Pretoria defined by its impressive architecture
Architect Daniel van der Merwe talks to Rekord about himself and the arty benches that are to be seen in spots all over Pretoria.
Andrea Küsel
The architect who was part of a project that placed designer benches all over Pretoria recently had a sit down with Rekord about his passion for architecture in Pretoria.
Daniel van der Merwe is an architect for PPC Cement. In 2014 PPC collaborated with Cool Capital, a citizen-lead initiative to bring about visual, perception and actual change to Pretoria.
As a project with Cool Capital, 10 designer benches were placed in spots like the Voortrekker monument, the Pretoria city hall, Viva Village in Mamelodi and even at the Pretoria Gautrain station.
Designers of the benches included sculptors, students and architects.
The benches were installed at the end of last year and have since attracted its share of public interest.
“The benches were born from the idea that public spaces are activated through the benches, which should serve as a catalyst for conversation between different cultural groups inviting them to enter into conversation and in doing so, inspire cultural exchange and integration,” said Van der Merwe.
Van der Merwe said he was excited about the fact that PPC would be collaborating with Cool Capital again this year.
“We are excited about making this a long-term project which will continuously keep on adding to the quality of public spaces and space making in Pretoria. We have already started collaborating on the next installment of public benches in 2016.”
This year’s Cool Capital initiative is scheduled to run from 23 September until October.
Van der Merwe says he grew up on a farm near Knysna.
“It’s a background I am thankful for as it instilled in me a love for the land and a spiritual understanding of the interrelatedness of all things. This profoundly influenced my life and view and attitude to architecture as a contextual dialogue.”
He says his childhood played a big role in him becoming an architect.
“Having grown up in one of the most beautiful regions of South Africa, I was inspired by the beauty of my world. I believe this to be a sensitising experience and something which evokes inquisitiveness and a call to creativity. Architecture just seemed a logical way of continuing this call.”
When asked about South African architecture, Van der Merwe says the ingenuity of the informal inspires him.
“The idea of less can make more, of ‘‘n boer maak ‘n plan,’ which is evident among small community-based projects and of which our vernacular architecture is a good example of. I abhor commercial monstrosities which show no respect for anything and which is purely profit driven.”
He says Pretoria’s identity as a city is defined by its impressive public architecture.
“It is not only a catalogue of architectural styles of the 20th century, but which also echo’s the political developments of South Africa. These buildings witnessed some of our most important milestones as a nation.”
For Van der Merwe, there are three Pretoria landmarks that stand out in the world of architecture – the Voortrekker Monument, Freedom Park and the Union Buildings.
“They all speak of the determination and political will of our people to overcome adversity, about healing and about ‘coming together’.”
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