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List of Projects

NURCOMBE, Donald Lansdowne

Born: 1900 08 01
Died: 1968?

Architect

SACA:
Reg No: 158
Year registered: 1927

Was probably born in South Africa. He was articled to JM SOLOMON & AJ MARSHALL from 1920 until 1922 in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. He also attended a part-time course, organised by the Association of Transvaal Architects, to qualify for registration as an architect. He later studied at the School of Architecture, University of the Witwatersrand and became the first chairman of the Architectural Students' Society in 1926. He was chief assistant to HW SPICER in Johannesburg for a short time around 1927 before he began his own practice in Johannesburg (date?); in 1936 he entered into partnership with HG SUMMERLEY (cf NURCOMBE & SUMMERLEY). The practice was successful, designing many commercial buildings in Johannesburg. Nurcombe seems to have moved to Natal by 1948 where his address at this date was Misty Hill Farm, Hilton Rd, Natal. In his RIBA Fellowship papers he lists as his work Chrysler House (1937), Manhattan Court (1937) and Shinwell Bros building (n.d.) in Johannesburg and the Hume Pipe Co offices in Germiston (1947).

We have his date of death as 1968 but he is still listed in the 1969 ISAA register.

ISAA 1927; FRIBA 1948. (FRIBA nom papers (1948); ISAA mem list)

Publ: Provision of permanent headquarters with club facilities and refreshment rooms, SAAR Dec 1928:133-5

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

Aircraft Operating Co of Africa Building (Aircraft House): 1936. Selby, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Atkinson-Oates Motors Ltd, car assembly works: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Bldg: 1931. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Bonaccord House: 1930. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Cavendish Chambers, ext alt: 1932. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Chrysler House - Atkinson House: 1938. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Design Architect
Croydon Mansions: 1933. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
EH O'Brien, alterations and additions: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
House CC Champion: 1930. Saxonwold, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
House EC McKecnie: 1935. Melrose, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
House EN de Kok: 1934. Parkview, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
House HV Moon: 1935. Germiston, Gauteng - Architect
House JF Fergusson & Co: 1931. Parkwood, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
House L Mandelstam: 1933. Saxonwold, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
House PD Amm: 1930. Houghton Ext, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Hume Pipe Co Offices: 1947. Germiston, Gauteng - Design Architect
Imperial Hotel: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Main House: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Manhattan Court: 1937. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Design Architect
Old Edwardian Society Club House: 1930. Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Parkview Golf Club House, alt, add: 1931. Parkview, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Shinwell Bros bldg: 1937. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Design Architect
Sydney Carter Garage: 1935. Selby, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect
Warehouse for Consolidated City Props: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Books citing NURCOMBE

Herbert, Gilbert. 1975. Martienssen & the international style: The modern movement in South African architecture. Cape Town - Rotterdam: AA Balkema. pp 29

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, 222

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 98, 182

ISAA. 1927. Register of Members the Institute of South African Architects. Johannesburg: ISAA (Unpublished Record). pp N11