NIEGEMAN, Henk Theodorus Otto

Architect

Spec Qual Exam (CT)

FRIBA 1954

Studied architecture at the School of Architecture, Haarlem, Netherlands from 1923 to 1926. He was assistant to T Th Wydeveld, Holland; Hopp & Lucas, Germany; Entreprise Co Francaise, France; Fred Forbat, Germany and Erik Mendelsohn, Germany. He spent a further year in America where he had his own practice and six months in Mexico City in town planning. He then went to the USSR, where he was employed by the Government there. During this time he lectured further in France for one year after which he proceeded in turn to Los Angeles, San Diego, Encinitas, Kansas City, Vienna, Moscow, Leningrad and finally the University of Cape Town. He acted as a consultant architect in Chinese South East Turkestan, in Afghanistan and in the Belgian Congo. He came to Cape Town in about 1939. Among Niegeman's overseas buildings were a motor tyre factory in Jarosawl, USSR, a ranch house in California, a hide warehouse in Chinese South East Turkestan and apartment buildings in the Belgian Congo. He was also responsible for various designs for tubular steel furniture. He was 'a protagonist of the modern movement in Cape Town' (Herbert 1975:226); Niegeman entered into partnership with ED ANDREWS in 1941 (cf ANDREWS & NIEGEMAN) - although Herbert (1975:226) says the partnership was formed in 1939). In 1954 Niegeman was nominated for Fellowship of the RIBA in 1954. In 1959 he is recorded as of Union House, Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town, and by 1969 of United House, Heerengracht, Cape Town, both the locations being that of the practice. He retired in 1972 and died in the same year.

(A&B Jan 1973:31; FRIBA nom papers 1954)

All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon.

List of projects

With photographs
With notes

Exeter Park: After 1939. Kenilworth, Cape Town, Western Cape - Design Architect

Shell Training Centre - SA Naval College: c1950. Muizenberg, Western Cape - Architect

Books citing NIEGEMAN

Greig, Doreen. 1971. A Guide to Architecture in South Africa. Cape Town: Howard Timmins. pp 185

Herbert, Gilbert. 1975. Martienssen & the international style: The modern movement in South African architecture. Cape Town - Rotterdam: AA Balkema. pp 226

ISAA. 1959. The Yearbook of the Institute of South African Architects and Chapter of SA Quantity Surveyors 1958-1959 : Die Jaarboek van die Instituut van Suid-Afrikaanse Argitekte en Tak van Suid-Afrikaanse Bourekenaars 1958-1959. Johannesburg: ISAA. pp 95, 209

ISAA. 1969. The Yearbook of the Institute of South African Architects and Chapter of SA Quantity Surveyors 1968-1969 : Die Jaarboek van die Instituut van Suid-Afrikaanse Argitekte en Tak van Suid-Afrikaanse Bourekenaars 1968-1969. Johannesburg: ISAA. pp 99, 163