He drew on his comprehensive understanding of archi­ The death took place recently in Johannesburg of tecture and was able to give depth and meaning to his Mr. Donald Pilcher, Architect and Lecturer in the Depart­ teaching. ment of Architecture at the University of the Witwaters- In his published work he preserved the English rand, Johannesburg. tradition of scholarship; he always had something of Mr. Pilcher was educated at Marlborough College in interest and value to convey. The present difficult stage England, and qualified for membership of the Royal which architecture is passing through was something that Institute of British Architects at the Architectural Association he thought about a great deal. Mr. Pilcher believed the School, London. Whilst a student there he won the functional approach to be valid, but on the other hand, Architectural Association's Essay Prizes in 1933, 1934 and to quote him, he could see “ the stultifying effect of what 1935. After completing his studies Mr. Pilcher travelled might be called the minimal functional solution; the design extensively in Europe, and later practised in London. in which a building consists of lines neatly drawn and He was a assistant editor of “ Architectural Review" forms soberly proportioned around the straight answer in 1937 and 1938, when numerous of his articles were to its programme." He thought that “ buildings which published. His exhaustive work on a Survey of Recreational attempt no richer expressions of form than just this are Buildings in Europe and the U.S.A. was published as a leading architecture to accept a position as a sort of special issue of the “ Review" under the title "The poor relation to the plastic arts.” He reminded us “ that Architecture of Leisure" in December, 1938. the aim of the architect as artist is not to achieve the minimum functional solution but to produce a master­ piece." On the outbreak of war in 1939, he served as an ambulance officer in the London Dock area. He later Mr. Pilcher was popular with students and admired became a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers and was by his colleagues. He was the kind of man whose attached to the Indian Army as Assistant Garrison special talents the profession and University could ill Engineer, Digboi, Assam. His war service ended when afford to lose. PROFESSOR JOHN FASSLER. he was invalided to Baragwanath Hospital. On his dis­ charge he settled in Johannesburg, joined the staff of the department of Architecture at the University, and became assistant editor of the South African Architectural Donald Ele Pilcher joined the editorial staff of the Record. He was the author of a book, “ The Regency “ South African Architectural Record" in April 1947. His Style," which was recently published in London. This fluid pen and his comprehensive appreciation of the arts work was very favourably reviewed in many countries. and architecture infused all his work on this journal. It has since become an important reference on the period, He, for some considerable time, organised and wrote the and has found a place in all important libraries in English series “ The World of Architecture", when he was able speaking countries. Before his untimely death Mr. Pilcher to give rein to his wide interests and enthusiasm. His was writing a new book dealing with the subject of commentaries concerned such diverse subjects as Piranezi; Architectural Design. He had been invited to undertake contemporary building; Town Planning in the U.S.S.R.; it by a prominent firm of London publishers. Frank Lloyd Wright, Perret and Goldfinger; and Mr. Pilcher’s outlook was that, although nowadays architecture and painting in China, India and Japan. the emphasis tends to be on the architect as engineer A highlight of his editorial activities was his article or sociologist, or almost anything technical or scientific, entitled “ Japanese Architecture" which was published in it was necessary not to lose sight of the fact that he the journal for May, 1948. He was a valued colleague was ‘essentially an artist. It is in the field of visual form who earned the affection and respect of all who knew that he is a specialist. It is this particular ability that him. differentiates the architect from all other persons engaged W e extend to his widow and his mother the very in building. Behind Donald Pilcher’s understanding of con­ deep sympathy which we all feel in their tragic bereave­ temporary problems, and of the arts, lay a deep apprecia­ ment. tion of the history of humanity and its achievements in the DUNCAN HOWIE.

264 each other, what they thought about architecture, and BOOK REVIEWS so on. For example a letter from Sir Christopher Wren visiting Paris to a friend informs him that “ I shall bring A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH HOME, by Nathaniel Lloyd, you almost all France in paper, which I found by some O.B.E., F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. Second Edition 1947. or other ready design’d to my Hand, in which I have Publishers: The Architectural Press, London. spent both Labour and some Money. Bernini’s Design of A description of the book on the dust cover states: the Louvre I would have given my skin for, but the old “ This book which was first published in 1931, needs little reserv'd Italian gave me but a few Minutes View; it was introduction since it has already established itself as a five little Designs in Paper, for which he hath receiv’d standard work on the subject. Its success has been partly as many thousand Pistoles; I had only time to copy it due to its exhaustive treatment in a single volume of a in my Fancy and Memory; I shall be able by Discourse, theme covering an enormously wide field, and partly to and a Crayon, to give you a tolerable Account of it.” its value as a reference book." It seems as though Bernini did quite well out of his preliminary studies for the Louvre. For him it must have It is comforting in reviewing it, to find oneself in been one of those all too familiar projects that did not complete agreement, for I have long found the late go on. In Wren's opinion he appears to have been Nathaniel Lloyd’s book useful for teaching students the adequately recompensed. I wonder whether Bernini history of the Renaissance in England. shared his view. The movement as a whole produced widely differing Much later we find Sir John Soane defining the duties results in Europe depending on various local influences of an architect along lines that are familiar to-day. “ The that were operative. In Italy for example the erection business of the architect is to make the designs and of pallazi, villas, gardens and churches, represent the estimates, to direct the works and to measure and value principal contribution. In France it is the execution of the different parts; he is the intermediate agent between extensive palace buildings set in formal gardens, that the employer, whose honour and interest he is to study, crown the efforts of the Louis and their courtiers, to and the mechanic, whose right he is to defend. His create a suitable setting for the greatest court in Europe. situation implies great trust; he is responsible for the England, however, the stronghold of inidividual freedom, mistakes, negligences and ignorance of those whom he saw the development of the house, and the seven employs; and above all he is to take care that the work­ centuries between the twelfth and nineteenth reveal a men’s bills do not exceed his own estimates. If these fascinating evolution of style, of planning, of craftman- are the duties of an architect, with what propriety can ship, comfort and convenience, that pays a tribute to the his situation and that of the builder or contractor be Englishman's innate good sense. united?" The late Nathaniel Lloyd's survey reveals the changes In spite of Soane’s views the brothers Adam who that occurred as England’s resources and influence were contemporaries, combined the situation of architect increased, and as knowledge of classical Italy grew. and contractor with singular success, and made a per­ The spacious Elizabethan mansions and Palladian villas manent contribution to the history of English architecture. later share their importance with the terrace houses of The brothers Adam acknowledge a source of inspiration Bath and London. These established a pattern for urban as follows: "Although the style of the ornament and the housing with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, colouring of the Countess of Derby’s dressing-room are that still charms the visitor to-day. The early generous both evidently imitated from the vases and urns of the interiors including a wealth of bold craftmanship gave Etruscans, yet we have not been able to discover, either w ay to the elegant and intimate rooms of the late in our researches into antiquity, or in the works of modern eighteenth century. artists, any idea of applying this taste to the decoration A comprehensive series of photographs with adequate of apartments." That they were original is borne out by commentaries render it possible to peruse the book when­ the place they occupy in history. ever the spirit moves and extract information and enjoy­ Perhaps the only criticism that might be levelled is ment without necessarily having to absorb the informative that the photographs used for illustration are not of chapters that preceed. The latter, however, are well worth uniformly high standard. As they are all of modest while going through carefully, for they define the formative dimensions, the book lacks a few large rich accents. influences that were operative, and give details of the These would punctuate it more effectively. Nevertheless architects. But what is even more fascinating, they contain "A History of the English House" is a book whose appeal extracts from contemporary documents, that indicate what will remain evergreen. It deals with a subject that has clients thought of their houses, how architects regarded always been close to architects' hearts. Interesting from 265 the purely historical point of view, it also gives a delightful FAMILY HOUSING, by Deane G. Carter and Keith H. glimpse of the people and the architects who created Hinchcliffe. Published by John W iley & Sons. Inc., the houses for which England is justly renowned. New York, 1949. 4 dollars. PROFESSOR JOHN FASSLER. The authors of this book are respectively professor and assistant professor of Farm Structures at the University BUILDING SCIENCE. Ed. D. Dex Harrison, A.R.I.B.A., of Illinois, both of whom have enjoyed considerable A.M.T.P.I. George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London, 1948. experience in the field of housing. As they say in the (Howard B. Timmins, Cape Town) 21/-. preface, this book is designed as a text-book for students and as a reference for home economists, teachers and This valuable and up-to-date book brings together others having a professional interest in housing the family. a series of fourteen lectures prepared for the Architectural The nature of this book is to be gathered from the Science Board of the R.I.B.A. Each lecture was given by following quotation: "Although professional, industrial an acknowledged expert in his particular field, and these and public aspects of housing have received much con­ contributions constitute a competent survey of recent sideration, little attention has been given to housing as developments in building technique, grouped under the it concerns the home economist, the home maker and four main headings of General, Sitework, Materials and the family members who enjoy the benefits of good Functional Science. In recent years— as the Editor remarks housing . . ." in his introduction— “ . . . anyone wishing to practise architecture and building has had to take into account It sets out to define and clarify the various factors an ever widening field of achievement, scientific and which contribute to the planning and "furnishing" of non-scientific, in subjects which a few years ago might the single family house. Many of the points made, and have been considered as quite outside his province. As illustrations used, are of general validity, but few will a consequence the architect is in a continuous process be new to an architect; many details of planning, con­ of reorientating his thought to include these new develop­ struction and equipment refer specifically to the American ments. His art is no longer devoted primarily to organizing scene and hold little interest for those concerned with a academic aesthetic patterns, but has to be based upon South African setting. the prior assimilation of a far wider range of purely Having been addressed to the person unfamiliar with utilitarian or ‘functional’ requirements . . . before the the technique of house design and construction this book aesthetic effort can properly be brougt to bear." is a commendably simple statement of facts, although The purpose of this book is clearly to bring to the such naiveties as "ownership of an attractive home is attention of the architect in a convenient form the recent a desirable goal, if the family's resources permit" may developments in the science of building. The position even cause a number of "laym en” to raise their eyebrows. of the architect as the co-ordinator of the work of experts W.D.H. is not assailed but the ability of one man to carry in his own person sufficient knowledge to produce good architecture unaided is accepted. It is clearly the duty of the architect to have an NOTES AND NEWS intelligent understanding of the true function of the component parts of a building. These lectures were TRANSVAAL PROVINCIAL INSTITUTE. designed for just this purpose. PARTNERSHIPS. W hile the book is not a text-book, it succeeds H. H. Le Roith and Partners have entered into partner­ admirably in presenting to the practical architect ad­ ship with Mr. S. A. Abramowitch and Mr. D. A. Crofton. vanced information in a readily accessible form— informa­ tion which should assist him in appraising the value of TRANSFERS. expert advice and in understanding his own limitations: The following members have transferred from the herein lies its value. Salaried to Practising class: Messrs. L. Chafkin, D. E. To highlight but a few of these lectures: "Some Clarke, A. S. Jenks, D. J. Pienaar and M. E. Vickery. Principles of Foundation Behaviour,” by A. W . Skempton; Mr. E. V. Hulse has transferred from the Practising to "Developments in the Design of Timber Structures," by Salaried class, and Mr. James Whalley has transferred Phillip O. Reece; "Concrete: Its Appearance and from the Salaried to the Retired class. Durability," by Norman Davey; "External Rendered Finishes," by F. L. Brady and "Artificial Lighting Practice," by R. O. Ackerley are excellent refreshers in these various fields. W.D.H. 266 Journal of the SA Architectural Institute

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