FRIBA 1948
Was born in Johannesburg and educated at St Andrew's College, Grahamstown. He was the son of Hubert John Roberts, 'late Imperial Government auditor' (South African Who's Who 1931-32). He was articled to BAKER & KENDALL in Cape Town in 1914 and also studied on his own, attending the local Art School in Cape Town (probably the Michaelis). Later he attended classes in architecture organised by the Cape Institute of Architects. During his articles he enlisted and went on active service, serving with the 5th SA Infantry in German East Africa as a corporal. He completed his articles after the First World War and became a member of the Cape Institute of Architects in 1920. Roberts worked in the office of Baker & Kendall for a total of six years, two of which were taken up by war service. From about 1920 he was employed by FM GLENNIE as an Improver; he was later promoted to chief draughtsman in this office. He married in April 1925 and in 1926 entered practice on his own account in Cape Town. He was in partnership with LL SMALL (cf ROBERTS & SMALL) from 1929 until 1939 when this partnership was dissolved. Roberts continued in practice on his own account in Cape Town (cf HUBERT ROBERTS and PARTNERS); he was elected President of the Cape Provincial Institute of Architects in 1940 and was nominated a Fellow of the RIBA by the RIBA Council in 1948. By 1959 he is recorded as principal of ROBERTS, SCHOLTEN, LEE and DEKKER. By 1969 the partnership was styled ROBERTS, SCHOLTEN and LEE. He died at Fish Hoek in the Cape, his address at the time being 36 Hillside Rd, Fish Hoek.
The photograph of HL ROBERTS was sent to us by his granddaughter Dot Pierce-Jones.
(AB&E Feb 1926:21; FRIBA nom papers (1948) 4348; ISAA mem list; SA Archt Aug 1940:180 port; SAWW 1931-32)
Publ:The Cape Provincial Institute of Architects, SAAR Mar 1941:127-30
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
Austin Service Station: n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Beaumans Ltd: 1948. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Empire Steam Laundry: n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| House: pre-1940. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Inshore Fisheries Ltd: n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Kimberley House: n.d.. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Metal Box Co (Maythams Ltd): n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Metropolitan Methodist Hall: 1938. Cape Town, Western Cape - Design Architect
| Michelsen's: n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Milton Court: n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Nugget Polish Co: 1948. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Rector's Residence: 1942. Potchefstroom, North West - Architect
| SA Liberal Life Assurance Building: 1926. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Scottish Tube & Co of SA Head Office: 1939. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Seamen's Institute: n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Steenberg: c1740 : pre-1940. Tokai, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect reconstruction
| Sunshine Home for TB Children: 1940. Bellville, Western Cape - Architect
| Surfcrest Flats – Surfcrest Hotel: 1941-1942 : 1950. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect 1941
| Tiger Oats: n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Vereeniging Milling Co: n.d.. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Villa Capri flats: pre-1940. Mouille Point, Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
| Warehouse & Shop for Michelsen's Ltd: 1926. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect
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Books citing ROBERTS |