Muizenberg Heritage (MH) has announced an upcoming architectural walking tour celebrating the coastal suburb’s 1930s golden age.
Scheduled for Saturday 21 November, the two-hour guided excursion highlights Muizenberg’s rich concentration of Art Deco architecture, according to MH member Sue Stewart.
Arts style
Art Deco is a style of visual art, architecture and design that flourished globally during the 1920s and 1930s, representing post-World War I optimism, modern technology and glamour.
“In the 1930s Muizenberg was considered the Riviera of the Cape,” Stewart said, “and this golden age coincided with a new form of architectural expression – Art Deco. It wasn’t long before fashionable hotels, mansions and flats along the Muizenberg beachfront started sporting the bold geometric compositions, sleek horizontal lines and stepped massing so characteristic of this era.”
During the tour, guests will visit the Balmoral, Rio Grande and Imperial hotels and learn about the people who designed and lived in them.
“The walk will enable you to see Muizenberg Village through new eyes,” Stewart added, “admiring the perfectly proportioned apartment blocks, including the wonderful Silver Court, some very characterful walls and a home boasting an observatory that was designed for an eminent astronomer.”
Design techniques
The tour will end at one of Muizenberg’s most impressive residences occupying a corner site, Gloria Heights features carefully considered external forms and architectural detailing.
“The interior will take your breath away, showcasing a range of luxurious materials and design techniques that are unique to the period,” Stewart added.
During the interwar period, local beachfronts transformed dramatically as fashionable hotels, grand mansions, and apartment blocks adopted the design movement’s signature style, according to MH member, Sue.
The tour starts at 10:00, and participants must gather by 09:45 at the Beach Road and Alexander Road parking lot. General tickets cost R250 on Quicket. Comfortable walking shoes, hats, and sunscreen are recommended.
For more information email Sue Stewart at info@muizenbergheritage.com.
