The Union Buildings (Afrikaans: Uniegebou) form the official seat of the South African Government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa.
The imposing buildings are located in Pretoria, atop Meintjieskop at the northern end of Arcadia, close to historic Church Square. The large gardens of the Buildings are nestled between Government Avenue, Vermeulen Street East, Church Street, the R104 and Blackwood Street.
They have been described as a modern-day Acropolis, with their hilltop location, Greek design and seats of powers drawing comparisons to the citadel in Athens. These buildings, built from light sandstone, were designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker in the English monumental style and are 285 m long.
The Union Buildings are one of the centres of political life in South Africa; "The Buildings" and "Arcadia" have become metonyms for the South African government.
The Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa.
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Historical Context
The Boer Republics of the ZAR and the Orange Free State were united with the Cape Colony and Natal Colony in 1910 to become the Union of South Africa.
Pretoria then became the administrative capital of the whole of South Africa, with Cape Town the legislative capital. Between 1860 and 1994, the city was also the capital of the province of Transvaal, superseding Potchefstroom in that role.
Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, later to become first president of the Transvaal Republic, was the original owner of the farm 'Elandsfontein' on which Meintjieskop stands.
In 1856 Andries Francois du Toit (1813-1883), in exchange for a Basotho pony, acquired part of the farm, which he named 'Arcadia' and on which the Union Buildings were later constructed. He was also Pretoria's first magistrate and was responsible for the layout of the city.
In 1909 Herbert Baker was commissioned to design the Government Building of the Union of South Africa (which was formed on 31 May 1910) in Pretoria. Pretoria was to become the administrative centre for the new government.
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Architectural Design
Designed by Sir Herbert Baker in 1908, building began in 1909 and was completed in 1913. Several other sites were considered, including Muckleneuk Ridge, on the opposite side of the city, and Pretorius Square, in the centre of Pretoria, where the City Hall now stands.
The design of the buildings was largely determined by the nature of the site. Baker envisaged identical wings of rectangular office blocks, each representing one of the two official languages.
The design consisted of two identical wings, joined by a semi-circular colonnade forming the backdrop of the amphitheatre. The colonnade was terminated on either side by a tower. Each wing had a basement and three floors above ground.
The east and west wings, as well as the twin-domed towers, represent two languages, English and Afrikaans, and the inner court was designed and built to symbolise the Union of South Africa.
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The interiors were created in the Cape Dutch style with carved teak fanlights, heavy doors, dark ceiling beams contrasting with white plaster walls and heavy wood furniture. Baker used indigenous materials as far as possible.
The granite was quarried on site while Buiskop sandstone was used for the courtyards. Stinkwood and Rhodesian teak were used for timber and wood panelling. The cornerstone was laid in November 1910, shortly after the Union of South Africa - for which the buildings are named - was formed.
The design of each level differs, and therefore each stone had to be individually cut. The Architectural styles of the building ranges from the lower levels' Edwardian style to the top levels' Cape Dutch design with shutters on the windows. The windows from bottom to top are elongated and become shorter towards the top floor.
These buildings are considered by many to be the architect's greatest achievement and a South African architectural masterpiece. The building was sited on a disused quarry, which now makes up the amphitheatre.
The matching statues on top of the domed towers are Atlas, holding up the world, sculpted by Abraham Broadbent. The statue on the domed rostrum in the amphitheatre between the wings is Mercury, a mythic Roman messenger and a god of trade, sculpted by George Ness.
The closest suburb to the Union Buildings is Arcadia, which is named after the classical idealisation of the ancient Greek region of the same name.
Layout and Structure
The Union Buildings are divided into three sections; the left offices, amphitheatre, and right offices. All are 95 metres in length. Each office block contains three inner courtyards providing light and air to the offices. Each block has a basement and three floors above ground.
Gardens and Monuments
The building is surrounded by beautifully terraced gardens of indigenous plants. Within the grounds are various monuments, statues and memorials. The clear highlight of the gardens though is the 9m bronze statue of Nelson Mandela.
The statue of Nelson Mandela in the gardens of the Union Buildings.
At the very bottom, there is a large statue of General Louis Botha (first prime minister of the Union of South Africa) on horseback. About halfway up is the curved Delville Wood War Memorial dedicated to soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War and Korean War.
It is named after an offensive in the Battle of the Somme in which a number of South African soldiers died and is mirrored by a memorial in Delville Wood itself in Belgium.
Two levels above that is a statue of President Nelson Mandela. This replaced the statue of General J.B.M. Hertzog.
Key Events
The eyes of the world have been on the Union Buildings many times during their existence. Nelson Mandela was inaugurated here on 10th May 1994 as the first democratically elected president of a non-apartheid South Africa.
On 9 August 1956, 20,000 women marched to the doors of the Union Buildings, chanting "Wathint' Abafazi, wathint' imbokodo!" which means "strike the women, strike the rock", to protest against the pass laws of 1950.
On 31 December 1999 the South African flagship Millennium celebration was held here.
Visiting the Union Buildings
The Union Buildings are perched atop Meintjieskop looking down over the city of Pretoria and were my first stop off on a sunny and dry winter’s morning in early August. The first thing I noticed was not the buildings themselves but the view over the city. Herbert Baker chose his site well.
Pretoria is set in a bowl of hills and has a remarkable amount of natural space built amongst the towering buildings. It is dry at this time of the year giving the city a hazy blanket concocted of dust and fumes.
I find it amazing how what we now think of as countries could have been shaped so very differently based on the negotiation powers and army strength of certain nations. Africa itself is cut up in ways that made no real sense to the people who originally inhabited it and this union is another great example.
Tips for Visitors
- Check for Events: The gardens host various events. Check local listings to see if anything aligns with your visit.
- Stay Hydrated: Especially during warmer months, carry water as you explore the expansive grounds.
- Photography: The Nelson Mandela statue, the grand facade of the buildings, and the panoramic views from the gardens offer excellent photo opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How to get there? The Union Buildings are located in Pretoria, South Africa. You can reach them by car, taxi, or ride-sharing services.
- Tickets & Entry: Generally, the gardens and exterior of the Union Buildings are free to access.
- Onsite Experience: You can admire the architecture, visit the Nelson Mandela statue, explore the expansive gardens, and learn about South Africa's history.
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