BArch Natal.
TIMELINE - RODNEY HARBER
| 1940 | | Born in Pietermaritzburg, to a second generation Colonial family During the war years he stayed in the Durban Bantu Women's Hostel
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| 1945 | | Father returns from war and decides to farm in East Griqualand
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| 1950 | | Std. 3 Merchiston Primary School, Pmb
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| 1954 | | Begins school at Maritzburg College
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| 1959 | | Starts architecture studies at University of Natal
First visits Maputaland and 'Portuguese East Africa'
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| 1961 | | Visits Lourenco Marques and meets Pancho GUEDES
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| 1963 | | 'Practical year'in London. Meets Duma Nokwe.
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| 1965 | | Graduates from University of Natal with Bachelor of Architecture
Starts work with HALLEN and DIBB
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| 1968 | | Completes Convent of St John The Divine, Wentworth
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| 1969 | | RODNEY HARBER: ARCHITECT established
Commences part-time lecturing at University of Natal
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| 1971 | | Appointed lecturer/'Studio Master' at University of Natal School of Architecture
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| 1974 | | Chair of Natal Branch of South African Institute of Race Relations
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| 1979 | | Appointed Chair of KZN Branch of SA Planning Institute (till 1982)
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| 1983 | | Founder member of Built Environment Support Group (BESG)
Traditional Hindu Temples in South Africa published with co-authors Paul MIKULA and Brian KEARNEY.
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| 1983 | | Promoted to Senior Lecturer
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| 1987 | | Awarded Master's degree in Urban & Regional Planning
Works for CORD in Maputaland
During the 1980s his architectural activities and community work in "townships" was closely monitored by the Apartheid security police
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| 1989 | | Called to London by ANC Cultural Desk - on Architecture and Education
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| 1992 | | Appointed Associate Professor of Architecture at University of Natal
Commenced work on St Philips Primary School, Ndumo, Maputaland
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| 1994 | | President NIA KZN which becomes KZNIA and is then elected 1st President (serves until 1998
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| 1995 | | Nthlungwane Community Centre (destroyed in the 1985 Race Riot) is restored and Mbazwane Resources Centre built
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| 1997 | | Designs Mansel Road Facility in Durban for Street Traders
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| 1998 | | Designs iPhiva Camp
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| 1998 | | Regeneration of Port St Johns - Presidential Lead Project (Nelson Mandela) Public facility at Mandini
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| 2000 | | Awarded South African Institute of Architects Medal of Distinction
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| 2000 | | "Bishops Guide to Building a Cathedral" - Glenthorne Cathedral, Kokstad
Restoration of Mahatma Gandhi's home Sarvodaya in Phoenix and Phoenix settlement Inanda. Opened by President Mbeki
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| 2001 | | Awarded KZNIA Award of Merit for Sewula Camp, Estcourt, KZN
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| 2004 | | Completed the restoration of Chief Albert Luthuli House in Groutville
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| 2005 | | Elected to Council of Africa Union of Architects (AUA)
International Union of Architects (UIA) Education Committee and UNESCO in Paris
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| 2008 | | UIA Vassillis Sgoutas Prize, Honourable Mention
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| 2011 | | "Il Magazine dell’Architettura" Harber named amongst 100 names that have an actual influence in the contemporary architectural world
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| 2011 | | Appointed Lead Consultant Architect Urban Design Town Planner - Premier's Pilot Project - Inkululeko Regeneration Programme Ndumo
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| 2013 | | Judge for the New Universities competition for the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in Kimberley and Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
Vice Chairman of Violence protection through Urban Design (VPUU) Khayelitsha
Open Architecture launched for which he was an original protagonist
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| 2014 | | Tribute exhibition at the Durban Art Gallery (DAG) for UIA DURBAN 2014 |
Ref: Exhibition text for Rodney Harber-Archetype architect exhibition curated by Carol Brown and Peter Engblom (UIA, Durban, 2014)
Click HERE to see a YouTube video of the exhibition
Submitted by William MARTINSON
Rodney Harber died in the early hours of Sunday morning February 18.
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Obituary
The death of Rodney Roy Harber in Durban on 17th February has left a chasm in the architectural community of KZN and stretching well beyond its borders. But the genius of this Baobab tree of a man together with his positivity, is sure to long survive him, especially by the many students he so powerfully affected.
Rod was a product of the 'Natal School', UKZN today, followed by the experience he gained in the legendary practice of HALLEN and DIBB.
In 1971 he opted for an academic career at his alma mater where his natural gift for communication and humour, as well as his caricature sketches, proved him to be an inspiring teacher, always sharing his own personal fascinations and curiosities with students.
Teaching and practice were but two sides of the same coin. People were Rod's priority and the focus on community projects, housing the marginalised, upgrading informal settlements, novel concepts for sacred architecture. Such alternative interests and others he would also suggest as topics for issues of the Journal of SAIA-KZN, which, typically, he would then guest edit.
Endowed with a multiplicity of skills, as a leader Rod served as President of KZNIA for an unprecedented five continuous years, 1994-98, during which time the Institute changed its name and emphasis from an institute of architects to an Institute for Architecture with the provision of affiliate membership. Rod served on heritage bodies and was involved in the arts, provincially and nationally, and regularly participated in architectural conferences internationally, where he earned the reputation as an enthralling and humorous speaker.
Rodney was more than a person – he was an institution, averred Julian Cooke, a mutual friend, who continued "A mixture of wonderful humour, integrity, perceptiveness, an un-matched knowledge of KZN and its history and peoples and architecture, substantial architectural ability, powerful social consciousness, willingness to take on the big professional issues and connections, and such a great, easy-going friend".
Respected and endeared by so many during his long and fulfilling life, Rodney now rests in peace. Our thoughts are particularly with his widow, Roz, and his five daughters and six grandchildren.
(Walter PETERS February 2024)
Submitted by William MARTINSON
Read a tribute to Rodney HARBER by Nina SAUNDERS in the SAIA-KZNIA Journal 2024-2025:16-17]. References Books by HARBER Mikula, P, Kearney, B & Harber, R. 1982. Traditional Hindu Temples in South Africa. Durban: Hindu Temple Publications
| Harber, Rodney . 2023. Shepstone at Half a Century. Durban: Digniti Publishers
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Entries in books by HARBER Harber, Rodney . Scully Hall : A personal experience. In Hans Hallen : Selected 1960s projects in Durban. 2020. Casa editrice Libra
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