AE948
A phase I heritage report relating to the proposed expansion work at the Lichtenburg Correctional Facility, Lichtenburg, North West Province
Summary
Archaetnos cc was requested by Maxim Planning Solutions, to conduct a phase II cultural heritage study for the proposed expansion work at the Lichtenburg Correctional facility. The study is the result of a phase I heritage impact assessment done in August 2009 which recommended a phase II study. This is situated in the town of Lichtenburg in the Northwest Province.
The current facility consists of the original jail building which have been added to over the lapse of time. The original building is of a heritage importance and so are some of the additions. A house on the northeastern corner of the block and to which some renovations are planned is also of a heritage importance. The phase I study recommended the following with relation to these buildings:
? None of the buildings may be demolished or even partially demolished until such time as a thorough phase II heritage report was done, determining the exact age and significance of all the buildings, outbuildings and additions thereto. Such a report should be send to SAHRA for final comments.
? The Department of Correctional Service (and the Department of Public Works) will need to give the necessary clearance to a consultant to study plans in their possession in order to be able to determine what the original plans for the buildings was, what was added later as well as determining the exact age of all these components. The consultant should be someone with experience in the restoration and maintenance of historical military buildings.
? The information from the phase II report should be used as guidelines to plan the necessary expansion to the facility and renovations to the house. This includes the erection of new buildings on the premises as these may have a negative visual impact on the original jail building. The planning for this should be done by an architect with experience in working with historical buildings.
? The planned development can not proceed at present. The phase II report will however determine if and when it may proceed.
The reports deals with the findings after a survey have been conducted in the National Archives Repository in Pretoria. Old plans provided by Maxim and the proposed plans provided by the Department of Public Works was also studied.
The final recommendations are??…
Report by
Dr. A.C. van Vollenhoven (L.AKAD.SA.) & A.J. Pelser
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