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Date: 1914 Type: Transformer Building Status: Extant Street: Voortrekker Street   Click to view map Coordinates: 28°46'12.71" S 20°37'01.60" E Alt: 661m

This 'Egyptian-style' transformer building was built in 1914 for the Labour Colony Commission of the N.G.K. by a Swiss artisan, A.B. Hangartner. Kakamas had been established as a labour colony for 'poor-whites' in about 1897. The design of this 'industrial' building was based on the proportion and form of the entrance pylons of an Egyptian Pylon temple; the principal characteristics of which are the 'batter' or inward inclination of the walls and the pair of pylons separated by a lower central portion forming the entrance. The 'batter' of the walls was re-interpreted in the transformer building with the use of inclined corner pilasters framing vertical walls between. The ‘pylons’ were formed with double storey wings on either side of the entrance. Each of the two side wings has a greater massing than the central portion creating the distinctive 'pylon temple' form of the building. The central portion accommodates the entrance lobby and a tightly planned, narrow stair up to first floor. The transformer building was constructed of plastered brick and was originally unpainted. The architectural detailing nevertheless suggests the use of reinforced concrete construction, with angle-iron surrounds to window reveals, splayed window reveals, champhered corners etc. The angle-iron window frames were glazed with fixed panes of cast Georgian wired glass. All of the doors in the building were originally roller shutter doors made by F. Gauger & Co, Zurich. The word "Kakamas" is spelt out above the entrance door (from right to left) in raised metal letters, using middle Phoenician script (an alphabet that is datable to 500 – 300 B.C.) The date of construction is also recorded below the small circular ventilator - using the Roman Alphabet and Numerals - namely ANNO DOM MCMXIV. The Transformer Building was declared a National Monument in the Government Gazette of 20 May 1988. The Kakamas Municipality acquired the building for use as the Kakamas Museum. None of the original transformers survive intact. [William MARTINSON, October 2010] _____________________________________________ Wording on National Monuments Council Plaque OU TRANSFORMATORGEBOU HIERDIE GEBOU HET ‘N BELANGRIKE ROL IN DIE ELEKTRIFISERING VAN KAKAMAS GESPEEL. DIT IS IN 1914 DEUR ‘N SWITSERSE VAKMAN, A B HANGARTNER, IN DIE VORM VAN ‘N EGIPTIESE TEMPEL OPGERIG. Geproklameer 1988 Proclaimed THIS BUILDING PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ELECTRIFICATION OF KAKAMAS. IT WAS BUILT IN 1914 BY A SWISS ARTISAN A B HANGARTNER IN THE FORM OF AN EGYPTIAN TEMPLE. Raad vir Nasionale Gedenkwaardighede National Monuments Council 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.