BURTON, Duncan McClean

Architect

He was born in Yorkshire, son of Newark Burton (1841–??) and Annie (1843–??) (FS). In the census of 31 March 1901 he is recorded as of address Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom as an architect's clerk. To date [2020 10 07] only two residences have been ascribed to him.

He played an important role in the architectural profession in the first half of the twentieth century in the Transvaal. Burton became a member of the council of the Association of Transvaal Architects in 1913 and was vice-president for the year 1913 to 1914. It was Burton who prompted the founding of the South African Academy [of Arts] Exhibition in Johannesburg in 1919 at which annual event paintings, sculptures, ceramics and architectural models and drawings were on display to the public. Burton also initiated the Association of Transvaal Architects Library in Johannesburg. It was through his concern with architectural education that he 'first helped establish a chair in Architecture at Johannesburg University College' (Building Sep 1920:377-9) to which he donated a number of books, actively assisting in the establishment of the School of Architecture library. In 1924 he has a project ascribed in partnership with DM SINCLAIR (cf BURTON and SINCLAIR). Burton was also a member of the inaugural board of the Institute of South African Architects in 1927. He retired from the ISAA in 1931.

He married Edwina Alfreda Meintjies on the 1933 09 16. He died in Johannesburg, Transvaal (see Family Search)

(Berman 1983:371; Building Mar 1919:250; Building Sep 1919:294; Building Jun 1920:374-75; Burton's FRIBA papers have gone astray; SAAR Sep 1925:60, 71; SAAR Feb 1965:17)

Publ: Westminster hall, Building Dec 1919:334-36; A national neglect, Jnl ATA Sep 1917:35-38; 'A national necessity', Jnl ATA Dec 1917: 104-5; 'A national necessity', Building Sep 1918:181-82.

The University of the Witwatersrand School of Architecture and Planning awarded a prize in his name which perpetuate the names of men who fathered the Institute of South African Architects.

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

House for Mrs JH Mackie: 1912. Observatory, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Speculative House (a) for B Saperstein: 1909. Orange Grove, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Speculative House (b) for B Saperstein: 1909. Orange Grove, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

References

Herbert, Gilbert. 1975. Martienssen & the international style: The modern movement in South African architecture. Cape Town - Rotterdam: AA Balkema. pp 6, 9

ISAA. 1959. The Yearbook of the Institute of South African Architects and Chapter of SA Quantity Surveyors 1958-1959 : Die Jaarboek van die Instituut van Suid-Afrikaanse Argitekte en Tak van Suid-Afrikaanse Bourekenaars 1958-1959. Johannesburg: ISAA. pp 88, 199

ISAA. 1927. Register of Members the Institute of South African Architects. Johannesburg: ISAA (Unpublished Record). pp B15a