Martin Melck warehouse Built History and Grading

Transcription

1 Martin Melck warehouse Built History and Grading

2 Brief history ( ) Lutherans were not allowed a church or pastor of their own. Heinrich Hop and others petitioned the VOC from 1742 onwards to achieve this. Martin Melck, master mason and soldier under VOC, landed at the Cape in 1746, and got burgher rights in Acquired 2 farms Melck married Hop s daughter (widow of owner of Elsenburgh) They made a pact to realise her late father s ideal. By the 1760s Melck was one of richest farmers at the Cape [10 farms plus 2 loan farms] 2

3 Building of the warehouses 1764 Melck was granted the city Block 8, to build pakhuizen. Built his warehouse on Bree Street between 1764 and It included a loft suitable to hold church services in /3 he built the second warehouse destined to be the future church During this time, the loft was used for Lutheran services when a visiting ship s chaplain was available 1776, upon death of his wife, he donated the church to the congregation. The Lutheran church/warehouse was then already in use as church, illegally 1779 VOC relented. Lutherans achieved full religious rights. Melck donated land alongside church for a house for a pastor 1781 Melck died. Left his warehouse to his second daughter, who immediately sold it. Next owner sold it to VOC. It housed regiment in

4 1762: Johannes Rach A view of the settlement at the Cape. The vacant plot, that was to be given to Melck in 1764, on which the Lutheran Complex would be situated, is visible in the central foreground. 4

5 1767 CF Brink (sworn surveyor) Detail from the Plan and Map of the Fort and Settlement at the Cape of Good Hope, showing the warehouse on Block 8 5

6 1778: Robert Gordon View of the western part of the settlement at the Cape. Note the shoreline. Left of centre front are two large warehouses. The church warehouse is visible in front of the Martin Melck Warehouse. An annotation reads : gedestineert voor een Luitersche kerk 6

7 1786: Johannes Brandes View of Strand Street, drawn for the stoep of the Melck House/Gold Museum. The Melck warehouse was then used as temporary barracks for the de Meuron Regiment. 7

8 1787: de Graaf, Thibault and Barbier Detail of map of the settlement at the Cape, showing the building configuration on Block 8. The Melck warehouse is clearly visible, spanning the entire length of the block, with Melck House/Gold Museum and the Lutheran Church filling the remainder of the block. Note the proximity to the 18th century shoreline. 8

9 1832: D Oyly watercolour View up Strand Street showing the Lutheran Complex in its entirety, with warehouse, Melck House, Lutheran Church and Sexton s House 9

10 1890 Photograph of the Lutheran Complex along the whole Strand Strand facade. 10

11 Representation by the architect of what is intended 11

12 Architect s drawing, side view, showing the office block placed above the warehouse, and a full story taller than the ridge of the church 12

13 Current appearance 13

14 Townsend rates the warehouse as a Grade III heritage resource (claims only 15% of original fabric remains)[cf 085]. On 6 Sept 2013 the Grading and Declarations Sub-committee of SAHRA recommended Grade 1 status for the warehouse. On 21 October 2013 Habitat Council asked the owners to allow an independent professional assessment of the remaining original fabric, and asked SAHRA to undertake a proper assessment. No success. On 11 October 2013 SAHRA S Ontong undertook an examination of the warehouse. He judged the tangible remains, especially inside, to be severely compromised. On 1 November, he wrote to the City, dismissing the late Beverley Couts-Knipe s Grade 1 recommendation, that SAHRA now agrees with Grade III status. He does however warn that the office block may affect the Lutheran complex negatively [cf ]. Townsend conceded that only when plaster is removed can the true picture immerge (p43 of his submission [cf 091]). An independent professional assessment of the remaining fabric is essential. The first floor outer walls are still original, and much more than 15% of the ground floor. 14

15 No detailed analysis of the historic fabric On p. 43 of his letter of 2 Sept 2013 [cf 091] Townsend acknowledges that no proper analysis of the fabric of the warehouse has been carried out. Once the site clearance and demolitions have been carried out, sections of the internal plaster will be removed, and a more detailed account and analysis of the structure and its fabric will be able to be made. Lack of analysis of the historic fabric is a fatal flaw of the HIA. Too late to assess the impact on the historic fabric after the development has been approved. Historic fabric should inform the redevelopment of the site. 15

16 The slides that follow show - The loft where the Lutherans held services (and christenings, confirmations, and weddings) while the church/warehouse was being built (1767 to c 1772/3). ( The loft is a tangible link with the intangible history of the connection between the Melck warehouse and the origins of the Lutheran church building). Evidence of stone walls (now covered over). (Van der Stel s 1686 requirement : build walls of stone up to 20 ft. Kaapse Plakkaatboek p.303). 16

17 The loft (Photo ) 17

18 Another view of the loft - roof beams (photo: ) 18

19 Exposed section of Western wall, ground floor, of shop on Waterkant Street now plastered over and painted (photo of ) 19

20 Section of exposed outside wall on ground floor, Bree Street, near Waterkant Street end, where plaster had fallen off now replastered and painted over (photo: ) 20

21 Exposed stonework in first floor shop on Strand Street side (photo: ) [Since 1698 Van der Stel ordered the first 20 ft to be built of stone] 21

22 Section of exposed foundation on Bree Street side, not far from corner with Strand Street (Photo: ) 22

23 To conclude A serious responsibility rests on our authorities to ensure that this 246 year old warehouse not be sacrificed. It is the accepted practise that new buildings in a sensitive precinct should reflect the contemporary style, but not overpower the historic fabric - in this case at the expense of the quiet simplicity of the warehouse and delicacy of the Lutheran block. 23

24 What we cannot ignore: The warehouse is still on its same footprint as is shown on the 1767 map. The outer walls, its envelope, is immediately recognisable as the old 18th century warehouse. It is the only remaining representative of its kind and age remaining in Cape Town, and this city street block is the only one of its kind in the country It is inextricably linked to the history of the Lutheran Church To add a tower block on its roof will overpower the skyline and destroy the integrity of the 18th century Lutheran block. It is a precious irreplaceable element of our oldest city and the heritage of all South Africans. It must not be compromised. 24

25 Our joint responsibility The Habitat Council acknowledges the importance of development, but not where the price is the loss of a unique irreplaceable heritage resource, an integral part of the Lutheran complex, of interest beyond the borders of SA. With the importance of tourism to the economy of the Cape, it is imperative that what remains of our historical heritage be promoted, and not diminished. 25