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All photos © RACA Journal | Benjamin Brits
1 . Tudor Chambers is one of the oldest buildings in Pretoria , built in 1903 .
2 . The raised platform allocated to plant located in the building courtyard .
3 . An example of how the pipework enters the building directly into a bulkhead . This then follows a path from office to office .
4 . One of the chillers and pumps installed on the confined plant platform . 5 . One of the fancoil unit installations – also fitted onto the bulkhead
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Tudor Chambers was originally a speculative development intended for street-level retail and luxury offices in the typical high-street or city-centre square fashion .
Coach magnate and businessman George Heys purchased the site in 1893 and set in motion the construction of the building , designed by British architect John Ellis , in 1903 . The building was completed with material imported from Scotland by Heys ’ s own maritime transport company and the building also included Heys ’ s own offices . It is a three-storey building with a number of single offices and larger ground floor spaces .
Tudor Chamber ’ s architecture is typical of the late Victorian style but untypical in its place , being an Arts and Crafts Tudor Revival with distinctive Art Nouveau features in the decorative framing of the shopwindows at ground floor retail , and in the brassware furnishings of the three upper storeys .
With its parapets and corner tower it was the tallest building in Pretoria at the time of its construction . Over time , however , the building fell into disrepair , the roof deteriorating to such an extent that the building repeatedly flooded , causing damage to its walls , floors , and ceilings , in addition to the exterior damage sustained by the elements .
The original tower was lost in a windstorm , and it is now commemorated in a newly configured steel structure of lighter construction so as to be less prone to wind load .
The building was purchased in 2007 by Alec Wapnick of City Property , a visionary and exceptional man who has been reported to have made a valuable and significant contribution to property development in Pretoria , Johannesburg , and surrounding areas over the years . This vision regarding constructive development has been taken to the next level by Alec ’ s son , Jeffrey the current CEO of City Property and
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RACA Journal I February 2022 www . hvacronline . co . za