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Jansenhuis - House Jansen - Palmside Central Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng

Date: 1888 : 2008 Client: Houselightner Type: Homestead Style: Eclecticism : Victorian Status: Extant Street: 214 Struben Street   Click to view large map Coordinates: 25°44'29.91" S 28°11'18.38" E Alt: 1319m

Jansen House, complete with stables and outbuildings, is a typical example of a Victorian homestead dating from the second half of the 19th century and is situated in central Pretoria. Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, son of the Boer leader Andries Pretorius, was the first owner of the property (dated 1860). The main house was completed in August 1888 by a Mr Houselightner of Hennops River. It is typical of late C19 eclecticism, with a collection of elements and roof features, relating it to its contempory Pretoria dwelling, Melrose House, and may well be by the hand of the same architect, WT VALE. The state acquired the property in 1963 and initially used it as offices. In 1973, Jansen House was converted into a display area for the National Cultural, Historical and Open Air Museum [now the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History]- African Window]. Antiques and art from the E.G. Jansen Collection were on display. In 2009, the Department of Basic Education moved into a new building that flanked Jansen House to the east and north. The new development took into account the historic value of Jansen House with its outbuildings and proceeded to restore and refurbish Jansen House as a boardroom and events space for the Department. HPA was appointed in 2008 to oversee the restoration and refurbishment of Jansen House, along with A.J. Renovatum as the specialist restoration contractors. This project was completed on a shoestring budget of R500,000.00. (HPA Architects and Heritage Architects).