Art Deco in Durban

Local implementation of an architectural style

Durban, South Africa has a notable number of buildings built in the Art Deco style popularised in the US in the 1930s.[1] Durban-style Art Deco buildings share the characteristic bold colours, geometric shapes and glamorous ornamentals of the global style, while incorporating local narratives and motifs.[2]

The styling of Art Deco buildings in Durban reflects the different backgrounds of the city's population.[3] Some buildings, such as Quadrant House on the Victoria Embankment, emphasise the city's maritime background. Other buildings, such as Ebrahim Court and the Essop Moosa Building, are built in a style reflecting the interests of Durban's Muslim traders in the 1930s.[3] Some of the buildings pay allegiance to Durban's long association with the British Empire, such as Empire Court and Dominion Court.

## Notable examples

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Some notable examples of the Art Deco style in Durban:[3]

* Berea Court (Berea Road West, Berea)
* Colonial Mutual Building (West Street, Durban Central)
* Memorial Tower Building (University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus)
* Surrey Mansions (Currie Road, Berea)
* Kintyre (Clark Road, Glenwood)
* Jubilee Court (Clarence Road, Morningside)

The cenotaph in the central square outside the City Hall is another striking Art Deco construction.

## Preservation of buildings

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Due to a number of factors including inner city urban decay, a number of Art Deco style buildings are presently in a state of disrepair.[4]

The Durban Art Deco Society was founded in 2000 in order to raise awareness of the value of Art Deco buildings to the city's architectural heritage.[5]

## Gallery

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* Surrey Mansions - Durban

* Muslim Motif - Durban

* Colonial Mutual - Durban

* Memorial Tower - Durban

## See also

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* List of Art Deco buildings in Melbourne
* List of Art Deco buildings in Tasmania
* Napier, New Zealand

## References

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1. ^ "Home". Durban Art Deco Society. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
2. ^ "Durban – the Art Deco Capital of South Africa - TravelGround Blog". www.travelground.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
3. ^ a b c "Durban – the Art Deco Capital of South Africa - TravelGround Blog". www.travelground.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
4. ^ "About | Neil Coppen". neil.iaminawe.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
5. ^ "About | Neil Coppen". neil.iaminawe.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.

## External links

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* Durban Deco Directory
* The Durban Art Deco Society Archived 2019-01-29 at the Wayback Machine
* Art Deco in Ireland
* The Art Deco Trust of Napier, New Zealand

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