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Sir Herbert Baker (1862â??1946) was the dominant force in South African architecture for two decades, 1892â??1912. He designed the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa; and with Edwin Lutyens was instrumental in designing New Delhi.
Early life
Born in Cobham, Kent, in England, Baker studied architecture in London. He came to South Africa in 1892 and was commissioned in 1893 by Cecil Rhodes to remodel Groote Schuur, Rhodes' house on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town.
South Africa
Baker quickly became noted for his work, and was commissioned by a number of the "Randlords" (the wealthy mining magnates of Johannesburg) to design houses, particularly in the prestigious suburbs of Parktown and Parktown North. A number of these are still standing. He also designed commercial premises and public buildings.
Union Buildings
In 1909 Baker was commissioned to build the Union Buildings, South Africa's seat of government.
India
In 1912 Baker went to India to work with Lutyens on the Secretariat buildings in New Delhi and the bungalows of Members of Parliament.
Later life
Baker was knighted in 1926 and awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1927. He died in Kent in 1946.
Other work
United Kingdom
- South Africa House, the South African High Commission building in Trafalgar Square, London
- The mansion of Port Lympne (now a zoo) in Kent in south-east England
- One of the grandstands at Lord's Cricket Ground in London; Baker presented the Marylebone Cricket Club with a weather vane in the shape of Father Time, which adorned his stand until it was replaced in 1996. The weather vane, now a famous symbol of the home of cricket, was moved to another stand at the ground.
- The North Range of Downing College Cambridge. The design was based on that of the original architect of the college, Williams Wilkins, but 'changed the original design just enough to annoy'
- Rebuilding of the Bank of England, London, demolishing most of Sir John Soane's original building. Described by Pevsner as "the greatest architectural crime, in the [[City of London], of the twentieth century".
- The War Cloister in Winchester College.
- Rhodes House in Oxford, headquarters of the Rhodes Scholarships.
South Africa
- St George's Cathedral, Cape Town
- Rhodes Memorial, Cape Town
- Michaelhouse, Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal
- Roedean School, Johannesburg
- St John's College, Johannesburg
- St Andrew's School for Girls, Johannesburg
- Grey College, Bloemfontein
- Rhodes University, Grahamstown
- Dale College, King William's Town
- McClean telescope building, Royal Observatory, Cape Town
Elsewhere
External links
fr:Herbert Baker
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