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Urban Action Group (UAG)
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Urban Action Group (UAG) had been formed in 1967 by a few past students of the Wits School of Architecture, the so-called SA resident Pennsylvania School, notably G J GALLAGHER, W O MEYER and I SCHLAPOBERSKY, with the object of:
- encouraging the sound development of cities in South Africa both in their growth and in their renewal;
- conferring with the Institute of South African Architects and also with the central and provincial governments and local authorities in this country on matters of urban development and renewal;
- conserving buildings and landscapes of aesthetic and historical significance
- gathering and dissemination of information by means of lectures, seminars and papers etc. in support of these objectives.
The UAG comprised of young, lively architects, aimed at making an impact on the architecture and development of Johannesburg, both by monitoring decisions made and buildings built and by putting forward propositions.
Of the grouping CHIPKIN (1993:318) writes:
The members of this postgraduate group returned from the United States with an unparalleled work ethic. One commentator has described their 'insistence on quality regardless of cost to the practice'.
Many in this loosely constituted group also returned with a fervour 'to make a grand statement', and several had picked up what has been called KAHN's 'obfuscating rhetoric'. ...
These architects formed the small, select Urban Action Group, co-opting sympathetic colleagues ... . The core membership constituted a new Transvaal Group for the 1960s, but they lacked a crucial element: they did not possess a Rex MARTIENSSEN or a Can Themba, nor did they produce a body of theoretical writings, although Credo was a brave substitute.
Notable amongst its members were
B J BRITZ,
S J BUFFLER,
C D BURDE,
B S COOKE,
C J COOKE,
H O FRANGS,
G J GALLAGHER,
D JACK,
P JONES,
A N LANGE,
R LEVITAN,
C M A LIBER,
W O MEYER,
F H PIENAAR,
P M POPLAK,
I C PRINSLOO,
S RATHOUSE,
R V RIPPON,
H J SCHIRMACHER,
I SCHLAPOBERSKY,
B SPOONER,
C STRETTON,
B VLOOTHUIS,
D WALDMAN
From these emerged the Urban Action Teaching Group.
[extracted and edited from BRYER – University of the Witwatersrand School of Architecture]
[See also Kahn School, Credo (periodical / broadsheet)].
Books linked to this entry
| Chipkin, Clive M. 1993. Johannesburg Style - Architecture & Society 1880s - 1960s. Cape Town: David Phillip pp 318 |