We are fortunate to have another guest post from the Durban Art Deco Society. Durban is South Africa’s third largest city and has many fine Art Deco buildings, including this one.
Berea Court
This is a multi-storey 41-apartment building with excellent detailing, designed for the Langton family by Alfred Arthur Ritchie McKinlay around 1930 and located at 399 Berea Road. The stucco finish has good mouldings in authentic Art Deco style. A stylised theme of wings is evident in the design, with geometric string courses. The central balcony at high level is richly decorated with a sunburst pattern and forms a high level focus to Berea Road.
Fluted pilasters rise through the façade to a crenellated parapet with lion features. The entrance below has an African feel to the surround mouldings. There is a well-designed rear elevation with cantilevered walkways and an amusing range of stained glass windows to the lift shaft, and flat entrances, which have original milk-bottle alcoves. The top floor is open for water tanks and the lift shaft.
The building is used for student accommodation and is well maintained by the owner.
Photos and text © Durban Art Deco Society
Global Art Deco 
How lovely to see this project showcased on Global Art Deco.
My name is Nathan Francis @francisarchitect) and we proud to be involved in the refurbishment of this beauty. The fact that this building is sort after by students to spend their study years instead of other options is a great compliment to the Art Deco community. The building owner goes out of his way to maintain this block even though it is a student res.
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