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Maize Control Board
Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng
Clement Scarr LODGE: Project Architect
Contact Artefacts | MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | Maize Control Board Clement Scarr LODGE: Project Architect | ||
Click to view large map Coordinates: | As per Google Earth 2025 named AGRIVAAL. Was also called Mealie Industry Control Board The Mealie Industry Control Board, an organisation brought into being in 1935 for the purpose of fostering the production of maize in South Africa, is shortly to be housed in an impressive new building now in the course of erection in Pretoria. The contract cost of the building is £18,854 [R37 708], and it will be situated on the corner of Hamilton and Edmund Streets, Arcadia. It is three storeys high, and of the concrete frame type of construction. It may be said to have a corner motif, as both the Hamilton and Edmund Street facades, featuring horizontal lines set by long window sections, lead the eye to the entrance situated in a recessed porch in the corner of the building. This corner motif is strengthened by the inclusion in the south wall immediately over the entrance porch of a continuous glass-brick window set in a splayed reveal or recess rising from the top of the ground floor to the roof. This window is 7 feet [2,1m] wide, and provides the sole illuminating feature for the lift halls on the upper floors. A similar window, 6 feet [1,8m] wide and flush with the wall will illuminate the stairs leading up from the entrance hall. This window rises to the full height of the light tower, and will be situated, as seen in the sketch above, on the corner of the east facade. The facades have been faced with 2-foot [0,6m] square precast slabs of a buff colour and rough surface, fixed with cramps to a brick backing. The windows are purpose-made and comprise 20-foot [6m] and 10-foot [3m] sections. A small coping and handrail on the roof parapet add to the modern appearance of the building. LAY-OUT. Access to the entrance hall on the ground floor is through metal doors having a white-metal spray finish. The hall is 18 feet [5,4m] by 16 feet [4,8m], is panelled in kejaat up to door height, and has a continuous sculptured frieze above representing the maize industry. The floor will be laid out in wood blocks, as will be the floors of all the offices. Indirect artificial lighting will be provided by a continuous cove above the frieze. On the left of the entrance hall is to be an enquiry counter with ornamental grille, and on the right the lift and staircase. Swing glass-panelled doors lead into corridors running along the south and east wings of the building, giving access to offices 15 [4,6m] feet wide and ranging from 15 to 20 [6m] feet long. In addition there are women’s rest rooms and conveniences. The first floor follows a similar lay-out except for a few minor differences, and the same applies to the top floor, which, however, is provided with a large board room in the east wing. This board room, which is temporary until further extensions permit a larger room being set aside for this purpose, is 38 feet [11,4m] long by 21 feet [6,3m] wide. The walls up to a height of seven feet are panelled in kejaat, the outside wall being taken up by two large windows 12 feet [3,6m] long. Access to this room is through double swing-doors leading off a lobby which takes the place of the corridor on other floors. Adjacent to this lobby a cloak-room has been provided. The men's conveniences are situated on this and the first floor. On the western portion of the building there is a basement, made possible without too much excavation by the slope of the ground. This basement contains a large records room, an archives room and other store rooms. Access is either from outside through a west-facing doorway on ground level or by means of a stairway connecting all floors on this side of the building. This alternative stairway will provide also an emergency exit. The roof of the building is a reinforced concrete slab. The interior treatment besides that already mentioned is along modern lines. All joinery is of teak, and the doors are to be of the flush-panel laminated type. All central heating pipes and radiators will be concealed in recesses in the walls; and an automatic stoker is to be fitted to the heating plant. The lift installation will comprise a high-speed Waygood-Otis lift with metal automatic opening gates and a metal car. Flushing valves will be fitted on all W.C. and urinal fittings. The usual fire and electrical services are also to be provided. Between the offices there will be telephone and dictaphone communication. In the back yard there is a garage block containing seven open garages and two block garages. Over and above this there is ample room for future extensions, for which provision has been made in the design of the building. [PWSA Vol II No 9:23+25]. (FRIBA nom papers 1950) 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. References:
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