Thirty members and friends of the Durban Art Deco Society met at the Durban Maritime Museum on Sunday 29 May, 2022, for a presentation by David Hughes on the great ocean liners of the last century which featured Art Deco styling. David is the long-standing secretary of the World Ship Society and a volunteer member of the Friends of the Durban Maritime Museum. He has played a key role in establishing a Resource Centre on the museum site, which maintains a large collection of books on all aspects of shipping, as well as related photographs, documents and computerised data.

In the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s these liners had timetabled transatlantic routes such as Southampton, Cherbourg or Genoa to New York, with the bulk of the passengers provided for in 3rd Class or Tourist – typically poorer migrants and workers. Theirs was not the fabulous décor and facilities which these ships were famous for. Rather that was the domain of the well-heeled on their separate decks – where expert artists and craftsmen employed Art Deco devices to embellish function rooms using Lalique glass and rare woods. A serious hiccup occurred in the early 40’s, with most ships being converted to troop carriers for World War 2. A few were refurbished in their Art Deco splendour after the war. However, jet travel was becoming increasingly significant, and gradually replaced the liner passenger services through the 50’s and 60’s.

After David’s talk, Prof Franco Frescura, architect and author, led a group for a walk on the nearby Esplanade, on which Quadrant House, Victoria Mansions, Willern Court and Broadwindsor were viewed. All of these had their distinctive symmetry, with an emphasized central entrance. However, Quadrant House was in the local “Berea” style, whilst the other three were typically Art Deco with fins or pilasters guiding the eye up to decorated skylines.