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		Odeon Cinema and Thelma Court flats Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape Max POLICANSKY: Architect

Date: 1938 Type: Cinema Status: Demolished 1990 Street: Regent St

(SAB Dec 1939: 65; SAB Jan 1941:46; FRIBA nom papers 1945; SA Archt Dec 1940: 330, 331, 341) (Bronze figures by Eva LR Meyerowitz) A cinema of 1 000 seats, essentially designed as an acoustic solution, i.e. primary form was acoustically determined, contrary to the then normative propositions. Innovative treatment of entry which has now become commonplace. Thelma Court: First block of flats (apartments) which did not have an open corridor access system, but access in pairs. Walk-ups have traditionally been maximum 3 storeys; this building was designed as 4-storey walk-up luxury apartments. Recreation facilities and solarium were developed on roof as a consequence of a limited site at ground level. In 1938 parking wasn't a serious problem and only limited provision was made. (Righini 1977:52) 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 Odeon Cinema and Thelma Court flats Righini, Paul. 1977. The work of Max Policansky. isilili sam sise africa : a journal of architecture and human settlements - University of Cape Town in Volume 1, Number 1. pp 52-53 Herbert, Gilbert. 1975. Martienssen & the international style: The modern movement in South African architecture. Cape Town - Rotterdam: AA Balkema. pg 268