Mark & Gideon
It is ironic or perhaps appropriate, that the Union Buildings formed the backdrop to the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994. The architect, Sir Herbert Baker, would have argued that permanent place-making is a more powerful force than passing political opinion.
Although he belonged to an imperial culture, his fondness for the South African landscape was born out in his work, particularly in the use of local stone. Cape Town’s Rhodes Memorial and a series of homes in Johannesburg demonstrate his belief that an important building should be anchored to its site. Baker’s fascination with the interplay of stone, nature, and symbolism of place is exemplified by the Union Buildings.
In what is called English monumental style, the Union Buildings are Classical, with Renaissance details such as the two 180-foot-high (55m) campanile-like towers and low-slung tiles roofs. Sir Herbert also designed South Africa House in London’s Trafalgar Square, and is famous for his substantial remodelling of the Bank of England.
