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Rand Water Board Building
Johannesburg, Gauteng
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Click to view large map Coordinates: | "Gordon Leith's work at the Rand Water Board (1939) building in Fraser Street was able to surmount the contradictory forces operating within his architectural consciousness and convert these disparate elements into a cohesive statement out-side the particularism of the new classicism. Polished red granite blocks with splay-cut arrises and deep joints, arched windows with water griffin keystones, a black granite plinth with bulging consoles and equally bulging wrought-iron grilles beaten into curvilinear shapes; a beautifully modulated facebrick super-structure with bull-nosed ends to receive the window surrounds, the overall dignity and human scale: these are the elements that bring together the Italian Renaissance, the modernising classicism Leith acquired from his pre-war tour, the clean Swedish forms and optimism. Leith himself was critical of this building but I [CHIPKIN] regard it as a major statement of street architecture, unsurpassed in the Johannesburg townscape."(Chipkin 1993:138). EVOLUTION OF A PLAN
A Description of the Plan, Development and Final Design of the New Rand Water Board Offices to be erected in Johannesburg. In the near future construction is to begin in Johannesburg on a new office block for the Rand Water Board. The building will be erected at a cost of approximately £90,000, and will rank among the most imposing structures in Johannesburg. The architects were Messrs. Gordon Leith & Partners. One of the most interesting aspects of the design of this building was the number of evolutionary stages through which the plan had to be passed before a final conception satisfactory to all was attained. [Editor’s note: The text related to the plan development is omitted. For those interested the journal can be located here].In the re-arrangement shown in figure 4, which is the plan to which the building will now be erected, the position of the lift was changed. By placing the entrance lift at the side of the entrance lobby, a much more spacious and attractive entrance is provided, the improvement to the Board Room approach being particularly apparent. It will be readily seen that the accommodation provided is much more generous under this scheme, and all parts of the building are very well lit and ventilated. The Board Room is air-conditioned, and illuminated by a large top light, the space above forming a central courtyard round which the offices are grouped.In evolving this plan it was agreed that the buying and expenditure departments should be accommodated in one large room. This enabled balance to be obtained between these departments and the accountants' department, and resulted in a convenient disposition of the strong room in relation to the latter. The platforms indicated in rooms numbered 8 and 10-11 result from the necessity for raising the floor at these points to allow sufficient head room for the entrance to the basement. They cannot be considered inconvenient as they will accommodate the chief clerk of each department, giving him a point of vantage in the control of his department. Description of Building The building is to be situated in Fraser Street. The main elevation faces east, and is flanked by tall buildings on its north and south boundaries. The back of the building faces west, and communicates with a 6-ft. [1,8m] right of way giving access to President Street. The style in which the building has been designed may be termed Neo-Classic, its effectiveness being dependant on good materials, proportion and great restraint. It is intended that only the most durable materials, and only the most attractive of their respective kinds, will be used in the construction as well as in the finishings of the building. In all cases the application of the finishes will be carried out in the simplest and most economical way. Externally, the walls from ground to first-floor level are to be faced in Brits granite. The walls above are to be faced with specially selected facing bricks, the surrounds to window openings, copings, etc., being executed in Brits granite as before. All windows will be of bronze, glazed with 3/16" [7,5mm] glass. The grilles to the ground-floor windows, main entrance and garage are to be carried out in wrought iron to a gay design as a relief to the otherwise rather severe elevation. On entering the building from Fraser Street, one will be confronted by a pair of hand-made wrought-iron grilles, which, with very little effort, can be made to slide into the granite-lined walls on either side of the vestibule ; and in this position they will remain concealed during business hours. Beyond the grille a flight of granite steps leads to a pair of bronze-lined swing doors, which give access to the main entrance hall of the building. The floors and walls of this moderately spacious hall are to be lined with a selected variety of South African marble. Five marble steps lead off the hall to right and left, giving access to the lobbies communicating with the Accounts and Buyers' and Expenditure offices respectively; these in turn communicate with their respective strong-rooms, record rooms, stationery stores, Auditor's rooms and lavatories. The west end of the entrance hall terminates with a large double-glazed window in variegated glass. This window, incidentally, also serves as a background to the Chairman's table in the Board Room. It is hoped that this window will form an attractive feature of the design by reason of the subdued light coming from the ceiling of the Board Room. On the right-hand side of the entrance hall are situated the entrance to the lift and the approach to the main staircase. On the left-hand side the entrance to the Board members' cloak-room communicates with the Board Room. Beyond the Board Room a Committee room capable of seating 12 to 15 persons has been provided. In addition, Board members are provided with a small private lavatory, which leads off the first landing of the main stair, and is thus carefully concealed while being easily accessible. The Board Room occupies a position in the centre of the building and will be entirely top-lit and air-conditioned. The shape and area of the Board Room afford a central courtyard above, lighting and ventilating the rooms surrounding it as well as forming a pleasant architectural feature of the design. Two further light areas are required to admit light and air to the interior of the building. Accommodation First Floor:- Entrance lobbies on this, and all floors above, are very considerably reduced compared with those on the ground floor. The first floor accommodates the secretary and his staff, lavatory accommodation , etc., being provided. Second Floor:- The second-floor accommodation is for the Chief Engineer and his staff. A generous-sized recreation room for the staff has been provided on this floor, together with lavatory accommodation, etc. Third Floor:- This floor has been devoted to the drawing offices, survey offices, etc., and is also provided with lavatory accommodation. Fourth Floor:- A flat for the caretaker has been provided and also accommodation for such Natives as will be obliged to remain on the building site. The floor will also contain the lift-room. All water tanks will be concealed from view. Basement:- The lift and stairs serve the basement lobby, communicating with the garage on one hand, with a fire door and a suite of record rooms on the other. The garage will be lit by glass sets forming the floor of the north and south areas. Materials to be Used in Construction: The following are the materials which it is intended to use in the construction and finish of the building:- GRANITE FACINGS: Walls from ground level to first floor sill; courses are to be faced in Brits granite. WALL SURFACES: Walls from first-floor sill cornice are to be faced with specially selected facing bricks; facings to window surrounds and copings are to be in Brits granite, fine-punched to sample.
WINDOWS: All windows except in lavatories and caretaker's quarters are to be in bronze to
detail.
VESTIBULE: Walls flanking entrance vestibule and ceiling to same to be lined with Brits granite, fine-axed or polished, as required. STAIRS: Stair treads and wall linings of main stair from ground to first floor only will be in white marble, with bronze handrail.
BOARD ROOM: The walls of the Board Room are to be panelled in selected, matched and figured sycamore, the furniture being of dark polished walnut. FLOOR: General Construction. All concrete floors are to be of trough or coffered beam construction.
WALLS: Plastering generally.- Internal walls and ceilings are generally to be plastered in cement and skimmed with "Hardwall " finish, and enamelled to approved tints. LOBBY FINISHES: Wails of lobbies, corridors and main staircase above first-floor level are to be faced with Kirkness special 3" [75mm] x 2" [50mm] x 9" [230mm] blue bricks bedded in dark mortar to a height of 7 ft. [2,1m] .
SKIRTINGS AND REVEALS: Skirtings, floor margins, and door reveals in corridors are to be lined with 1/4" [6mm] marble of a colour to harmonise with the brickwork. PANELLING: In addition to the Board Room, it is proposed to panel the walls of the Committee Room, the Chairman's room, the Chief Engineer's office and the Secretary's office. CONCEALED LIGHTING: Concealed electric lighting will be provided in the Board Room entrance lobbies and Committee Room. AIR-CONDITIONING: A small air-conditioning plant is to be provided for ventilating the Board Room and record rooms in the basement. All other parts of the building will be adequately ventilated by natural means. MARBLE REVEALS: Doors and windows to ground, first, second and third floors throughout the building are to have 1+1/4" [30mm] polished marble reveals and sills. LAVATORIES: All lavatories are to be served by Sloane or approved silent flush valve systems. The walls are to be tiled to a height of 7 ft. [2,1m] and the floors are to be in terrazzo. CENTRAL COURT: The main segmental courtyard is to be faced with bricks similar to, but lighter than, those specified for external facings, and surrounds to windows are to be executed in Ficksburg stone. LIGHT AREAS: The light areas north and south of the Board Room are to be plastered in white cement, as also are the areas to the west of the building. LIFT: The lift is to be automatic with self-operating sliding doors, cage and doors being finished in bronze.
ENTRANCE HALL: Entrance hall floor is to be in comblanchien unpolished or other approved
white marble, with black sets and margins.
VENETIAN SHUTTERS: As the morning sun will penetrate the east windows and the afternoon sun the west windows, it is proposed to provide removable and adjustable Venetian shutters to the east and west windows of all offices. It is intended that these shall be introduced as a permanent feature and combined with curtains, valences, etc., in order to prove an attractive feature of design rather than as an afterthought. (SAB Dec 1925:17; SAAR Mar 1927:10-11; UWA: R11; PWSA Feb 1940:13-17) 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. References:
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