Nine Johannesburg buildings, some of which were built in the art deco style of architecture in the 1930s and 1940s, have been earmarked for destruction.
Thabo Kgomommu, the provincial manager of the regulating South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra), said the department of transport and public works has approached the organisation about demolishing the buildings, which surround Beyers Naude Square.
The department wants to build new headquarters, so that all provincial departments are in one square.
”The department approached us and we asked them to do an impact assessment to reveal whether these are significant heritage buildings,” Kgomommu said.
”The department said that 10 buildings would have to be destroyed, and of these nine were heritage buildings. Some are built in the valuable art deco style.”
The buildings, which Kgomommu says are all in good condition, once housed the Rand Water Board, Colonial Bank and Volkskas Bank.
Johannesburg has more than 100 art deco buildings in the city centre, dating back to the 1930s and 1940s when the style was in fashion around the world.
Some of the art deco buildings are the Anglo American building on Main Street, the Federal Hotel and Broadcast House on Commissioner Street and the Union Castle Building on Loveday and Commissioner streets.
Kgomommu said the public have until next Monday to lodge complaints with Sahra. After that, Sahra will have to make a decision within 14 days.
He said the public need to come up with strong reasons to keep the buildings. For example, it needs to be shown that the buildings are valuable architecturally, represent a certain style of a certain period and housed companies that were part of the economic development of Johannesburg.
”Up until recently, the public do not seem to have been aware of the proposed demolitions. But since the issue was publicised in newspapers, people have been phoning saying they love the buildings and that there is no need to destroy them,” Kgomommu said.
”For us, what we need to get from the public is strong reasons which support the heritage aspect, not just sentimental aspects.” — Sapa