DURBAN CENTRAL BUSINESS DURBAN CENTRAL BUSI NESS
3.2.3 Exploring the Built Environment
1. Durban Hindi Temple: The Durban Hindu Temple in Somtseu Road was built in 1901 and recalls the elegance of the North Indian architecture through Victorian and Islamic influences. The temple stands today as primary place of worship for the Hindu culture of Durban (Durban-direct.com, 2011)
Plate 21: Durban Hindi Temple
2. Sahara Kingsmead - Cricket Stadium: This iconic stadium has played host to multiple test matches since January 1923.
The form of the ground follows its function utilising grass banks and
Plate 22: Sahara Kingsmead
modern reinforced concrete stands help to create a relaxed atmosphere (espncricinfo.com, 2011).
3. Hilton Hotel and ICC:
Constructed in 1994 The Hilton Hotel was Durban’s First 5 star hotel since the abolition of apartheid. Both the hotel and the ICC reflect the nature of the site using form and material
(icc.co.za, 1011). Plate 23: Hilton Hotel and ICC
4. Train Workshop - shopping centre: Originally built in 1893 as a train repair shed, the building was later recycled in 1986 as a shopping centre that was
befittingly called the Workshop (Itafa Amalinde Heritage trust 2010).
Plate 24: Workshop
5. Tourist Centre: Old Railway Station: The Flemish Revival style station was designed in two phases by W Street Wilson. In 1894 the first two story phase was completed, then in 1904 an additional two stories were added (Itafa Amalinde Heritage trust 2010).
Plate 25: Tourist Centre
6. Post Office: Constructed in 1882 the building originally served as the city hall and later as a museum. The Roman Revival style design of Philip Dudgeon won the public competition to design the building
(Bennet, Adams and Brusse, 1987).
Plate 26: Post Office
7. St Pauls Church: The Tudor Revival church that stands today was constructed in 1909 as a replacement for the original 1853 building that burnt down
(Itafa Amalinde Heritage trust 2010).
Plate 27: St Pauls Church
8. City Hall:
Supposedly inspired by the city hall of Belfast, this Revised Baroque idiom, designed by Stanley Hudson, was completed in 1910 (Bennet, Adams and
Brusse, 1987). Plate 28: City Hall
9. 320 West Street:
Originally Built in 1973 by the architects Harris, Fels, Janks and Nussbaum. 320 West Street was
constructed in a truly modernist
sense, Plate 29: 320 West Street
10. 88 Field Street: Helmut Jahn originally designed the building now situated at 88 Field Street for a competition in Louisville, Kentucky.
Constructed in 1986, a spiral
form wraps Plate 30: 88 Field Street
by utilising glass steel and concrete 320 west street establishes itself as icon to the modernist movement of Durban (skyscraperpage.com, 2011).
around the octagonal shaped tower terminating in a mast.
The building is constructed using primarily steel and glass in a high-tech style (skyscraperpage.com, 2011).
11. Play House: Originally designed as a movie house in the1920’s, the faux Tudor architecture has become synonymous with Durban since its popularity with serviceman in World War two
(Itafa Amalinde Heritage trust 2010).
Plate 31: The Play House
12. The Embassy: Designed by architects Artek4 and Built in 1981. The L-shaped form houses the British Consulate and many multinational company offices. The building reflects its environment despite its modern design (skyscraperpage.com, 2011).
Plate 32: The Embassy
13. Transnet Tower:
Constructed in 1973 by the architects Radomsky and Smith for retail and office use.
It stands today as another typical example of modernism.
(ibid, 2011). Plate 33: Transnet Building
14. 101 Victoria Embankment:
Built as a residential building in 1981 by Monte, Bryer and Rood. Built using masonry steel and glass, the buildings form reflects its surroundings
(ibid, 2011). Plate 34: 101 Victoria Embankment
15. Juma Musjid Mosque: The original mosque at this site was rebuilt in 1927 by the architects Payne & Payne.
The building has a strong Union period vernacular (Bennet, Adams and Brusse, 1987).
Plate 35: Juma Musjid Mosque
16. Nedbank Building: Another example of brutal modernism, constructed in 1975 by Oscar Murray & Pokroy.
The building houses both retail and office space above parking (emporis.com,
2011). Plate 36: Nedbank Building
17. John Ross House: Archite cts Hesketh &
Driman designed the John Ross house in 1973 as a mixed use building’s form reflects the street
(skyscraperpag
e.com, 2011). Plate 37: Nedbank Building
18. Protea Hotel Landmark Lodge:
Constructed in 1976 by Selsick Wolpe and Partners using the modern style of glass and concrete. The building is for Residential use
(ibid, 2011). Plate 38: Protea Landmark Lodge
19. Metal Industries House:
Designed by Monte, Bryer and Rood and built in1973.
The modern masonry tower accentuates its own verticality.
(emporis.com,
2011). Plate 39: Metal Industries House
20. Holiday Inn: One of the last few buildings influenced by art deco that has not fallen in dereliction. The hotel was designed by Meyer Pienaar using glass, steel and concrete and built in 1985 (skyscraperpage.com, 2011).
Plate 40: Holiday Inn Garden Court
Through the above investigation it can be determined that the city of Durban does not contain the archetypal
architecture that Thomas Thiis-Evensen and Christopher Alexander so desired. Despite this, four major movements in architecture can be extracted from the melee, including Modernist, Revivalist, Hi-tech and Art Deco. These movements in architecture can be seen throughout the city but follow no apparent structure, except those defined by the zoning of racial divides in the past. In order to better understand this lack of structure, Norberg Shultz concept of ‘orientation’ will be examined through the analysis of the built environment according to node, path, and neighbourhoods.
3. 2.4 Analysis of the Built Environment
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Figure 45: Urban Analysis Map.