Fears rife at Swakopmund that heritage being ‘defaced’

CONCERNS are being raised at Swakopmund over the booming building industry is costing the town its cultural heritage and distinctive character.

Recent developments at the town have compelled a group of concerned residents to draw up a petition to the Municipality addressing their concerns. Another group, calling themselves the Swakopmund Heritage Committee, will be meeting with Municipal officials and Councillors on Monday to discuss their concerns and make proposals on future developments.According to the petition, which is currently being circulated for signatures, “property development at Swakopmund is putting increasing pressure on the town’s cultural and architectural heritage resources”.The petition states that despite the Town Planning Amendment Scheme no.12/2002, which provides for the identification of heritage buildings and heritage use, the plan does not provide a strategy on how to deal with heritage resources.”Moreover, wanton damage inflicted to heritage resources in the form of premature demolition, insensitive alteration and reckless property development is not dealt with effectively, thereby leaving heritage resources basically and virtually unprotected,” its states.The petition names three examples that have recently caused concern among residents.In June critical damage was inflicted to the “Bloedorn House” in Tobias Hainyeko Street, one of the oldest buildings in town that is listed on the Heritage Use Schedule.The demolition of the house was done illegally and could only be stopped by residents after the middle section had already been levelled to the ground.In Sam Nujoma Avenue, the erection of two new buildings has been a topic of criticism of late.According to the petition the building of Minette Court on Erf 1/B constitutes a brutal architectural intrusion with regard to the two historical buildings on both sides.”This is a flagrant violation of clause 7.13.1 of the Town Planning Amendment Scheme.”The clause stipulates that all new buildings or extensions to buildings situated in the conservation area on the street front “must be adapted to the adjacent and surrounding buildings as far as height and architectural appearance are concerned”.A mere 50 odd metres from Minette Court, another building is being erected that is highly unsympathetic to its historic environment.The futuristic construction has already been named the “Sinking Titanic” by residents.The petition further names examples of successful restoration projects that have added significantly to the appeal of Swakopmund.Examples of these projects include among others the Woermann House, the old Railway station that today houses the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre, the State House, the Hohenzollernhaus, the Prison building and the recently renovated Kabelmesse.”It should be noted that Namibia has the finest heritage of German colonial architecture world-wide,” the petition reads.The group argues that this aspect should not be treated lightly because whoever would like to view examples of this architecture would have to travel to Namibia.The group states that conservation is not at odds with development and change, nor does it mean no adaptations to historic buildings can be made to suit the needs of present-day life.Instead development should be done harmoniously to fit in with the existing historic environment and not in a manner that is destroying Swakopmund’s unique character.The petition asks the Municipality, as a matter of urgency in in public interest, to: * re-assess its responsibility and commitment to the town’s cultural heritage; * re-evaluate, revise, upgrade and improve its legal and technical mechanisms dealing with the preservation, protection and conservation of these resources; * ensure that contemporary designs, additions and alterations to building in historic areas are sympathetically executed; *convene an aesthetics/heritage committee; * hold regular meetings with citizens; * appoint a team of professionals consisting of conservationists, historians, architects, artists, legal practitioners and town planners; and * commit to the important task of maintaining the town’s architectural and cultural heritage.An architect at Swakopmund, Erhard Roxin told The Namibian earlier that a more professional body was needed to advice Council on these matters.He said the Municipality did not have all the expertise to properly control the preservation of old buildings and that an advising body was vital.The Namibian Institute of Architects did a study of all the old buildings at the town and provided Council with a grading system in order to help preserve this heritage.For Hans-Dieter Goethje, who was born at Swakopmund and served on the Town Council for 20 years, the preservation of historic parts play an important role in tourism.”Our future lies in tourism,” he said earlier.”It is very important to keep the unique character of our town.”A senior Municipal official agreed that it was important to retain the character of the town.In an interview last year he said there were enough precautions to ensure the preservation of buildings in the conservation area, and that these were followed strictly.Spokesperson for the concerned residents, Bernd Hanke said there were widespread support for the petition as many Swakopmunders felt development had gotten out of hand in their town.Another group, calling themselves the Swakopmund Heritage Committee, will be meeting with Municipal officials and Councillors on Monday to discuss their concerns and make proposals on future developments.According to the petition, which is currently being circulated for signatures, “property development at Swakopmund is putting increasing pressure on the town’s cultural and architectural heritage resources”.The petition states that despite the Town Planning Amendment Scheme no.12/2002, which provides for the identification of heritage buildings and heritage use, the plan does not provide a strategy on how to deal with heritage resources.”Moreover, wanton damage inflicted to heritage resources in the form of premature demolition, insensitive alteration and reckless property development is not dealt with effectively, thereby leaving heritage resources basically and virtually unprotected,” its states.The petition names three examples that have recently caused concern among residents.In June critical damage was inflicted to the “Bloedorn House” in Tobias Hainyeko Street, one of the oldest buildings in town that is listed on the Heritage Use Schedule.The demolition of the house was done illegally and could only be stopped by residents after the middle section had already been levelled to the ground.In Sam Nujoma Avenue, the erection of two new buildings has been a topic of criticism of late.According to the petition the building of Minette Court on Erf 1/B constitutes a brutal architectural intrusion with regard to the two historical buildings on both sides.”This is a flagrant violation of clause 7.13.1 of the Town Planning Amendment Scheme.”The clause stipulates that all new buildings or extensions to buildings situated in the conservation area on the street front “must be adapted to the adjacent and surrounding buildings as far as height and architectural appearance are concerned”.A mere 50 odd metres from Minette Court, another building is being erected that is highly unsympathetic to its historic environment.The futuristic construction has already been named the “Sinking Titanic” by residents.The petition further names examples of successful restoration projects that have added significantly to the appeal of Swakopmund.Examples of these projects include among others the Woermann House, the old Railway station that today houses the Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre, the State House, the Hohenzollernhaus, the Prison building and the recently renovated Kabelmesse.”It should be noted that Namibia has the finest heritage of German colonial architecture world-wide,” the petition reads.The group argues that this aspect should not be treated lightly because whoever would like to view examples of this architecture would have to travel to Namibia.The group states that conservation is not at odds with development and change, nor does it mean no adaptations to historic buildings can be made to suit the needs of present-day life.Instead development should be done harmoniously to fit in with the existing historic environment and not in a manner that is destroying Swakopmund’s unique character.The petition asks the Municipality, as a matter of urgency in in public interest, to: * re-assess its responsibility and commitment to the town’s cultural heritage; * re-evaluate, revise, upgrade and improve its legal and technical mechanisms dealing with the preservation, protection and conservation of these resources; * ensure that contemporary designs, additions and alterations to building in historic areas are sympathetically executed; *convene an aesthetics/heritage committee; * hold regular meetings with citizens; * appoint a team of professionals consisting of conservationists, historians, architects, artists, legal practitioners and town planners; and * commit to the important task of maintaining the town’s architectural and cultural heritage.An architect at Swakopmund, Erhard Roxin told The Namibian earlier that a more professional body was needed to advice Council on these matters.He said the Municipality did not have all the expertise to properly control the preservation of old buildings and that an advising body was vital.The Namibian Institute of Architects did a study of all the old buildings at the town and provided Council with a grading system in order to help preserve this heritage.For Hans-Dieter Goethje, who was born at Swakopmund and served on the Town Council for 20 years, the preservation of historic parts play an important role in tourism.”Our future lies in tourism,” he said earlier.”It is very important to keep the unique character of our town.”A senior Municipal official agreed that it was important to retain the character of the town.In an interview last year he said there were enough precautions to ensure the preservation of buildings in the conservation area, and that these were followed strictly.Spokesperson for the concerned residents, Bernd Hanke said there were widespread support for the petition as many Swakopmunders felt development had gotten out of hand in their town.