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Modernist Restoration

 A couple of days ago I spotted an excellent example of Modernist architecture up for auction in Houghton, Johannesburg. It must have been a jewel in its heyday, with striking three-dimensional treatment complemented by rolling lawns. It appears to be largely unaltered, offering plenty of scope for restoration.

House on auction November 2024: all photos from auctioninc.co.za

The entrance is very modest, emphasised by an overhanging rectangular volume on a slender steel column. The main feature of the house, the semi-circular bay windows, project to the right and the entrance door is tucked away to the left. The volumetric articulation has an affinity with the works of Erich Mendelsohn, the German-born architect who emigrated to the UK in the 1930s. This is interesting, as most of the modernist architecture in Gauteng is inspired by the French architect, le Corbusier. 
The entrance

Moving round the house, the bay-window motif is repeated, inviting the viewer to experience the striking volumetric treatment. The bay windows allow views right through the building, which serves to dematerialise the geometric forms. With the severe treatment of the roofline, the building takes on an uncompromisingly abstract appearance.

A side entrance with two projecting wings with bay windows
Moving into the inside, a curved staircase with a simple masonry balustrade echoes the curved forms of the exterior, with a dramatic flow of space. It would seem that a handrail has been removed, but not clear whether this was part of the original design. Given how little this building has been changed over the years, the handrail may well have been a simple steel tube that has rather unceremoniously been ripped out.
The staircase from the upper floor
Views of the interior show a dramatic flow of space, with austere detailing that expresses the structural articulation in the open-plan layout. This combined with the large expanses of glass give a sense of floating, the dematerialisation of the exterior echoed in the spatial quality. 

One of the rooms on the ground floor, with the structural beam expressed in the open-plan layout
The kitchen is the one part of the house that will require some refurbishment, to restore the sink and adjacent countertop. This room may also need adaptation in the plumbing and electrics to meet the needs of present occupants. Ideally, any alterations should match the original detailing, or if this is not possible, the simplest and most minimal designs should be chosen. 
The kitchen sink and countertop have been removed

Fortunately, the one wall of kitchen fittings has been preserved, with open shelves above the simple cabinets below, and closed cupboards up to the ceiling. 

A wall of original cabinetry in the kitchen.

Overall, the house is largely in pristine condition, and as such would be perfect for restoration. Ideally, its setting in rolling lawns should be preserved, but this is unlikely, given its location - many of the other houses in Houghton have been demolished to make way for cluster-housing because the land values are so high and the properties are so large. One hopes that this jewel will be preserved, possibly with a development on the rest of the site that is in sympathy with its architectural character.

Architectural restoration is a topic that has been debated since the Victorian era, with two diametrically opposed viewpoints. The one approach aims to match existing materials and detailing, so that any adaptation blends with the original, while the other approach seeks to differentiate the new work from the old, so that the history of the building is evident and the new work visible through contrasting material or colour. 

An interesting middle-ground has been taken in the Johannesburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF) in Forest Town in Johannesburg. Here the restoration architects selected a face-brick that is subtly different from the brickwork of the old tram terminus, so one can "read" the recently filled-in panels, but the overall effect is harmonious. The alterations and additions in the building show a deep appreciation of the scale and materiality of the original buildings.

With any project in a building that has historical and architectural significance, it is important to consult with a reputable conservation architect. She or he will be able to give the best design advice and will know the best contractors and craftspeople to employ, who will have experience working with older methods of construction and more traditional materials. The Heritage Portal has a listing of recommended conservation architects.

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