CATALOGUE NO: CI-4 DATE RECORDED: JANUARY – JUNE 2006__________________________________________________________________

JOHANNESBURG METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

HERITAGE ASSESSMENT SURVEYING FORM__________________________________________________________________Compiled by: Dr JJ Bruwer, 2002-07-29 JJ Bruwer

Cellphone: +27 82 325 5823

NAME OF PLACE: KHOTSO HOUSE

Photograph: Catharina JM Bruwer.

Above left: the Marshall Street façade of Khotso House with Hollard Insurance House (CI-5) to the left and Dominion House (CI-3) to the right. (CJMB)

Above right: the Anderson Street elevation of the building. (CJMB)

Previous/alternative name/s : Libertas Buildings: Libertas: Syfrets House

LOCATION: Street : Marshall, AndersonStreet number :

: (60, 62 Marshall; 23, 25 Anderson)Stand Number : 1164Previous Stand Number: 90, 91, 99, 100Block number : CISuburb : MarshallstownGIS reference :

ZONING: Current use/s : Previous use/s :

_____________________________________________________________________________

CI-4 1

DESCRIPTION OF PLACE:

Height : Levels above street level : 12 (Marshall Street); 10 (Anderson)Levels below street level : oneOn-site parking : yes

An interesting tripartite design element to the main façades of the building with attractive strong horizontal lines. (CJMB)

Chipkin: “Libertas was the first of the Janks buildings in Marshall Street. Planning began in 1948, and by 1950 the building was nearing completion. Libertas, designed by Toung in Janks’s office – white vertical fins, pink spandrels, standard steel windows, bay projections and stepbacks in response to town-planning restrictions – was much closer to its New York paradigm than its successors. This was the early formulation that established the predominant urban pattern for Marshall Street, west of Sauer”.(Chipkin, C.M.: Johannesburg Style; Architecture & Society…).

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS:

Walls: reinforced concrete frame construction / plastered brick

Roof: flat concrete

Windows: steel casements

Columns: mosaic cladding to columns on Anderson Street

See electronic version of Survey Report for copies of the original building plans including the following:

SITE FEATURES:

ALTERATIONS:

During 1952 the architectural firm of Kennedy, Furner, Irvine-Smith & Joubert submitted plans to link Khotso House (originally known as Libertas) and Dominion Insurance House. (CJMB)

INTEGRITY:

INSCRIPTION:

ARCHITECT:

Janks, Bernard‘…(9 April 1910 - ) studied architecture at the University of the Witwatersrand from 1928. He worked in vacations in the office of COOK & COWEN (1933-1935) and qualified in 1934. He then entered into partnership with J GLIKSMAN (cf JANKS & GLIKSMAN) c1935/1936; the partnership lasting until 1939. In August 1939 he entered partnership with O KLING (cf. JANKS & KLING). Janks was responsible for Philadelphia Corner in Jeppe Street, Johannesburg (1950)…’(Architects In South Africa 1780 – 1940; Draft manuscript, J Walker & G M van der Waal, 1992, HSRC, Pretoria.).

BUILDER:

_____________________________________________________________________________

CI-4 2

CONSTRUCTION DATE:

Date on plans : Approval of plans : Completion date : 1950

BUILDING STYLE:

Johannesburg Modular Regionalism

Architectural Merit: “This building is a crossover between Art Deco and Jhb Modular Regionalism. The building is also historically relevant as having been bombed by the Apartheid Government.” (Johannesburg Building, Space & Urban Feature Classification, 1998: Inner City).

BUILDING TYPE:

Shop to street and office building. (CJMB)

ENVIRONMENT:

CONDITION:

The exterior the building appears to be in a fair condition. (CJMB)

URGENT ACTION:

SAHRA RECORD REGARDING ALTERATIONS, RENOVATIONS, RESTORATION:

PROTECTION STATUS: (under National Heritage Resources Act, 1999)

General protection: Section 34(1) structure/s

Formal protection: provincial heritage site

national heritage site

provisional protection

heritage area

listed in provincial heritageresources register

Relevant Gazette Notice:

Gazette description:

FORMER PROTECTION STATUS: (under National Monuments Act, 1969)

NOTES:

DEEDS INFORMATION:

Original ownership: Messrs Clows Buildings in 1948; Libertas Buildings (Pty) Ltd.

The SA Council of Churches subsequently bought the shares of the former company.

PRE-HISTORY OF SITE:

HISTORY:

During August 1988, explosives were put in the basement of Khotso House and the building was badly damaged in the subsequent explosion. A night watchman was injured but nobody was killed. This bombing of the SA Council of Churches’ Johannesburg headquarters had been authorised by the apartheid government. This was confirmed in a final report from an investigation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was released in March 2003. Former Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock led the bombing team. He was however, subsequently granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for his role in the bombing. This happened in August 1999.

_____________________________________________________________________________

CI-4 3

GENERAL NOTES:

Estimated cost of building : Estimated cost of drainage : Accommodation approved : Valuation at completion : Occupied :

PREVIOUS TENANT/S:

By 1954:60 – 62 Marshall – Libertas Commercial Air Services62 Marshall – E. A. Walker62 Marshall – Three Vikings Restaurant62 Marshall – The Little Shop62 Marshall – Servicemen’s Office Machines(CJMB)See electronic version of Survey Report for extract from The Rand-Pretoria Directory 1954.(The Rand-Pretoria Directory 1954…)

CURRENT TENANT/S:

Marshall-Inn (Restaurant, Pub and Dinner).

8th Floor - Banking, Insurance and Finance and Assurance Workers’ Union (BIFAWU). Operating Hours: 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday. Telephone Number(s): (011) 836-4564/5; Fax Number(s). (011) 834-6513; P.O. Box 61196, Marshalltown, 2107; Email Address: ramontshor@gam.co.za

Joint Affirmative Management Forum; Operating Hours: 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday. Telephone Number(s): (011) 834 9262; Fax Number(s): (011) 834 9263. PO Box 62646, Marshalltown. Email Address: jamafo@telcomsa.com

SOURCES:

Published SourcesChipkin, C.M.: Johannesburg Style; Architecture & Society 1880s – 1960s, David Philip Publishers, Cape Town, 1993.The Rand-Pretoria Directory 1954 (Comprising Complete Alphabetical And Trades Directories of Johannesburg, Pretoria And Reef Towns), Cape Times Limited, Cape Town, 1954.

Unpublished SourcesArchitects In South Africa 1780 – 1940; Draft manuscript, J Walker & G M van der Waal, 1992, HSRC, Pretoria.Johannesburg Building, Space & Urban Feature Classification, 1998: Inner City - Metropolitan Planning, Johannesburg Metropolitan Council (Cool Factory).Plans records of surveyed buildings, Marshallstown and City of Johannesburg: Archives, Building Control, Development Management, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality.

_____________________________________________________________________________

CI-4 4

ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: Historic Value:

Associated with historic person, group or organisation

Associated with historic event or activity

Architectural/Aesthetic value:

Important example of building type

Important example of a style or period

Fine details, workmanship or aesthetics

Work of a major architect or builder

Social/Spiritual/Linguistic value:

Associated with social, spiritual, linguistic, economic or political activity

Illustrates an historical period

Scientific/Technological value:

Example of industrial, technical or engineering development/achievement New, rare or experimental building techniques

RECORDED BY:

Heritage Resources Management team Johann J Bruwer and Alezea Bruwer.

And Catharina JM Bruwer.

Photographs (unless otherwise indicated) by Johann J Bruwer and Alezea Bruwer.

_____________________________________________________________________________

CI-4 5