Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Magistrates' Court and Government Offices Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal MOFFAT and HIRST: Architect

Date: 1936 Type: Magistrate's Court Status: Extant   Click to view map Coordinates: 29°36'03.29" S 30°22'40.13" E Alt: 649m

In August, 1934, the results of the competition for the new Government Offices and Magistrates' Courts at Pietermaritzburg were announced. The design submitted by Messrs. Moffat & Hirst was placed first. The following is an extract from the report of the Assessor, Mr. J. S. CLELAND, at that time Secretary for Public Works: "The first design, No. 18, provides for a generally satisfactory and convenient arrangement on broad simple lines. The entrances and concourses are sensibly arranged for the convenience of the public, solicitors and staff, and there is clear and convenient access to all parts of the building. "The arrangement for Natives and prisoners with access to the courts is good. Generally, the placing of the offices is sound, but there are many matters of detail in arrangement which require more consideration with this scheme, as with all the schemes. The architectural treatment is simple and good and the proposals for construction and material generally suitable. The lighting and ventilation throughout is good. "The estimated cost is not unreasonable.” Thus having deservedly won this important competition, the architects, having solved the main plan of the scheme, set about working out the many details still to be decided upon, and preparing the working drawings and specifications. In March, 1936, the bills of quantities, prepared by Messrs. Sinclair & Walters, went to tender, the lowest tender being £43,560 [R87 120]. On 13th July, 1936, building operations were commenced, and at the end of 1938 the building was completed and occupied by various Government Departments. The completed cost of the building contract was £45,500, [R90 000] the whole scheme, including heating, lighting and ventilation, etc., costing £66,500 [R133 000]. Construction Details The building has its two main facades on to Commercial Road and Pietermaritz Street. It is of multi-coloured faced bricks on a base of stonework, with stone dressings and stone surrounds to the main entrances, and is relieved at intervals with symbolic carved stone panels. The ground floor is occupied by the Criminal Courts, various Court and Government offices, including the offices of the Native Affairs Department and the Revenue Department, and a large public concourse, giving access to the public space of the Criminal Courts. The prisoners' concourse is situated on this floor, opening off the prison van driveway, and flanked by the various cells. Direct access from this concourse to the prisoners' docks is given by means of a basement corridor. This whole floor is provided with adequate lavatory accommodation. On the first floor are situated the two Civil Courts, with all their necessary adjuncts, while provision has been made for another two at a later date. The Department of Mines, the local Forestry and Dairying Sections of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Department of Justice are all housed on this floor. A museum and a laboratory are part of the Department of Mines' accommodation. In addition to the usual lavatory accommodation, a comfortable ladies' rest room and lavatory is supplied on this floor. Corridors, entrances and public concourses have dadoes of face-brick, with lino or quarry tiles floors. The floors of the offices and court-rooms are of wood-block. The court-rooms are treated with acoustic spray, and are heated and air-conditioned. This new, spacious and pleasing building is not only an asset to the city, but also a credit to the architects responsible for its design and the builders entrusted with its erection. (PWSA December 1939 Vol III No 14:21.) (SAB Apr 1934:115; SAB May 1936:55, tend; PWSA Dec 1939:20-1). All truncated references not fully cited below are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon.