SCHUURMANS STEKHOVEN, Jan Zeger

Architect

Also referred to as STEKHOVEN, Jan Zeger Schuurmans; informally he was known as 'Stek'.

Practised in Cape Town on his own account from the end of 1921, Stekhoven was born in Utrecht in the Netherlands where he was educated and where he served articles with the architect M Sirag, Professor at the Utrecht Architectural College. He spent some time at the Royal Academy, Amsterdam (Koninklijke Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten) without obtaining any degrees or certificates. At the end of 1919 he emigrated to South Africa and joined the staff of BAKER, KENDALL & MORRIS in Cape Town. He became an Associate of the Cape Institute of Architects in 1921 and set up practice on his own account in Cape Town in the same year. He worked (in association?) with J LYON from about 1927 until about 1938 (cf LYON & STEKHOVEN) and on several occasions with FM GLENNIE on PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT projects.

At some time at or after 1952, Chris WEGERIF and STEKHOVEN must have formed a partnership, since, although posthumously, in 1959, and again in 1969 he is recorded as principal of the practice of STEKHOVEN and WEGERIF.

'Stek' was often called upon to execute work for the PWD which he did with ability and a professionalism for which he was respected. He and his wife were tragically murdered at their farm Kliphuisland at Banhoek near Stellenbosch, the day before the official opening of Totius School near Stellenbosch which he had designed.

The photograph was kindly sent to us by Ben Stekhoven.

(ISAA mem list; Cape Times 4.5.1956)

All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon.

List of projects

With photographs
With notes

Bellaire private hotel, ext: 1938. Fish Hoek, Western Cape - Architect

Cape Provincial Administration Building: 1939 : 1975. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect 1939 *

Fraserburg High School, hostel: 1937. Fraserburg, Northern Cape - Architect

House Mr Stekhoven: 1930. Kenilworth, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect

Indigent boarding house, hostel & ext: 1938. Van Wyksvlei, Northern Cape - Architect

Marine Research Aquarium: 1938. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *

Porterville preparatory school: 1937. Porterville, Western Cape - Architect

Primary School bldg and teacher's house: 1938. Koekenaap, Western Cape - Architect

School Bldg, Moravia, Piquetberg Div: 1937. Moravia, Western Cape - Architect

Sedgwick and Company Building: 1932 : 1939. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect 1939 alterations *

Southern Life Building: 1937. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect

Tafelberg Primary School: 1937. Woodstock, Western Cape - Architect *

Totius School: 1951 : 1955 : 1961. Bellville, Western Cape - Design Architect 1955 : 1961

Trafalgar High School: 1936 : 1940. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect *

Books citing SCHUURMANS STEKHOVEN

Cumming-George, L. 1933. Architecture in South Africa - Volume One. Cape Town: The Speciality Press of S.A. Ltd.. pp 119-120

ISAA. 1927. Register of Members the Institute of South African Architects. Johannesburg: ISAA (Unpublished Record). pp S2

SAWW & Donaldson, K. 1938. South African Who's Who (Social and Business) 1938. Cape Town: Ken Donaldson. pp 213

Walker, Michael. 2010. A Statement In Stone. Cape Town: Privately published by Michael Walker. pp 87