CAPE DUTCH HOUSES - Phillida Brooke Simons

Fernwoord Press, 2000. Hardcover, 256 pages. Very good condition: tightly bound, neat and clean. 

The distinctive historical architecture of the southwestern Cape, generally known as 'Cape Dutch', features ornate gables, thatched roofs and whitewashed walls. These buildings, frequently set in surroundings that enhance their dignity and aesthetic appeal, form part of a cultural heritage that is inextricably linked with the history of South Africa. A thoroughly researched and informative text describes the physical features of individual buildings, as well as their histories and those of their owners. Eleven regions within the southwestern Cape are covered, from central Cape Town to the West Coast, and including the towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Worcester. While each house is illustrated with at least one full-colour photograph, certain subjects, such as the Castle in Cape Town, Stellenbosch's Village Museum complex and the Mamre Mission, are dealt with at length. Particularly characteristic areas, like the Bo-Kaap in Cape Town, or the Bottelary region near Stellenbosch, are also given special treatment.