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This article is about the British architect. For the Canadian politician of the same name, see Herbert Baker (Alberta politician). Herbert Baker ( December 18, 1866 – December 21, 1941) was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a municipal councillor
Sir Herbert Baker
Sir Herbert Baker

Sir Herbert Baker (9 June 1862 in Cobham, Kent - 4 February 1946 in Cobham, Kent) was a British architect. Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday Cobham is a Village and Civil parish in the Gravesham District of Kent, England. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Baker was the dominant force in South African architecture for two decades, 1892–1912. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The term architecture (from Greek αρχιτεκτονικήarchitektoniki) can be used to mean a process a profession or documentation He designed the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa; and with Edwin Lutyens was instrumental in designing New Delhi. The Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African Government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE, PRA, FRIBA, LLD ( 29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944 New Delhi (नई दिल्ली ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ نئی دلی is the Capital city of India. His tomb is in Westminster Abbey. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church

Contents

Early life

View of the rear of Groote Schuur, c1905.
View of the rear of Groote Schuur, c1905.

Born on the family farm Owletts near Cobham, Kent, in England, the fourth son of nine children of Thomas Henry Baker and Frances Georgina Davis, Herbert was from the outset exposed to a tradition of good craftsmanship, preserved through isolation in the neighbourhood of his home. Cobham is a Village and Civil parish in the Gravesham District of Kent, England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland As a boy, walking and exploring the historical ruins found in the area, were his favourite pastimes. Here he observed and learned to appreciate the time-honoured materials of brick and plaster, the various aspects of timber use, especially in roof construction - tie-beam and arch-braced collar-beam trusses. He was profoundly influenced by the stone construction used in Norman cathedrals and Anglo-Saxon churches, as well as the ornamentation and symbolism of the Renaissance buildings in Kent. For other buildings in Normandy see Architecture of Normandy. For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere This early influence is apparent in the churches, schools and houses he later designed in South Africa.

He received his first education at Tonbridge School which instilled in him his lifelong qualities of leadership and loyalty. Tonbridge School is a British independent all boys Public school in Tonbridge, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judde In 1879 he was articled to his cousin Arthur Baker, embarking on the accepted pattern of architectural education comprising three years of apprenticeship and the attending of classes at the Architectural Association School and the Royal Academy Schools. Former students Will Alsop Herbert Baker Geoffrey Bawa Ben van Berkel This article refers to an art institution in London For other meanings of Royal Academy see Royal Academy (disambiguation. Study tours of Europe were regarded as an essential part of the course. In 1891 Baker passed his examination for Associateship of the Royal Institute of British Architects and was awarded the Ashpital Prize for being top of his class. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA is a Professional body for Architects in the United Kingdom.

He worked initially for Ernest George and Harold Peto in London from 1882-87, then opened his own office in Gravesend, Kent in 1890. Ernest George RA (1839-1922 was an English Architect. His London office was known as "The Eton of architects' offices". Harold Ainsworth Peto (1854 - 1933 was an English Architect and Garden designer He was the son of Samuel Morton Peto of Somerleyton Hall.

South Africa

He embarked for South Africa in 1892 ostensibly to visit his brother, and was commissioned in 1893 by Cecil Rhodes to remodel Groote Schuur, Rhodes' house on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, and the residence of South African prime ministers. Cecil John Rhodes, PC DCL (5 July 1853 &ndash 26 March 1902 was an English -born Businessman mining Magnate, and Politician Groote Schuur (Dutch for "big barn" is an estate in Cape Town, South Africa. Table Mountain is a flat-topped Mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the Cape Town (Kaapstad Xhosa: Ikapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the metropolitan municipality of the Rhodes sponsored Baker's further education in Greece, Italy and Egypt, after which he returned to South Africa and stayed the next 20 years.

He had the patronage of Lord Milner, and was invited to the Transvaal to design and build residences for the British colonials, Much taken with the country, and notably with the Cape Dutch homes in the Cape Province, Baker resolved to remain in South Africa and to establish an architectural practice, which went under the name of Herbert Baker, Kendall & Morris. Alfred Milner 1st Viscount Milner, KG, GCB, GCMG, PC (23 March 1854&ndash13 May 1925 was a controversial German-born British Baker undertook work in widespread parts of the country including Durban, Grahamstown, King William's Town, Bloemfontein, George and Oudtshoorn, and even further afield in Salisbury Rhodesia where he designed the Anglican Cathedral and a house for Julius Weil, the general merchant. Durban (eThekwini is the third most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the EThekwini metropolitan municipality. Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality King William's Town, a town of South Africa, in the Eastern Cape province and on the Buffalo River, 50 kilometers (42 miles by rail or about 40 minutes' Bloemfontein (ˈbluːmfɒnteɪn Afrikaans and Dutch for "spring of Bloem (bloom" George is a city in South Africa 's Western Cape Province. It has a population of approximately 104700 and is the administrative and commercial hub of the Garden Harare (həˈrɑreɪ or /həˈrɑri/ formerly Salisbury) is the Capital of Zimbabwe.

In 1902 Baker left his practice at the Cape in the hands of his partner and went to live in Johannesburg, where he built Stonehouse. On a visit to Britain in 1904 he married his cousin, Florence Edmeades, daughter of Gen. Henry Edmund Edmeades, bringing her back to Johannesburg, where two sons, the first of four children, were born. Baker quickly became noted for his work, and was commissioned by a number of the "Randlords" (the wealthy mining magnates of Johannesburg) to design houses, particularly in the suburbs of Parktown and Westcliff. Randlord is a term used to denote the entrepreneurs who controlled the Diamond and Gold mining industries in South Africa in its pioneer phase from the Johannesburg ( Pronounced /jō-hān'ĭs-bûrg'/ is the largest city in South Africa. Parktown is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It was begun in 1892 when Florence Phillips rode north from the dusty mining town of early Johannesburg and He also designed commercial premises and public buildings.

Some Herbert Baker buildings in South Africa

The Woolsack, Cecil Rhodes' guest cottage in Cape Town
The Woolsack, Cecil Rhodes' guest cottage in Cape Town

Union Buildings, South Africa

The Union Buildings, Pretoria.
The Union Buildings, Pretoria. The Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African Government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa.

In 1909 Herbert Baker was commissioned to design the Government Building of the Union of South Africa (which was formed on 31st May 1910) in Pretoria. Pretoria was to become the administrative centre for the new government. In November 1910 the cornerstone of the Union Building was laid.

Baker chose Meintjies Kop as the site for his design which was inspired by the Acropolis of Athens. The site was that of a disused quarry and the existing excavations were used to create the amphitheatre, which was set about with ornamental pools, fountains, sculptures, balustrades and trees.

The design consisted of two identical wings, joined by a semicircular 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 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. Cape Dutch architecture is an architectural style found in the Western Cape of South Africa. A fanlight is a window semicircular or semi-elliptical in shape with Glazing bars or Tracery sets radiating out like an open fan, It is placed over 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. Ocotea bullata ( Stinkwood tree) is a species of Flowering plant in the family Lauraceae, native to South Africa. Guibourtia is a Flowering plant Genus in the Family Fabaceae ( Legume family The roof tiles and quarry tiles for the floors were made in Vereeniging. Vereeniging is a city in Gauteng province, South Africa, with a population of more than 350000 The Union Buildings were completed in 1913, after which Herbert Baker left for New Delhi from where he returned home to England.

India

In 1912 Baker went to India to work with Lutyens on the Secretariat building and Parliament House in New Delhi and the bungalows of Members of Parliament. Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE, PRA, FRIBA, LLD ( 29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944 Situated on Raisina Hill, New Delhi, India, the Secretariat Building is a set of two buildings on the opposite side of Rajpath that are home The Parliament of India (or Sansad) is the federal and supreme Legislative body of India. New Delhi (नई दिल्ली ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ نئی دلی is the Capital city of India. The Parliament of India (or Sansad) is the federal and supreme Legislative body of India. Baker designed the two Secretariat buildings flanking the great axis leading to what was then the Viceroy of India's Palace. The Governor-General of India (or from 1858 to 1947 the Viceroy and Governor-General of India) was the head of the British administration in India, and

United Kingdom

Rhodes House in Oxford.
Rhodes House in Oxford. Rhodes House is part of the University of Oxford in England. It is located on the south of South Parks Road in central Oxford, and was built Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire,
Winchester College War Cloister
Winchester College War Cloister

In 1913 Baker began his practice in London with his partner Alexander Scott. Near the end of the most productive phase of his career, Baker received a knighthood, was elected to the Royal Academy, had conferred on him the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1927, and received honorary degrees from Witwatersrand and Oxford Universities. This article refers to an art institution in London For other meanings of Royal Academy see Royal Academy (disambiguation. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA is a Professional body for Architects in the United Kingdom. The University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg is a leading South African University situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. The University of Oxford (informally "Oxford University" or simply "Oxford" located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England is the

Baker died in Kent in 1946. KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format

Belgium

Following the First World War, Baker was approached to assist in the design of suitable monuments to the efforts of British Commonwealth soldiers. Out of this came the design for Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest British war cemetery in the world sited in Passchendaele near Ypres in Belgium, unveiled in July 1927. Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC burial ground for the dead of World War I in the "Passchendaele" redirects here For the 2008 film by that name see Passchendaele (film The 1917 Battle of Passchendaele, also known as Ypres ( French, generally used in English French ipʁ English ˈiːprə Ieper (official name in Dutch, pronounced /ˈiːpər/ or Ypern The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Baker had earlier designed the war memorial at Winchester College, influences for which he carried over to his work on Tyne Cot. Winchester College is a well-known boys' Independent school, and an example of an English Public school, in the city of Winchester in Hampshire

Kenya

European Nairobi School
European Nairobi School
Prince of Wales School near Nairobi, circa 1932
Prince of Wales School near Nairobi, circa 1932

Sir Edward Grigg, Governor of Kenya from 1925 to 1931, invited Baker to visit Kenya in 1925. Edward William Macleay Grigg 1st Baron Altrincham, KCMG, KCVO, DSO, MC, PC (1879–1955 was a British colonial administrator and

Baker wrote: “The Governor and Director of Education were much concerned to provide a healthy education for the European youth under the conditions of the climate. So with their encouragement I designed a school at Nairobi with a crypt as a playground – like the undercroft of Wren’s library at Trinity College, Cambridge, – where the boys could stay at mid-day instead of going home under the vertical rays of the sun. Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. At the larger ‘public school’ at Kabete all the detached classrooms and houses were designed and built with connecting colonnades, in which respect I followed the excellent example set by [United States] President Jefferson in his beautiful University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence The University of Virginia (also called UVa, UVA, Mr Jefferson's University, or The University) is a highly selective public research ” The use of colonnades accords with advice given to Baker by T E Lawrence, who regarded the tropical sun as "an enemy" and told him “All pavements should be covered over with light vaulting. ” The foundation stone was laid by Sir Edward Grigg on 24 September 1929, and the Prince of Wales School was opened in 1931 - (the original idea for the name of the school was Kabete Boys Secondary School, but the first headmaster, Captain Bertram W.L. Nicholson, thought this to be too clumsy and therefore the name of The Prince of Wales School was suggested and eventually adopted). Nairobi School is a national secondary school in Nairobi Kenya

Other impressive buildings in Nairobi designed by Baker and completed with his assistant, Jan Hoogterp, include the Law Courts and Government House (now State House), described as a Palladian mansion. However, the building with the closest resemblance to the Prince of Wales School may well be Baker’s Government House (now State House) near the lighthouse at Ras Serani, Mombasa. Mombasa is the second largest City in Kenya, lying on the Indian Ocean. Not only has it “large columned loggias”, but it also has an archway, through which can be glimpsed the Indian Ocean, leading Baker to wax poetic: “One can live out between these columns both by day and night in the warm and soft sea air. "

France

Baker was the architect of a number of Cemeteries in France in the aftermath of the First World War, including Delville wood cemetery‎ and the nearby South African War Memorial, the London Cemetery and Extension, Adanac Military Cemetery for the Canadians, the AIF Burial Ground for the Australian Imperial Force, a memorial within the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Courcelette British Cemetery, Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Guards Cemetery, Les Bouefs, Ovillers Military Cemetery and Quarry Cemetery. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Delville Wood Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery located near Longueval France and the third largest in the Somme battlefield area The London Cemetery and Extension is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at High Wood near Longueval, France. [1]

Australia

Fairbridge Church, Pinjarra, Western Australia
Fairbridge Church, Pinjarra, Western Australia

Fairbridge Chapel was built at Pinjarra, Western Australia in 1924 according to Herbert Baker's design, which he provided free of charge. Pinjarra is a town in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, from the state capital Perth and south-east The farm was started by Kingsley Fairbridge as part of a scheme to help destitute English children improve their lot by emigration to Australia and Canada. This article includes biographical information relating to Kingsley Ogilivie Fairbridge, as well the institution that he established which was known as the Fairbridge

References

External links

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