Church Square gives way to the Union Buildings

An architect’s observations of our ‘urban-scape’ from a bird’s eye perspective. – Anna Steyn in discussion with Trevor Lloyd Evans, well known Pretoria architect and Herbert Baker specialist.
From his briefcase Trevor unfolded …., – an original field sketch of the Union Buildings by Baker himself, with the
caption ‘side elevation’ (see illustration of sketch as well as photograph of the same Western elevation of the Union
Buildings during construction).

The elevated position that Baker selected for this imposing complex provided broad vistas and a vantage point from which the building could dominate the landscape below. From its platform on the southern slopes of Meintjies Kop directional and conceptual links could be established with other significant places in the valley and on the ridges to the south. Trevor exclaimed that Baker had described the site as the most suitable for the ‘acropolis’, indeed a telling phrase, reminding us of the opportunity that Rhodes had provided to Baker to travel to Greece and Italy in preparation of the momentous projects that lay ahead. It should be noted that Baker’s architecture had been informed by many previous commissions, such as those initiated by Rhodes, who invited him to ‘restore’ Groote Schuur in Cape Town It had also been refined through the building of public and private buildings in other parts of South Africa as well as the powerfully designed Pretoria Station.

The locality of the Union Buildings, and the visual and conceptual links that are apparent upon closer scrutiny, reflect the political undercurrents of the period after the turn of the century, a time that would give way to Unification in 1910,when the administration of the former Boer Republics was placed in the hands of Milner.During our discussion over dinner, Trevor sketched the map of orientation and directional perspective, illustrated here, andfreshly created for this edition of the Arcadian. Trevor clearly underlined in his sketch, the two ‘symbolic epi-centres’ that hadexisted, in close proximity, within a few miles from each other, Church Square and the Union Buildings.In 1900 Church Square had been the centre and symbol of values of the people of the Boer Republics, and was in closeproximity of the home of the leader Paul Kruger. Trevor related how the wagons would head for the towering spire of thechurch on the square, laden with produce. The farmers would outspan their teams of oxen and set up tent within the confinesof the generously dimensioned surrounding space. At the time of nagmaal the area would not only serve as a religious gatheringplace but would also be transformed into a social festival.

As is edivent from Trevor’s map, radial lines exist from church square down Paul Kruger street, Park street, Lynwood Road andKotze street. These lines delineate routes from different valleys to the square, and had originally been carved by wagon wheels.Building the Union Buildings in its current position formed part of a carefully designed strategy of appropriating the landscapefor a different political dispensation. The natural platform on the southern slope of Meintjieskop enabled visual links withother features within the grand scheme of urban design, such as the view up Queen Wilhelmina, as well as across the valleyto what is now Boys High School (a site that was set aside for the University College), also to Pretoria High School for Girls,and to the Ou Lettere building on the campus of the University of Pretoria, as indicated on the map. Government house formspart of the radial dynamic scheme since from here a direct visual line can also be established with the schools and university. Theseradial axes were further accentuated by the planting of avenues of trees and the relics of some trees still survive.We are proud that the Union Buildings are situated within Arcadia, yet the interior in particular, is under threat.

All South Africans are custodians of this National Symbol, and everybody’s support is needed to ensure that it is retained, insideand out, and including the originally designed Baker furniture and finishes, as close as possible to the original condition.The Union Buildings have, in our era, regained its position as symbolic epicenter of a political philosophy and for the firsttime, it stands in all its grandeur, as a symbol of true democracy, the symbol of the birth of the new South Africa.