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Durban Buildings & Architecture

Modernism

The conservatism of early 20th Century Durban meant that, with the exception of a few examples, International Style modernism only took hold in the city after the Second World War, when industrial manufacturing in South Africa experienced new growth, leading to the economic boom of the 1950s and ‘60s.

In the 1950s Durban embraced the new Brazilian flamboyance, with Izzy Benjamin as its champion (see Crofton and Benjamin brochure). Thereafter, the mantle was taken over by Hans Hallen, one of the first graduates in Architecture at what was then the University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal), who began his career with apartment developments.

In Hallen’s early buildings, brick and concrete surfaces were usually white-washed or textured, but gradually these materials were left exposed, the concrete surface bearing the imprint of the wooden formwork. Le Corbusier called this beton brut, effectively coining the term Brutalism which became characteristic of the architecture of the period.

Researcher: Prof. Walter Peters

Photographer(s): Angela Bucklandc/o Andre DuvenagePaul Wijgers

Contributor(s): Lindsay Napier

Bellevue Heights

48 Bellevue Rd, Hallen & Dibb, 1965.

Crasulla

76 Clarence Rd, Biermann & Theron, 1967.

House Kentridge

109 Princess Alice Ave, Clem Fridjhon, 1940.

House Masojada

Stephen Dlamini Rd, Diamond & Hallen, 1961.

Ocean Terminal T-Jetty

Durban Harbour, MS Zakrzewski & Partners, Consulting Engineers, 1961.

Riebeeck

208 Problem Mkhize Rd, Hallen & Dibb, 1965.

Stellenberg

Cnr Musgrave Rd. & Invicta Ave, 198 Musgrave Rd., Diamond & Hallen, 1962.

University Residences

University Of Kwazulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Mazisi Kunene Rd, Hallen & Dibb, 1966-68.

300 Manning Road

300 Lena Ahrens Road, Glenwood, Frolich & Kass, 1949.

House Biermann

38 Glenwood Drive, Westridge, B.E. Biermann , 1961.

House Shaw

128 Lamont Road, Glenwood, Hallen and Dibb, 1969.

Nedbank

303-313 Anton Lembede St., Norman Eaton, 1961-65.

Sugar Terminal

Maydon Rd, Sir Eric Millbourn With Franklin & Garland, 1962-65.