Soeke van drie argitekte na 'n planvorm vir Afrikaanse Gereformeerde kerkbou

Abstract

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.