In the twentieth century most Afrikaans Reformed churches were designed by
architects who were also members of these congregations. Until the middle of the
century there were no clear-cut directives for the outward appearance or interiors of
this building type and they themselves had to find answers to the nature of the
religious requirements they had to translate into architecture. These searches led to
a variety of interpretations. In this article the work of three architects is considered
and a sequence of events in their search for appropriate plans, before the matter was
considered by Church Commissions in the sixties, is sketched.
Die meeste Afrikaanse Gereformeerde kerkgeboue is in die twintigste eeu gebou deur
argitekte wat ook lidmate van dié kerke was. Tot die jare sestig van dié eeu was daar
geen uitgestippelde riglyne oor die voorkoms óf binneruimtes van hierdie tipe geboue
nie en hulle moes gevolglik hulle eie ondersoeke na die aard van die godsdienstige
vereistes ondersoek en argitektonies vertolk. Dit het tot ’n verskeidenheid
interpretasies aanleiding gegee. In hierdie artikel word na die werk van drie argitekte
gekyk en ’n verloop van hulle soeke na toepaslike planne geskets, voordat in die jare
sestig daaroor deur sinodale kommissies besin is.
