 Contact Artefacts | MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | City Hall Frank Gordon McINTOSH: Architect AS JOFFE and CO: Engineer Coert STEYNBERG: Artist - cornice and pediment sculpture |  | ||||
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Click to view map Coordinates: | (Won in competition) The City Hall was put out to competition won by Joseph Lockwood HALL. He was with the PWD until 1926 when he won the competition in collaboration with FG McINTOSH, who died shortly after the results of the competition were announced. Although the competition for the city hall took place in 1926, the building only commenced in 1933 and completed in 1935 and since there was little money, the design had to be modified. Details verge on the utilitarian, emphasised by the use of manufactured granite for the greater part of the building. Most entrants had proposed two flanking turrets but tradition has it that this would compete with the Union Buildings of BAKER and Gordon LEITH was consulted for a replacement centralised dome, the LUTYENS influence of New Delhi being apparent in the executed building. The completed building was a disappointment and the result received much contemporary criticism although there were also aspects which received favourable comment, such as the main hall with its classical theme of the neo-Renaissance "treated ... with freedom and modernity". The cornice and pediment sculpture were modeled by the up and coming young sculptor Coert STEYNBERG. City magnate George Heys presented the city with the organ and carillon made by WW Kimball of Chicago. HN PORTER and AS FURNER came second in the competition. (AB&E Dec 1934:24 - design altered; AB&E Dec 1935:7-8; SAB Jan 1936:15; AB&E Dec 1937: 18) SAAR Jun 1926:35-36 ill).All truncated references not fully cited below are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon. Books that reference City Hall
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