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Green Valley Constantia, Western Cape Leonard William Thornton WHITE: Architect

Date: 1938 Client: Self Type: Homestead Status: Unknown

Thornton-White's own house 'Green Valley', was the venue for many student parties and demonstrated the application of his humane, low-key, pragmatic theory of architecture. The massing of the building shows an undogmatic approach to form: 'the structure is composite, because the high comfort standards could not be achieved positively by the adoption of one type of construction'. In the interiors he observed Lewis Mumford's dictum on the primacy of the person: the emphasis is on easy circulation, harmonious tone-colour-texture relationships, a life-enhancing environment without histrionics: 'the pale and deep maroons of the ceilings, walls and curtains, in contrast to the pale-blue surface and the grey-blue chairs, complete a colour composition in deliberate discord with the strong browns and greens of the landscape'. (B E Biermann in UIA, 1985: 60) Reviewed in the South African Architectural Record (Dec 1943: 301-4). Mentioned by Herbert (1975: 229) as a noteworthy modern building in Cape Town. 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. Books that reference Green Valley Beck, Haig (Editor). 1985. UIA International Architect : Southern Africa (Issue 8). London: International Architect. pg 60 Herbert, Gilbert. 1975. Martienssen & the international style: The modern movement in South African architecture. Cape Town - Rotterdam: AA Balkema. pg 229 ill