Feature: Pioneer

Gertruida Brinkman

A very modern influence

GERTRUIDA BRINKMAN, née Siemerink, (BArch 1932), was one of the early women architects to qualify from Wits. She was born in Pretoria, and her work was influenced by Arthur Stanley Furner, a full-time senior lecturer at the Wits School of Architecture and editor of the South African Architectural Record, who introduced Modern Architecture to his students.

Brinkman’s work is often characterised by the vertical expression of staircases, the sophisticated detailing of handrails and thresholds, and the unique design of the wrought iron work of boundary fences and entrance gates. She designed House Stockelbach, which is one of the significant examples of Early Modern Architecture in Port Elizabeth. Today it is the GFI Art Gallery surrounded by the Baakens Valley and the historical St George’s Park.

The house known as "Ridgewood" was designed for the then managing director of the Ford Motor Company, AF Stockelbach. Today it houses the the THE HOUSE, KNOWN AS "RIDGEWOOD", WAS DESIGNED FOR THE THEN MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AF STOCKELBACH.

Images: Gerald Humphrey

Source: http://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/archframes.php?archid=2054