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The beginnings of BILD Architects can be traced back to 1904 and a small office in Church Square, Pretoria where Johannes Rienk BURG first opened the doors of what has become one of South Africa's leading Architectural firms. From the busy pre-war and lean years of World War 1, JR BURG saw the practice grow with the completion of the Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital, the Moederbond Maternity Hospitals. In 1935 James Stadler, (Jimmy) BURG (JR's Son) and Clement Scarr (Clem) LODGE established a practice in Springs. Apparently this was based on working in the morning and golfing in the afternoon! Soon however the clubs were packed away when Clem was called back to help the "Oubaas" in a thriving Pretoria office. With the amalgamation of the practices BURG, LODGE & BURG came into being. In 1940 with the closure of the Springs office Jimmy moved back to Pretoria to join JR BURG and Clem. During this period, the partnership was responsible for the design of many Art Deco buildings such as Impala House, Salisbury House and Hannah Court. With the practice flourishing in the late 40's and early 50's, Old man BURG left Jimmy at the helm when he retired in 1945. Continued expansion saw Anthony Carden (Tony) DOHERTY joining the firm in 1953 and becoming a full partner in 1960, with the resultant name change for the practice to – BURG, LODGE & DOHERTY. Tony's modernist influence in this period can be clearly seen in the Pretoria Art Museum, for which the practice won its first Institute of SA Architects' Merit Award. With John David Robertson (Dave) BRYANT joining the firm in 1956, and becoming a partner in 1967, the firm rapidly established itself as a force to be reckoned with within South African architecture. Under the banner of the revised practice name – BURG, DOHERTY, BRYANT AND PARTNERS – the Sutherland Observatory, Munitoria, CSIR Conference Centre and the National Accelerator Centre in the Cape were completed. This position of the practice has continued with the current fourth generation of partners (Directors) – Tiny GOUWS, Eddie PRETORIUS, Len VERDOORN and Des BRAND. Through this period and latest change of name of the practice to the current BILD Architects, this team has lead the practice. [Submitted by Ischia ORTNER] ____________________________ Press release 2015 03 04: BILD Architects turns 111 BILD Architects - previously known as Burg, Doherty, Bryant & Partners - is celebrating its 111th birthday this year on Wednesday the 4th of March 2015. The firm's history began on 4 March 1904 when the architect JR Burg established the practice's first office on Pretoria's Church Square. During its 111 year history, the firm has been privileged to have substantially shaped the cityscape of Pretoria through the design and construction of several prominent landmarks both in the city and throughout South Africa. In Pretoria, some of the more famous designs include the SA Reserve Bank Head Office, Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, Munitoria, the Pretoria Art Museum, the CSIR Campus and Conference Centre, the Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital and Moedersbond Maternity Hospital, the Koedoe Arcade (built in 1934 as the first modern arcade in Pretoria), and extensive parts of the Pretoria CBD constructed between 1920 and the 1960's. National highlights include the Palace of the Lost City, the Sutherland Observatory and National Accelerator Centre, the first centralised computer centre in South Africa in 1977 (for the then Rank Xerox), and several of the Kruger National Park bush camps. With some of the firm’s current client relationships stretching back over more than 50 years, BILD Architects have also been responsible for the regeneration of the city with redevelopments such as: Menlyn Retail Park, the SA Reserve Bank, the redevelopment of the General Post Office on Church Square, several buildings on the CSIR Campus, University of Pretoria Groenkloof Campus, The hotels at Sun City, and the WBHO Old Head Office as well as their new Head Office to name but a few. The firm is among an exclusive set of businesses in Pretoria that can celebrate a history stretching over more than a century, and the firm remains proud of a legacy of continuity, professionalism, and integrity that continues to be an advantage to its clients and their stakeholders to this day. The firm has seen the passing of two World Wars, two significant regime changes in South Africa, and severe economic recessions and shocks in the construction industry. Under the stewardship of its three current Directors - Eddie Pretorius, Des Brand, and Heeran Deonarain - it continues to evolve to face the challenges faced by the construction industry into the future. BILD Architects remain committed to the huge role that good architecture plays in shaping the future of South Africa and in developing and nurturing young professionals, and will steadfastly continue walking the path with its clients over the next century. 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
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