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KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture
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Now called SAIA-KZN
It is a regional branch of the South African Institute of Architects.
The Institute in KwaZulu-Natal dates its founding to 1st September 1901 when a group of 15 architects met and resolved that an architectural association be formed consisting of ‘’gentlemen’’ practising as architects’’under a government licence’’ in the Colony of Natal. The meeting concluded with a decision on the name, the Natal Institute of Architects (NIA). Of the founding members was WE ROBARTS, the Institute's first president. On 23 May 1902 of the following year was incorporated by Act of Parliament (Natal), No. 10 of 1902.
With the statutory creation of the Institute of South African Architects (ISAA) as a regulatory body and the powers given through the Architects' and Quantity Surveyors' Act No 18 0f 1927 it was effectively assimilated and given statutory powers for the registration and management of the affairs of the architects of the Natal Province, while retaining its name, the Natal Provincial Institute of Architects.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Institiute in 1951, Alan WOODROW, president at the time and heraldic artist, designed the presidential chain and seal [see figure]. In 1963 the Institute adopted its coat of arms with the motto: alliis navantes operam (to be of service to others).
While there was the subsequent passage of the public Architects’ Act (No. 35 of 1970), the title NPIA remained until 1991 when an amendment of the national Institute’s constitution saw the provincial Institutes become autonomous regions, with Natal reverting to its original title Natal Institute of Architects.
With the regional Institutes about to become ‘voluntary associations’, in 1994 NIA elected to broaden its membership with the inclusion of Professional Architectural Technologists. To accept the new name of the Province as well as give substance to the resolution, the title changed to the KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture (KZNIA).
Although the passage of the Architectural Profession Act (No. 43 of 2000) did not affect the constitutionality of KZNIA, the reconstitution of the national institute in 2015 to the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA), and the re-grouping of the 11 regional institutes into a unified body of SAIA saw KZNIA restyled as SAIA-KZN in 2016.
Various SAIA-KZN Presidents have served consecutive two-year terms, but Rodney HARBER holds the record, 1994-98; and 13 have gone on to serve as national Presidents, most recently Trish EMMETT (2004-06), Kevin BINGHAM (2017-18), and Ruben REDDY (2021-22). Also, 3 members are recipients of SAIA Gold Medal for Architecture and 3 of SAIA Gold Medal of Distinction.
SAIA-KZN distinguishes itself from other regional institutes in various ways. As of 1993 SAIA-KZN has its own premises, an Edwardian villa on the edge of Bulwer Park, the result of the formation of a holding company. These premises it restored, and it was soon joined by its neighbour, the KZNSA Gallery, in its competition-winning building, which created the basis for a cultural focus in Glenwood suburb.
SAIA-KZN is particularly fortunate to have had its own Journal since 1976. Thanks to Corobrik, the historical brick manufacturer of Durban, frequency during the 1980s and 1990s was quarterly, and tri-annual until 2022, but now occasional with other sponsors joining.
Besides awards for buildings, in which, again, SAIA-KZN differs with Special Mentions rather than Commendations, it also confers personal awards known as Scrolls of Honour. These began in 1959, when it was realised that there are other ways of promoting architecture and its practice in KZN, and these are conferred on eligible candidates both architects and others who over a long period of time have had a sustained impact.
[Prof Em Walter PETERS written for the centenary, checked by the SAIA-KZN secretary Sylvia Grobler. Kevin BINGHAM has checked the more recent facts (Tuesday, 18 November 2025)].
References
HURST, G. 1945. History of the Natal Provincial Institute of Architects. Durban. Self-published.
KZ-NIA @ 100: People. 2001. Journal of the KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture. Issue 1.
Link to their website.
Past Presidents
[List from ISAA 1969:178 augmented from Journal of the KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture Issue 1].
1902-1903: ROBARTS, WE
1904: FYFE, A
1905-1913: METHVEN, CW
1914: ANDERSON, JD
1915-1916: PATON, JW
1917-1918: ING, FJ
1919: PAYNE, WS
1920-1921: BARTHOLOMEW, BV
1922: HURST, GT
1923: ING, FJ
1924: PAYNE, WS
1925: CHICK, HE
1926: JACKSON, RN
1927: PATON, JW
1928: POWERS, EM
1929: OXLEY, WB
1930: HURST, GT
1931: PAYNE, WS
1932: CHICK, HE
1933: PATON, JW
1934: LE SUEUR, GE
1935: POWERS, EM
1936: TAYLOR, CSM
1937: BARTHOLOMEW, BV
1937-1938: BARTHOLOMEW, BV
1939: McDONALD
1940-1941: PAYNE, WS
1942-1943: POWERS, FW
1944: BARTHOLOMEW, BV
1945-1947: TOMKIN, SN
1948: LAMBERT,LC
1949: TOMKIN, SN
1950-1951: WOODROW, A
1952: BENNETT, RCC
1953-1954: GOW, KE
1955-1956: SIMPSON, JC
1956-1957: SIMPSON
1957-1958: FRIDJHON, CR
1959-1960: BENNETT, RCC
1960-1961: WOODROW, ACC
1961-1962: HUDSON BENNETT E
1962-1963: HUDSON BENNETT E
1963-1964: POOLE, MMF
1964-1965: POOLE
1965-1966: BENNETT, RCC
1966-1967: GOW, KE
1967-1968: GOW, KE
1968-1969: FRIDJHON, CR
1969-1970: FRIDJHON, CR
1970-1971: ADKIN, AB
1971-1972: ADKIN, AB
1972-1973: O'BEIRNE
1973-1974: O'BEIRNE
1974-1975: HALLEN, HH
1975-1976: HALLEN, HH
1976-1977: JACKSON, MA
1977-1978: JACKSON, MA
1978-1979: SMALL, GR
1979-1980: SMALL, GR
1980-1981: TAYLOR, DM
1981-1982: TAYLOR, DM
1982-1983: TOLLMAN, E
1983-1984: TOLLMAN, E
1984-1985: SHERLOCK, D
1986-1987: DIBB, M
1988-1989: FROST, JA
1990-1991: JOHNSON, BC
1992-1993: GIBSON, PA
1994-1995: HARBER, RR
1996: HARBER, RR
1997-1998: HARBER, RR
1999-2000: EMMETT, PM
2001-2002: EMMETT, PM
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