SOUTH AFRICAN MASTERS

"In My Words"

In a recent interview with Karen Eicker,  Hannes Meiring generously contributed a biographical text with references to his personal and professional philosophies, views and highlights which he has graciously consented to being published.

I started drawing Cape Dutch Farmhouses in the Stellenbosch district when I was five years old. My uncle, At Meiring, an architect of the firm Meiring and Naude, and also the first professor of Architecture at Pretoria University, gave me my first introduction to architecture.
 
On holidays in the Bland (which is home ground) we would go on discovery missions for old farmhouses and city Cape Dutch architecture.

At school at Paul Roos Gymnasium I had ample opportunities to develop a love of art and art history.

In1952 I enrolled at UCT and for five years had a blissfully happy time as an architectural student. A marvelous old British character, Professor Thornton-White, was part of a really inspiring number of unforgettable tutors like Pius Pahl, that great Bauhaus architect and compatriot of Mies van der Rohe; Deane Anderson, a real artist and architect; and Price Lewis, a precise and thorough lecturer in history of architecture who introduced us to Nicholas Pevsner's little Penguin edition 'An Outline of European Architecture'. An architectural bible if ever there was one.

I met fellow student, Gilbert Colyn, in these formative years and after having spent a while in my uncle's firm, Gilbert and I started our own very young firm, Colyn and Meiring, in 1960 in Bellville. We met Jan S Marais ("Banking will never be the same") through social cricket for Trust Bank and built an amazing relationship with this dynamic client, which resulted in our firm receiving all the Trust Bank assignments.

Eventually I got itchy feet and wanted to travel a bit, which happened after receiving a bursary from the German Government and, with Gilbert's patience and well-wishes, I spent two years in Munich. There I could also study art and had the opportunity to visit (and draw and photograph) great architecture in European cities

My philosophy on life: 

I am attracted to small things: pondokkies, cottages on the wayside, the brave attempts of people to adorn their houses as seen on the platteland and in the remote countryside. I visualize the dreams and aspirations of how often poor people portray this in their lifestyle. I like people and am always fascinated by the individual's response to the environment.

My philosophy on architecture:

I believe in the human scale. Whether the buildings are large and grand, or small, I want to see the proportions balanced. I like symmetry. I want people to react to buildings: on entering, on observing, on feeling an atmosphere. Being a romantic, I have an appreciation for magnificent buildings, but I do absolutely appreciate modern architecture, and abhor trends to overdue and corrupt styles. Well, we know about the Tuscany-deluge, and I do find the twee approach that post modernism has brought about quite hideous. We have such wonderful coast villages, but so many of them are really disgraced by huge houses. 
I like the use of glass very much. Ever changing reflections tend to give a wonderful life to buildings. And the use of colour in buildings always interests me.
It is really the "harmonious discord" ethic that I enjoy most. To turn to Van der Rohe and le Corbusier as opposites.
And I would always advise architects to suggest to their clients the incorporation of artwork, especially sculpture.

Memorable moments: 

• Success in saving the Western Façade of historical Church Square, Pretoria
• Two years in Munich in the heart of the baroque world and not far from Italy
• Doing African inspired houses in Pretoria and getting a merit award recognition
• Restoring the Erasmus Castle outside Pretoria
• The appointment, with partner Jack van der Lecq, for the New National Parliament and having young, wonderfully gifted Clara D'Almeida working with us
• The Saldanha Steel factory - making it architecturally more acceptable in its industrial environment
• The move to Stellenbosch after 35 years away from my hometown.
• Dombeya Cellar
• Asara Wine farm
• The Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch
• Involvement in Bosmans Crossing, Stellenbosch
• Writing and illustrating books on architecture
• Latest book: My Country in Line and Colour, and working with designer Willem Jordaan. 

The built environment now:

I do regret that the architectural profession in South Africa has to date not really addressed and implemented solutions to mass housing. We have enough knowledge of the lifestyles of our peoples to have done this and I sincerely hope that the so-called housing crisis in our country will be resolved with good planning, which will allow for decent and uplifting living conditions.
While urban renewal is timely, it seems such a pity that good, older buildings are still being demolished.
I am pleased to note the rise in really good architecture by younger architects, and it seems that there is a greater awareness of the environment and also conservation. I hope this trend becomes a hallmark of our new architecture.

For the future I should hope that housing would receive the necessary attention from the authorities and that planning, and I mean planning for people and their lifestyles, would be implemented. Why not allow group housing around courtyards, or highrise with shops, play areas and schools incorporated in the precinct?

What my drawings mean to me:

My drawings are probably a relief from the frustration of getting a building built! Houses, buildings have personalities and character and that is what inspires me to draw.

After the frustration of actually getting a building built, the rules and regulations (which I simply abhor), the slow calamity involved with passing all the municipal regulations, and finally seeing a structure standing there. I cannot describe that great feeling. But I feel it.

Yes, I would repeat the journey---over and again!