Herbert Baker in South Africa by Doreen E. Greig, Limited edition
(1970)

Published in 1970 by Purnell & Sons, a definitive architectural monograph on Sir Herbert Baker's massive impact on the South African built landscape.

The Frontispiece: J.M. Solomon’s Tragic Connection to Baker

The portrait facing the title page shows a young Herbert Baker drawn by Joseph Michael Solomon. This drawing links the book to a compelling and tragic chapter in South African architectural history.

Solomon was a brilliant young architect who studied directly under Baker in Johannesburg and worked closely with him on major projects, including the Union Buildings in Pretoria. When Baker left for India in 1912 to design New Delhi alongside Edwin Lutyens, Solomon remained a rising star back home.

In 1916, Solomon was commissioned to design the new campus for the University of Cape Town (UCT) on the Groote Schuur estate—a project initially conceptualized by Baker. Overwhelmed by the monumental pressure of the project, dealing with institutional friction, and struggling with his mental health during the influenza epidemic, Solomon tragically took his own life in 1920 at the age of 34 before the campus was completed. His portrait of Baker remains a testament to their deep professional relationship.

Doreen Greig: A Trailblazer for Women in Architecture

The author, Doreen E. Greig, was a monumental figure in her own right. She was one of the earliest women to graduate with an architecture degree from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and went on to become the very first female President of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA).

Her exhaustive research for this book fundamentally reassessed Baker's legacy. Rather than just viewing him through a colonial lens, Greig critically analyzed how Baker successfully synthesized traditional Cape Dutch vernacular architecture, local materials (like kopje stone), and British Arts and Crafts principles to create a unique regional aesthetic.

This volume is number 556 of a limited edition of 2,000 copies, printed at Purnell's facility on Keerom Street in Cape Town.

Dust jacket chipped and worn.

225mm x 280mm

R1,000