Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Miners' Phthisis Bureau Johannesburg, Gauteng PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT: Architect

Date: 1939 Client: Department of Mines Type: Laboratory Style: Utilitarian : Functionalist Status: Unknown Street: De Korte

Functional Planning Of A Building In Which 300 Medical Examinations Are Held Daily A recent structure affording particular interest in regard to special problems of planning and interior treatment is the new Miners' Phthisis Bureau, De Korte Street, Johannesburg. The building, which was completed and occupied early last year, is situated on Hospital Hill, on the south side of the building of the South African Institution of Medical Research. It was designed by the Union Public Works Department and erected at a cost of approximately £50,000. [R100 000] Externally the building has a simple and rather severe appearance, being a double-storey brick structure with facades of dark red vertex facing-bricks rising from a vertex brick plinth strengthened with horizontal lines of precast concrete, similar lines being repeated on the first-floor level and on the parapet. The entrance is contained in a slightly projecting central loggia, the columns of which have mounted ornamental bronze lighting fixtures. Collapsible wrought-iron gates are fitted to the openings. The floor of the loggia is granite; and the granite steps lead up to a small landing in front of the entrance doors, which are of the double-swing glass-panel type executed in teak. Windows throughout are of steel set in wooden frames, all sills being of splayed red brick. Functions of Bureau … Though primarily concerned with silicosis and tuberculosis, the Bureau is able to keep a check on the general health of the miners, and hence on conditions underground…. The Bureau is also concerned with post-mortem evidence following the death of a miner. …The relevant organs, such as the lungs and heart, are sent over to the Bureau, where they are examined in a special small pathological laboratory.… Natives are not catered for at the Bureau, … Site: JHE building stands on a site with a considerable slope down southwards. This fact has made it possible to connect up, as a single, unit, the basement under the main building with existing store-rooms on the south side ground level. The strong reinforced concrete slab roof over the storerooms serves as a macadamised parking area and drive-around. As this open area is on what may be termed a "mezzanine" level between the basement and the main building ground floor, ample shelter for parked cars is provided under the latter, the bounding wall being recessed back some distance and the weight of the building here carried on large concrete stanchions. * * * The Plan: Ground Floor: It will be seen that the plan is simple in conception, and reflects the required routine of examinations by providing the various departmental stages in an anti-clockwise sequence round the building. The main entrance doors lead from the loggia into the main hall ( 36 ft. x 16 ft.) [10,8m x 4,8m], with counter openings to the enquiry and general offices, the latter being protected by a stainless steel barrier to avoid overcrowding. On the right of the main hall there is access through teak double-swing glass-panel doors to a large waiting hall (60 ft. x 22 I/2 ft.) [18m x 6,75m] containing 30 teak benches arranged in rows parallel to the width of the hall. The majority of the benches face east, but at the further end a few face west to accommodate those miners whose turn to be called into the X-ray department is near. In the north-west corner of the waiting hall, it will be noticed from the drawing, a flight of stairs leads down to a block of conveniences in the basement. A feature of note is the inclusion of a small refreshment buffet in the waiting-hall. The X-ray department is gained through double-swing doors in the south-west corner. This department is of special interest, as special architectural treatment was demanded owing to the nature of the work conducted in it. At its west side this department is adjoined by two dark-rooms with double-door entrances. The entrances are protected from the X-ray room by a screen wall having a slab over and a lead core as a protection against stray X-rays. It will be noticed also that the only lift in the building connects the dark-rooms with the drying-rooms situated on the upper floor. 1 he lift is mainly for the use of the X-ray and photographic staff: and for the conveyance of X-ray plates. In the south-west corner of the X-ray department is a small photographic section screened by a partition wall, also armoured against X-rays by lead lining. An additional feature of the X-ray department is that, with the exception of the X-ray tubes, all machinery and plant is installed in the basement. Continuing with the routine sequence, the X-ray department is connected to the weighing-hall on the east by a south corridor which passes the dressing-room (32 ft. x 14 ft.) [18,6m x 12,4m], with adjoining block of conveniences. The corridor is interrupted at three points by double-swing doors which serve as sound insulators to some extent. The weighing-hall is merely a fairly large hall occupied by benches and equipped with a weighing and measuring machine. Ranged around it are 14 examination cubicles 9 1/2- feet [2,85m] wide with an average depth of 10 feet [3m]. Each cubicle has a flush-panel door topped by a large fanlight, and is equipped with an electric signal system, whereby the doctor may signify his disengagement by illuminating a number on a board in the weighing-hall, ringing a bell at the same time. A north corridor connects the weighing-hall with the main hall and serves the chairman's office and general office. It will be seen that the south-west corner of the ground floor is occupied by the non-European section, comprising lavatory block, office: dressing-room, X-ray room and examination cubicle. It is gained by means of a spiral stairway leading from a small entrance porch on the ground-floor level, which, it will be remembered, is approximately at basement level at this point. The stair hall has been placed in the centre of the plan on the same axis as the en trance doors in the main hall. Double-swing doors close it off from this hall and the south corridor. Upper Floor: The upper floor contains, mainly, a large Bureau room (50 ft. x 30 ft. [15m x 12m]) , a museum, a small appeal board room with secretary's office, three examination cubicles, and a dressing and waiting room. In addition, there are record rooms and offices, a doctors' common room, a ladies' staff room and, in the southeast corner, a spacious caretaker's flat. The small pathological laboratory has already been mentioned. The Bureau room is of main interest. This large room is used by the Bureau for discussion on the cases that have been examined during the day. For convenience of discussion the room is equipped with five large horizontal viewing frames on stands. The X-ray plates are fixed to the frames, and illuminated electrically from behind. In addition, there is a large round conference table, in the centre of which there is fixed a rotating viewing frame as shown in the illustration. All windows in the room are flited with inside flush laminated teak light-proof shutters. During the sitting of the Bureau the shutters are closed to darken the room so that the viewing of the X-ray plates is made as easy as possible. During these sittings forced ventilation is provided by means of suction fans in the ceiling. The .small board-room is similarly equipped with a round conference table with rotating viewing frame. It is used for appeal cases. * * * Internal Treatment: Walls: On the ground floor the walls are generally finished with 7-ft [2,1m] high green, slightly polished terrazzo dadoes, except in offices and cubicles. It was deemed necessary to provide a wall finish capable of withstanding rough usage in all interiors to which miners have access. Above dadoes walls are generally treated with acoustic plaster. The upper-floor walls are generally of plaster with acoustic plaster friezes. Chairman's office panelled in teak up to door height. Floors: Reinforced concrete covered with linoleum, except in waiting-hall, where terrazzo has been used. wood-block flooring in chairman's office. Ceilings: In all corridors, waiting-hall, dressing rooms, weighing-hall, Bureau, main hall, stair hall and examination cubicles perforated acoustic tiles have been used. Acoustic plaster elsewhere. The reduction of noise, which interferes with the efficiency of medical examination, was one of the primary concerns of the Department. Conveniences: All conveniences have white glazed tile walls, and strong chromium-plated fittings. Ventilation: Natural throughout, except in Bureau during conferences, when forced ventilation by means of ceiling fans is is employed. Heating: The interior throughout is maintained at constant predetermined temperature by means o electrically warmed ceiling panels or rayrads. * * * It is a sufficient comment on the design of the building to quote the Chairman of the Bureau, who states that the building functioned admirably in every way. (PWSA April 1940 Vol III No 18:11-13). [See also Miners' Phthisis Sanatorium].