The committee of the Durban Art Deco Society have noted the maintenance improvements of several additional buildings during 2022. Trustees and management teams have invested in the long-term conservation of these Art Deco styled buildings, including tasteful repainting with excellent choices of colours which emphasize the decorative features.

Devonshire Court (Margaret Mncadi Avenue / Victoria Embankment)

Attending the presentation of the Devonshire Court award: Carol Allan ( Durban Art Deco Society), Richard Brown (Chairman) & Donald Davies (Chairman of the Durban Art Deco Society)

Devonshire Court is located on the former Victoria Embankment, now known as Margaret Mncadi Avenue. It received a fresh coat of paint in 2021, and now has a bright green and yellow colour scheme suitable for an Art Deco apartment tower. Constructed in 1938, the building was designed by William Barboure, who also helped design the 1934 Surrey Mansions together with WE Langton. One unique feature of Devonshire Court is a tunnel for motor vehicles under the south side of the building, which leads through to Devonshire Place. In the tunnel and at the rear of the building is a motor vehicle service workshop. The workshop is no longer in operation but the signage “Carburettors” and “Servicing” is still painted on the pillars of the tunnel. The entrance to the building is original, complete with terrazzo flooring. (Carol Allan)

Ainsdale (687 Musgrave Road)

Attending the presentation of the Ainsdale award: Suey Callakoppen (Trustee), Cindy Rootman (Chairperson) & Shiney Bright (Durban Art Deco Society)

The building is well maintained. Unfortunately, the trustees were not aware that they could seek advice from the Durban Art deco Society, and a new lift was installed to replace the old one even though they would have liked to have kept the old lift, which was in keeping with the style of the building.

The foyer has wood panelling. The light fittings are the original. There is a box attached to the entrance door for newspapers and mail, that can be opened from the inside of the foyer. The floor of the foyer is black and white tiling. The white tiles have a terrazzo look and the black tiles are matt black. The first set of stairs are white marble. The entrance to each apartment has a ziggurat arch and a niche for milk delivery. (Carol Allan)

St Aubyn Court (Corner of Musgrave and Cochrane Roads)

Attending the presentation of the St Aubyn Court award: Michael Andreou (Chairperson), Nick Holdcroft (Trustee) & Carol Allan (Durban Art Deco Society)

The building is well maintained. The foyer has wood veneer panelling and the original bench. The wood panelling is “framed” by bright green Perspex. The entire stairway is terrazzo. The flats have parquet flooring with a wide stepped skirting. The milk niches have a little hatch type door with a latch.

There is an old boiler in the basement which would have been used to heat the water for the building. The original meter boxes have not been removed from the electrical panel which is accessed through a door at the back of one of the garages on the street. (Carol Allan)