COWIN, POWERS and ELLIS

Architect

This partnership existed from about 1921 between NT COWIN, EM POWERS and TG ELLIS. Ellis was in charge of the Pretoria office while Cowin and Powers were in charge of the Johannesburg office. In 1923 they won the competition for the Synodical Hall in Cape Town and in the same year they were placed second to EMLEY & WILLIAMSON in a competition for the Chemistry and Physics Block for the University of the Witwatersrand. They were appointed joint architects with Emley & Williamson for the building. The partners opened an office was opened in Durban in 1925 with AF LAWRIE in charge. Lawrie returned to Pretoria in 1926 and Powers went to live in Durban and took over this office. In the same year the firm submitted an unsuccessful entry in the competition for Pretoria Town Hall.

The firm was responsible for a large number of buildings in the Transvaal among which were some picturesque buildings such as the Cuthbert's building in Andries Street, Pretoria (c1930). The partners were successful in the competition for the Roodepoort-Maraisburg hospital in 1930 and won the competition for the Edward Vlll hospital for non-Europeans [sic] at Congella, Durban in 1932. They were placed third in the competition for the Benoni Town Hall in 1934. The partnership was dissolved in November 1935 when Powers set up practice with his sons in Durban (cf POWERS & POWERS). COWIN & ELLIS continued to practice in the Transvaal, a partnership which included Cowin's two sons, John Norris COWIN and Douglas COWIN.

(AB&E Oct 1926:19; Benjamin 1979; Cumming-George 1933; SA Academy exhib cat 1923-1940; SAAR Jun 1926:35-7; SAAR Sep 1927:58, 72-3; SAAR Jun 1929:46-7; SAAR Dec 1935:376; SAB Feb 1925:43; SAB Jun 1925:47)

Submitted an entry for the Competition for the new Prime Minister's Residence - unplaced.

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

Abattoirs: 1923. Kroonstad, Free State - Architect

Afrikaans Medium School: 1931. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Allen Liversidge Industrial Gases Ltd: 1928. Congella, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

Barclays Bank: 1938. Balfour, Mpumalanga - Architect

Barclays Bank: 1937. Germiston, Gauteng - Architect

Barclays Bank: 1932. Nigel, Gauteng - Architect

Beach Hotel, add, Marine Parade for SA Breweries: 1931. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

Block of boarding rooms: 1931. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Boksburg Benoni Hospital: 1934. Boksburg, Gauteng - Architect

Bourke Trust Building: 1923?. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Broadcasting studios for Afr Broadcasting Co: 1934?. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

Brook House: 1925. Brooklyn, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Buckingham Court: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Burlington Chambers: 1934. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Chester House: 1935. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

Christian Brothers' College, residence for the teaching brothers: c1929. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Church of Christ Scientist - Second: 1927. Kensington, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Colonial Mutual Life Building: 1923 : 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect 1934

Court Chambers: c1924. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Crittall-Hope Factory: 1935. Industria, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Cuthbert's Bldg: 1931. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Darragh House: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Duncan Bayne Factory: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Far East Rand Hospital: 1927 : 1934. Springs, Gauteng - Architect

Fire Station (no address): 1925. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Flats at Crown Rd, project: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Flats for Afr & European Investment Co: 1934. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Flats for CAO Duggan: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Flats for H Taylor: 1925. Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Flats, Mayfair for Utility Housing Co: 1934. Mayfair, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Flats, Pritchard St, nr Troye St: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Hack's Garage: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Holland House: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Hospital: 1934. Krugersdorp, Gauteng - Architect

Hospital ext: 1935. Emalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga - Architect

Hospital ext: 1934. Germiston, Gauteng - Architect

House: 1929. Mountain View, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House Cameron: 1934. Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House CB Mallock: 1925. Dunkeld, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House CJ Mowat: 1928. Morningside, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

House Coburn Hyman: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House D Jack: 1928. Manors, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

House D Wessels (now res West German Ambassador): n.d.. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

House Dr BG Melle: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House Dr C Brownlee: 1931. uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

House Dr HJ Besselaar: n.d.. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

House Dr Van der Bijl: 1931. Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House E Barnett, stand 198: 1933. Oaklands, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House EJW Henderson: 1923. Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House Everard: 1929?. Waterkloof, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

House EW Sugden: 1923. Arcadia, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

House H Rippon: 1928. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

House HB/JD - Waite: 1934. Saxonwold, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House HD Grant Mackenzie: n.d.. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

House HN Everard: n.d.. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

House JA Bromley: 1930. Durban North, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

House K Ray: 1930?. Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House Kalt: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House M Kottler: 1935. Parkview, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House ML Jones: 1923. Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House NPE Everitt: 1931. Durban North, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

House PA Anderson: 1934. Westville, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

House PA Milstein: 1933. Nigel, Gauteng - Architect

House Pryce Lewis: 1930. Morningside, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

House R Meyers: Thelton: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House Rossack: 1934. Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House Silverthorne: 1925. Kensington, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

House WA Curry: 1928. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

House WN Holden: 1927. Muckleneuk Ridge, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

House Woolfson: 1931. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

Irene Church nursery: 1925. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

King Edward VIII Hospital - Victoria Mxenge Hospital: 1932 : 1939. Congella, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect 1932

Land and Agricultural Bank of SA: 1926 : 1932. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect 1926

Les Mansions: c1932. Sunnyside, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

MacKay Invest Trust Building: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Mackay Mansions: 1930?. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Majestic Mansions: c1928. Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Metro Goldwyn Meyer Theatre: 1932. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Metro Theatre: 1932. Central, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Project Architect

Milner Park, sports pavilion: 1924. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Mission Churches for CPSA: Lady Selborne: c1932. Atteridgeville, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Molfort Mansions: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Municipal Offices: 1932. Rustenburg, North West - Architect

Natal Co-op Egg Circle: 1930. Congella, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

National Bank: 1927. Heidelberg, Gauteng - Architect

National Bank & Manager's House: 1932. Nigel, Gauteng - Architect

National Bank of SA bldg: 1921. Polokwane (Pietersburg), Limpopo - Architect

North British & Mercantile Ins Co: 1927. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Ons Eerste Volksbank: 1930. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Oxford House for TW Griggs & Co: 1934. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

Park Lane Nursing Home: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Parktown Boys' High, caretaker's quarters: 1931. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Patlansky Bros and Patley: Chester House: 1935. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

Patlansky Bros and Patley: Chester House: 1926. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Paul Kruger Memorial Hospital: 1928 : 1931. Rustenburg, North West - Architect

Playhouse: 1927. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Project Architect

Pretoria Bowling Club House: 1930. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Pretoria News printing works and offices: 1923. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Prudential Assurance Building: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Rennette Mansions: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Roodepoort-Maraisburg Hospital: 1930?. Roodepoort, Gauteng - Architect

Rossack House: 1934. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

SA Party Club: 1923. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

SA Scale Co bldg: 1930. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

SA Scale Co bldg: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

School: 1931?. Parkview, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Shops/flats: 1927. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Six shops: 1925. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Somerset House, Vermeulen St (attrib): c1932. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Southern Life Building: 1923. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

St Paul's Church of England: c1932. Central, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

St Wilfred's Church, sanctuary, chapel, and half the nave: c1932. Hillcrest, Potchefstroom, North West - Architect

Standard Bank: 1932. Barberton, Mpumalanga - Architect

Standard Bank: n.d.. Carolina, Mpumalanga - Architect

Standard Bank: n.d.. Emalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga - Architect

Standard Bank: n.d.. Lichtenburg, North West - Architect

Standard Bank: n.d.. Mbombela (Nelspruit), Mpumalanga - Architect

Standard Bank: n.d.. Middelburg, Mpumalanga - Architect

Synodical Hall & church offices: 1923. Cape Town, Western Cape - Architect

TB Clinic or Clinic for Diseases of the Chest: 1923. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Town Hall: 1923. Ventersdorp, North West - Architect

Transvaal Memorial Hospital for Children: 1923. Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

United Building Society: 1930. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

United Building Society, additions: 1934?. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

United Tobacco, manager's house and single quarters: 1925. Brits, North West - Architect

University of Pretoria, Drama Building: 1928. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

University of the Witwatersrand, Central Block - Robert Sobukwe Block: 1920. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

University of the Witwatersrand, Chemistry and Physics block: 1924. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

University of the Witwatersrand, Main Block - Great Hall: 1920-1925 : 1937-1940. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

University of the Witwatersrand, William Cullen Library: 1933. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Ursuline Convent: 1928. Krugersdorp, Gauteng - Architect

Van Riebeek Medical Bldg: 1935. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Vereeniging Hospital - Kopanong Provincial Hospital: 1932. Vereeniging, Gauteng - Architect

Volksbank: 1930 : 1941 : 1947. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Wesleyan Memorial Hall: 1930. Sunnyside, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Wilton Mansions: 1935. Primrose Terrace, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

WR Boustred's Building: 1935. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Zieman's Bldg: 1927. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Books citing COWIN, POWERS and ELLIS

Chipkin, Clive M. 1993. Johannesburg Style - Architecture & Society 1880s - 1960s. Cape Town: David Phillip. pp 67, 185, 186

Cumming-George, L. 1933. Architecture in South Africa - Volume One. Cape Town: The Speciality Press of S.A. Ltd.. pp 40-41, 55-56

van der Waal, Gerhard-Mark. 1987. From Mining Camp to Metropolis - The buildings of Johannesburg 1886-1940. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council. pp 185, 186, 199, 208, 212, 231