Opleiding van argitektuurhistorici in Suid-Afrika

Abstract

Die problematiese aard van argitektuur in Suid-Afrika wat in 'n krisis- en oorgangsfase verkeer, moet nagegaan word, want met die oog op die toekoms sal die praktyk deurslaggewend wees vir navorsers. Voorlopig sou mens kon konstateer dat die basis van toekomstige opleiding van argitektuurhistorici Europees behoort te wees, vanwee ons gebrek aan 'n grondige tradisie van argitektuurgeskiedenis. Dan sal ons ook nou moet besin oor 'n nuwe blik op ons argitektoniese erfenis en diegene wat dit as hulle taak sien om die beboude omgewing van tans te evalueer, sal moet besin oor aktualiteite op alle vlakke in Suid-Afrika om werklik 'n bydrae te lewer tot die multi-dissiplinere aard van argitektuurgeskiedskrywing.

South African architecture is in a transitional crisis and the problems which arise concurrently with this phase should be investigated as architectural practice will be a determining factor for researchers in the future. One could state provisionally that the basis of future training for architectural historians should be orientated towards Europe, due to our lack of a fundamental tradition of Architectural History. Furthermore, we shall have to discuss a new perspective with regard to our architectural heritage and those who see it as their task to evaluate the existing built environment will have to consider topicalities on all levels in South Africa in order to make a real contribution to the multi-disciplinary nature of the historiography of Architectural History.