Art Deco in Durban
Durban, South Africa has a notable number of buildings built in the Art Deco style popularised in the US in the 1930s.[1] Durban-style Art Deco buildings share the characteristic bold colours, geometric shapes and glamorous ornamentals of the global style, while incorporating local narratives and motifs.[2]
The styling of Art Deco buildings in Durban reflects the different backgrounds of the city's population.[3] Some buildings, such as Quadrant House on the Victoria Embankment, emphasise the city's maritime background. Other buildings, such as Ebrahim Court and the Essop Moosa Building, are built in a style reflecting the interests of Durban's Muslim traders in the 1930s.[3] Some of the buildings pay allegiance to Durban's long association with the British Empire, such as Empire Court and Dominion Court.
Notable examples[edit]
Some notable examples of the Art Deco style in Durban:[3]
- Berea Court (Berea Road West, Berea)
- Colonial Mutual Building (West Street, Durban Central)
- Memorial Tower Building (University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus)
- Surrey Mansions (Currie Road, Berea)
- Kintyre (Clark Road, Glenwood)
- Jubilee Court (Clarence Road, Morningside)
The cenotaph in the central square outside the City Hall is another striking Art Deco construction.
Preservation of buildings[edit]
Due to a number of factors including inner city urban decay, a number of Art Deco style buildings are presently in a state of disrepair.[4]
The Durban Art Deco Society was founded in 2000 in order to raise awareness of the value of Art Deco buildings to the city's architectural heritage.[5]
Gallery[edit]
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Surrey Mansions - Durban -
Muslim Motif - Durban -
Colonial Mutual - Durban -
Memorial Tower - Durban
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Home". Durban Art Deco Society. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ "Durban – the Art Deco Capital of South Africa - TravelGround Blog". www.travelground.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ a b c "Durban – the Art Deco Capital of South Africa - TravelGround Blog". www.travelground.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ "About | Neil Coppen". neil.iaminawe.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
- ^ "About | Neil Coppen". neil.iaminawe.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
External links[edit]
- Durban Deco Directory
- The Durban Art Deco Society Archived 2019-01-29 at the Wayback Machine
- Art Deco in Ireland
- The Art Deco Trust of Napier, New Zealand
