Part 1 : Eaton for Africa - 50 years later

Abstract

It’s just over 50 years since the passing of well-known South African architect Norman Eaton (1902−1966). Emerging trajectories on post-colonial identities, entangled histories, and positions on decolonisation makes the reappraisal of his legacy necessary. This feature posits snapshots of his legacy to open new dialogues on the meaning of his contribution to the South African architectural cultural landscape. Two works by theorist Hilde Heynen will frame these snapshots, namely ‘The intertwinement of Modernism and colonialism: A theoretical perspective’ (2013) and, anecdotally, Architecture and modernity: A critique (1999). In order to explore Eaton’s work as hybrid expressions that operate in the space in between the west and Africa, the various manifestations of hybridity are extracted respectively as surface/symbol, mimetic detailing and undulating wall. His agency is contextualised within the apartheid paradigm and the possibility of a subversive text is explored in his work.