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South African College - 'Egyptian Building' - now University of Cape Town Michaelis School of Art
Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape

James Constantine ADAMSON: Architect
Griffith George LEWIS: Architect

Date:1839-1841
Type:College
Status:Extant

 


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Coordinates:
33°55'49.16" S 18°24'50.13" E Alt: 37m

The building was based on the original design by Professor ADAMSON, it was considerably modified and enlarged by Col. GG LEWIS.

This is now part of the Michaelis School of Art, University of Cape Town on the Hiddingh Campus in the Gardens district of Cape Town.

Wording on National Monuments plaque:

EGYPTIAN BUILDING
THIS BUILDING WAS COMMENCED IN 1839 AND OPENED
ON 13 APRIL 1841. TWO CLASSROOMS WERE ADDED IN 1883.
IT IS THE FIRST BUILDING ERECTED IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION AND IS THE OLDEST BUILDING OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN. FORMERLY THE SOUTH AFRICAN
COLLEGE.
National Monuments Council
EGIPTIESE GEBOU
HIERDIE GEBOU IS IN 1839 BEGIN EN OP 13 APRIL 1841
GEOPEN. TWEE KLASKAMERS IS IN 1883 AANGEBOU.
DIT IS DIE EERSTE GEBOU WAT IN SUID-AFRIKA VIR DIE
HOËR ONDERWYS OPGERIG IS EN DIE OUDSTE GEBOU
VAN DIE UNIVERSITEIT VAN KAAPSTAD. DIE VROEËRE
SUID-AFRIKAANSE KOLLEGE.
Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede
1978


Books that reference South African College - 'Egyptian Building' - now University of Cape Town Michaelis School of Art

Greig, Doreen. 1971. A Guide to Architecture in South Africa. Cape Town: Howard Timmins. pg 39, 94 ill
Lewcock, Ronald. 1963. Early Nineteenth Century Architecture in South Africa : a study of the interaction of two cultures, 1795-1837. Cape Town: AA Balkema. pg 339 ill
Radford, D. 1979. The architecture of the Western Cape, 1838-1901. A study of the impact of Victorian aesthetics and technology on South African architecture. Johannesburg: Unpublished Ph.D thesis. Dept of Arch. University of the Witwatersrand. pg 209
Shorten, John R. 1963. Cape Town : A record of the Mother City from the earliest days to the present. Cape Town: JR Shorten in association with Shorten and Smith Publications. pg 173 ill.
Walker, Michael. 2012. Early architects of Cape Town and their buildings (1820 - 1926) with postcard illustrations, The. St James: Michael Walker. pg 27