Demolition of historical building at Swakopmund gets go-ahead

DAMAGE inflicted on one of Swakopmund’s oldest buildings by a developer will not be repaired as the National Monuments Council has given its consent for the complete demolition of the structure.

The levelling of the middle section of Bloedorn House, in Tobias Hainyeko Street, is but one concern raised in a petition with more than 400 signatures handed over to the Mayor recently. The petition expressed concern over the booming building industry that is costing the town its cultural heritage and distinctive character.Council also received objections raised by the Swakopmund Residents Association and Robert Pohl over the development of Bloedorn House.The Council agenda for August indicates that the developer did not adhere to the conditions of the demolishing certificate and levelled part of the street facade to the ground.”The demolishing certificate clearly stipulated that the street facade of the existing building may not be changed or altered at all,” the agenda states.The house was listed as a heritage building in the Town Planning Amendment Scheme which, according to the agenda, means “that 50 per cent of the building is classified as having heritage characteristics”.While the Council’s definition of a heritage building indicates that such a building is worth preserving in whole or in part, the developer also needs to approach the National Monuments Council (NMC) for permission to demolish or change any part of the building.In a letter to the architect of the development, Esther Moombolah-Goagoses, Director of the NMC, gave the green light for the project.Swakopmund Town Engineer Frikkie Holtzhausen told The Namibian that the NMC was the higher authority in this case.He said the building was not classified as a national monument and did not have any specific historical significance, which probably motivated the NMC’s decision.Holtzhausen added that the developer, Nexus, had indicated that the two remaining street facades would be retained and incorporated into the design.Nexus plans to erect a four storey apartment complex behind the remains of the existing house.The Swakopmund Council last week recommended that the external appearance of the new portion of the development needed to be adapted to tie in with and reflect the character of the front facade of the old house.Council rejected the original plan as the external appearance of the new development did not combine with the character of the old facades.The central part of the old building that was demolished would serve as the entrance to the building.The petition expressed concern over the booming building industry that is costing the town its cultural heritage and distinctive character.Council also received objections raised by the Swakopmund Residents Association and Robert Pohl over the development of Bloedorn House.The Council agenda for August indicates that the developer did not adhere to the conditions of the demolishing certificate and levelled part of the street facade to the ground.”The demolishing certificate clearly stipulated that the street facade of the existing building may not be changed or altered at all,” the agenda states.The house was listed as a heritage building in the Town Planning Amendment Scheme which, according to the agenda, means “that 50 per cent of the building is classified as having heritage characteristics”.While the Council’s definition of a heritage building indicates that such a building is worth preserving in whole or in part, the developer also needs to approach the National Monuments Council (NMC) for permission to demolish or change any part of the building.In a letter to the architect of the development, Esther Moombolah-Goagoses, Director of the NMC, gave the green light for the project.Swakopmund Town Engineer Frikkie Holtzhausen told The Namibian that the NMC was the higher authority in this case.He said the building was not classified as a national monument and did not have any specific historical significance, which probably motivated the NMC’s decision.Holtzhausen added that the developer, Nexus, had indicated that the two remaining street facades would be retained and incorporated into the design.Nexus plans to erect a four storey apartment complex behind the remains of the existing house.The Swakopmund Council last week recommended that the external appearance of the new portion of the development needed to be adapted to tie in with and reflect the character of the front facade of the old house.Council rejected the original plan as the external appearance of the new development did not combine with the character of the old facades.The central part of the old building that was demolished would serve as the entrance to the building.