WATSON, Brian W

Architect

BArch (Rand) DipTP (Rand), ARIBA, AMTPI, MSAITP, ISAA, CPIA.

WWII : Kaffrarian Rifles in North Africa where he visited the sights of Egypt before moving on to Alamein and Tobruk (avoided capture).

He spent some years with the East London Municipality, in their City and Water Engineer's Department where he is recorded in 1959. At the time he is recorded as serving of the Local East London Committee of the CPIA and again in 1969, where is recorded of his own account of address 122 Permanent Building, 44 Oxford street, East London, Cape Province.

He later set up his own practice styled BRIAN WATSON ASSOCIATES INC.

He served on the South African Institute of Architects committees locally and nationally as well as the South African Planning Institute.

His father, Alexander, had been a businessman in East London and was one of those who set up the East London Museum. This perhaps sparked his interest in heritage and certainly his own long term involvement with the museum as chairman of the board and the Border Historical Society.

He represented the National Monuments Council in the Border region and was an active Simon van der Stel Foundation member.

His practice worked on such projects as the East London Museum extension, Gately House museum, the City Hall restoration and the Survey of the Built Environment for the City of East London (1991).

In 1995 he received a Gold Medal from Heritage South Africa.

(Information supplied by Jeremy Watson, son of Brian via William MARTINSON extended with information from the ISAA registers).

Was the President of the East London Local Committee of the Cape Province Institute of The Institute of South African Architects (Now BKIA) from 1954 to 1956 and again from 1976 to 1977.

List of projects

With photographs
With notes

1820 Settlers - Stone of Memory: 1953. Selborne, KuGompo City (East London), Eastern Cape - Designer new site

Gately House: 1878. KuGompo City (East London), Eastern Cape - Architect restoration

Town Hall - City Hall: 1897-1899. KuGompo City (East London), Eastern Cape - Architect restoration

References

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 99, 204, 214

ISAA. 1969. The Yearbook of the Institute of South African Architects and Chapter of SA Quantity Surveyors 1968-1969 : Die Jaarboek van die Instituut van Suid-Afrikaanse Argitekte en Tak van Suid-Afrikaanse Bourekenaars 1968-1969. Johannesburg: ISAA. pp 103, 153, 167