Afrikaans:

Onlangs is die verweerde hout van ‘n historiese veranda, ontwerp in 1905, herstel. Argitek Raymond Bouma, het hierdie proses namens die Universiteit Stellenbosch en Erfenis Wes-Kaap gemonitor. Raymond Bouma is ook ‘n komitee-lid van die Stellenbosch Erfenisstigting.

Die beskadigde veranda is in 1905 deur Antony de Witt ontwerp tydens die opgradering van ‘n beskeie Kaapse plaashuis vir die nuwe eienaar, Jannie Marais. Antony (Antonie) Mauritz de Witt (1854-1916) is in Nederland-gebore en het ‘n beduidende invloed op Kaapse argitektuur gehad. Sy vader Dirk en seun Gerrit was ook argitekte. Antony de Witt het geboue was meestal in die Neo-Gotiese styl ontwerp, en verskeievan sy geboue bestaan vandag.

Teen ongeveer 1960 was die houtveranda reeds ‘n slegte toestand en is dit verwyder. Die Universiteit het n 1970 die argitek Gawie Fagan aangestel om die veranda te vervang volgens Antony de Witt se oorspronklike ontwerp.

Vyftig jaar later was die hout weer verrot en dele van die struktuur onveilig. Die Fagan-veranda is van Meranti-hout gemaak waarna dit geverf is. Vandag is dit bekend dat Meranti nie geskik vir verf is nie. Raymond Bouma het by argitek Pius Pahl geleer dat hout soos Sapele-mahonie goed is vir verf. Op grond van hierdie kennis het die Universiteit Stellenbosch ingestem om Sapele-mahonie vir die nuwe veranda te gebruik. Met periodieke verfwerk en goeie waterbeheer kan die veranda langer as 50 jaar hou.

English:

The rotten timber of a historic veranda, designed in 1905, was recently restored. Architect Raymond Bouma, a long-standing member of the Stellenbosch Heritage Foundation, monitored this process on behalf of Stellenbosch University and Heritage Western Cape.

Antony de Witt designed the veranda in 1905 as part of an upgrade of a modest Cape Homestead for the new owner, Jannie Marais. Antony (Antonie) Mauritz de Witt (1854-1916) was a Dutch-born architect who significantly influenced Cape Town architecture. His father, Dirk, and son, Gerrit, were also architects. Antony de Witt’s buildings were mainly in the Neo-Gothic style, and many still stand.

Around 1960, the timber veranda was in bad condition and had been removed.  In 1970, the university appointed architect Gawie Fagan to replace the veranda following the original design of Antony de Witt.

Fifty years later, the timber was again rotten, and part of the structure was unsafe. The Fagan veranda was painted and constructed out of Meranti. Today, Meranti is not suitable for painting. Architect Raymond Bouma learned from architect Pius Pahl that a wood-like sapele mahogany is ideal for painting. Thus, Stellenbosch University agreed to use sapele mahogany for the new veranda. Subject to periodic painting and reasonable water control, the veranda could last well over 50 years.