Herbert Baker
Herbert Baker (1862-1946) left England for South Africa in 1892, ostensibly to visit his brother. In 1893 he was commissioned by Cecil John Rhodes to remodel Groote Schuur, Rhodes' house on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town.
Baker had the patronage of Lord Milner and was invited to the Transvaal to design and build residences for the British colonials. Baker undertook work in widespread parts of the country including Durban, Grahamstown, King William's Town, Kimberley, Kroonstad, Bloemfontein, George and Oudtshoorn, and even further afield in Salisbury Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) where he designed the Anglican Cathedral.
In 1902 Baker left his practice at the Cape in the hands of his partner and went to live in Johannesburg, where he built Stonehouse. Baker quickly became noted for his work, and was commissioned by a number of the wealthy gold mining magnates to design houses, particularly in the suburbs of Parktown and Westcliff. He also designed commercial premises and public buildings. The Honoured Dead Memorial in Kimberley is a lasting testament to Herbert Baker.
Baker had the patronage of Lord Milner and was invited to the Transvaal to design and build residences for the British colonials. Baker undertook work in widespread parts of the country including Durban, Grahamstown, King William's Town, Kimberley, Kroonstad, Bloemfontein, George and Oudtshoorn, and even further afield in Salisbury Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) where he designed the Anglican Cathedral.
In 1902 Baker left his practice at the Cape in the hands of his partner and went to live in Johannesburg, where he built Stonehouse. Baker quickly became noted for his work, and was commissioned by a number of the wealthy gold mining magnates to design houses, particularly in the suburbs of Parktown and Westcliff. He also designed commercial premises and public buildings. The Honoured Dead Memorial in Kimberley is a lasting testament to Herbert Baker.
Architectural Design of the Honoured Dead Memorial
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During the 2nd South African (Anglo Boer) War, Cecil John Rhodes sent the architect Herbert Baker around the world to seek ideas for a monument he intended to build in honour of those who died defending Kimberley during the siege. Rhodes would not see the completed monument as he died (of heart failure, at the age of 49) some months before the surrender of the Boer republics in November 1902.
In particular he visited a number of monuments in Greece where he made a number of key sketches. The caption on one of the drawings says: Design suggested by Tomb of Theron - An Olympian Victor at Agrigentum, Sicily. Perspective . April 1901. Sir Herbert Baker "Sketches of various monuments by H Baker on instruction from Cecil Rhodes". Five of these sketches undertaken by Herbert Baker in 1901 are included here. |
Measured drawing of existing Etruscan Tomb of Aruns, Albano near Rome
Plan and elevation
April 1901
Sir Herbert Baker
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Designed after the Nereid Monument at Xanthos in Lycia, Asia Minor
Perspective
April 1901
Sir Herbert Baker"
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Design suggested by the Philippeion erected at Olympia by Philip of Macedon
Perspective
April 1901
Sir Herbert Baker
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Design based upon Tomb of Aruns
Perspective
April 1901
Sir Herbert Baker
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In 1909 Herbert Baker was commissioned to design the Government Building of the Union of South Africa (which was formed on 31st May 1910) in Pretoria. Pretoria was to become the administrative centre for the new government. In November 1910 the cornerstone of the Union Buildings was laid. The Union Buildings were completed in 1913, after which Herbert Baker left for New Delhi from where he returned home to England.
On returning to England, Baker designed a number of buildings, including:
On returning to England, Baker designed a number of buildings, including:
- Rhodes House, part of Oxford University in England, was built in memory of Cecil Rhodes, was completed in 1928.
- South Africa House in Trafalgar Square, London, opened in 1933. The building was acquired by the government of South Africa as its main diplomatic presence in the UK.
- Balgowan KZN - Michaelhouse Anglican Diocesan College of Natal
- Bloemfontein - Grey College
- Cape Town - Groote Constantia, McClean telescope building at the Royal Observatory, Rhodes Memorial, St George's Anglican Cathedral
- George - Bishop's Lea
- Grahamstown - Rhodes University
- Johannesburg - Roedean School; St Andrew's School for Girls; St John's College; South African Institute for Medical Research; Northwards; St Margaret's on Rockridge Road in Parktown; Stonehouse on Rockridge Road in Parktown (this was Baker's own house and the first he built in Johannesburg); Pilrig House on Rockridge Road in Parktown
- Kimberley - Honoured Dead Memorial
- King William's Town - Dale College
- Kroonstad - Post Office, the City Hall and The Standard Bank Building
- Pietermaritzburg - St Anne's College Chapel
- Pretoria - Pretoria Station
- Pretoria - Union Buildings
