Cementing Belief: Tracing the History of Modernist Afrikaans Church Architecture, 1955-1975 by Marijke Andrea Tymbios Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Visual Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Lize van Robbroeck March 2017 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. March 2017 Copyright © 2017 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Summary In this thesis I examine the phenomenon of Modernist Afrikaans Protestant church architecture in the South African built environment during the mid- to late 20th century. I trace the relation of the Afrikaner nation and the Church since the arrival of the first Dutch settlers to the consolidation of Afrikaner nationalist rule in the 20th century, as background to a discussion of the emergence and development of Modernist architecture in South Africa. This thesis investigates the Modernist Afrikaans churches which appeared in urban landscapes across the country, with specific focus on the work of two architects, A.P.S. Conradie and Pieter J. Pelser, both of whom have not been researched or written about in depth. As such, this study aims to contribute valuable knowledge and information to the field of South African architectural history. Opsomming In hierdie tesis ondersoek ek die fenomeen van Modernistiese Afrikaanse Protestantse kerk argitektuur soos wat dit tydens die 20ste eeu in Suid-Afrika ontstaan het. Hierdie werk volg die verhouding tussen die Afrikaner nasie en die Kerk sedert die aankoms van die eerste Nederlandse setlaars tot die konsolidasie van die Afrikaner nationalistiese regering in die 20ste eeu. Dit dien as agtergrond vir die bespreking oor die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van Modernistiese argitektuur in Suid-Afrika sowel as die Modernistiese Afrikaanse kerke wat in die stedelike landskappe reg oor Suid-Afrika verskyn het. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die werk van twee agitekte, A.P.S. Conradie en Pieter J. Pelser oor wie daar geen akademiese navorsing of skryfwerk gedoen is nie. As sulks, dien hierdie studie om waardevolle kennis en inligting aan die veld van Suid-Afrikaanse argitektoniese geskiedenis by te dra. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Dedication I dedicate this work to my parents and brother who have showed tremendous support throughout the research and writing of this thesis. Without their love, understanding and compassion, this work would have never been completed. This thesis is written in honour of A.P.S. Conradie and Pieter J. Pelser, both prolific architects whose work is worthy of the highest commendation. Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, Lize van Robbroeck for her patience, guidance, motivation and support. Without her insight into this topic and unwavering enthusiasm, I would not have been able to do this thesis justice. Furthermore I would like to extend my thanks to Basil Brink who encouraged and supported me throughout this journey. I hereby express my gratitude to Pieter J. Pelser who was willing to meet with me and discuss his life, work and approach to church architecture. These sentiments are extended to the Conradie family who were both generous and eager to share their memories and personal archives of A.P.S. Conradie’s work. Moreover I greatly appreciate the insight and wisdom which Schalk le Roux generously shared with me on this particular subject. I would like to sincerely thank Karen Minnaar and Isabel Murray from the NG Kerk in S.A. archives at the Stellenbosch University faculty of Theology. Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to David Goldblatt who agreed to meet with me and discuss his ideas concerning the phenomenon of Modernist Afrikaans church architecture. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Contents List of Illustrations .................................................................................................................. vii Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 1 - Blood, Soil and the Boere Nation: A History of the Afrikaners ............................. 7 1.1 Early History .................................................................................................................. 10 1.2 British Occupation.......................................................................................................... 12 1.3 The Great Trek ............................................................................................................... 14 1.4 Boer Republics ............................................................................................................... 16 1.5 Years of Union ............................................................................................................... 20 1.6 Afrikaner Nationalism .................................................................................................... 23 1.7 The Poor White Question and Economic Developments ............................................... 26 1.8 Afrikaner Triumph and the ensuing ideologies of post-1948 South Africa ................... 29 1.9 Resistance and Political Developments in the 1950s ..................................................... 35 1.10 The Winds of Change – Watershed and Wealth in the 1960s ...................................... 36 1.11 Turbulence and Political Destabilisation in the 1970s ................................................. 41 1.12 In Conclusion – The Modern, Secularised Afrikaners ................................................. 43 Chapter 2 - Modernist Manifestations of Nationalism: A Brief History of South African Modernism ............................................................................................................................... 46 2.1 The development of International forms and variations of Modernist Architecture ...... 48 2.2 Modern Architecture in South Africa............................................................................. 52 2.3 Variations of modern Architecture in South Africa ....................................................... 54 2.4 The Influence and Impact of Socio-Economic and Political conditions on modern Architecture in South Africa ................................................................................................ 61 2.5 Moerdijk and ‘Afrikaner’ Architecture .......................................................................... 66 2.6 Moerdijk and the development of Modernist Afrikaner Reformed Church Architecture .............................................................................................................................................. 70 Chapter 3 - Brutalist Bell Towers and Face Brick Façades: Modernist Dutch Reformed Church Architecture ................................................................................................................. 74 3.1 International Examples of Modernist Church Architecture ........................................... 75 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 3.2 Modernist Approaches to the design of Afrikaans Protestant Churches ........................ 79 3.3 J. Anthonie Smith (1910-1997) ...................................................................................... 83 3.4 A.P.S. Conradie (1925-1999) ......................................................................................... 94 3.4.1 The Dutch Reformed Church of the congregation Op-die-Berg (1966) ................. 97 3.4.2 The Dutch Reformed Church of the congregation Swartland-Noord, Malmesbury (1968).............................................................................................................................. 107 3.4.3 The Dutch Reformed Church of the congregation Parow Oostersee (1973) ......... 112 3.4.4 The Dutch Reformed Church of the congregation Uitenhage-Winterhoek (1977) ........................................................................................................................................ 115 3.4.5 In Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 117 3.5 Pieter J. Pelser .............................................................................................................. 118 3.5.1 Dutch Reformed Church of the congregation Bellville-Riebeeck (1973) ............. 121 3.5.2 Dutch Reformed Church of the congregation Constantia (1973) .......................... 125 3.5.3 Dutch Reformed Church of the congregation Helderberg, Somerset West (1974) ........................................................................................................................................ 128 3.5.4 Dutch Reformed Church of the congregation Caledon West (1978) .................... 132 3.5.5 In Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 137 3.6 An Overview of the Phenomenon of Modernist Afrikaans Protestant Churches ........ 137 Conclusion