MIRA FASSLER-KAMSTRA

1989

MIRA FASSLER-KAMSTRA

MIMICRY AND CAMOUFLAGE (INSPIRATION AND INTERPRETATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN ARCHITECTURE)

MIRA FASSLER-KAMSTRA

Mira Fassler was brought up in an architectural environment where the Modern Movement of the 1930’s, New Eclecticism of the 1950’s, Gardens of Italy and Spain and the architecture of Ndebele and Cape Dutch constituted her early influences.

With her husband, geologist Michael Kamstra, she visited Great Zimbabwe, German Missions (Marianhill), the Little Karoo, Victorian Veranda Farm Houses and Sotho Settlements, all contributing to her awareness of Southern Africa’s rich heritage. She worked for various leading architects, including Andre Hoffe, Hans Hallen, John Fassler and Willie Meyer. In 1971 she inherited her father, John Fassler’s practice.

Mira combined her professional career with an academic one, lecturing at the University of Witwatersrand during 1977 and 1978.

This university involvement continued on a part-time basis for many years as an external examiner for various schools of architecture in South Africa and presenting various national and international public lectures.

The lectures include lectures at the Congress of South African Architects in Cape Town (1983) and Johannesburg (1985), the inaugural Sophia Gray lecture hosted by the Department of Architecture, University of the Free State in 1989 and International Union of Female Architects & Planners Congress on Housing in Washington, DC in the same year.

From 1978 she worked in partnership with Marcus Holmes to establish Fassler Kamstra & Holmes Architects. Mira received numerous awards for work produced by herself and in various associations and partnerships. An exhibition of Mira Fassler Kamstra’s work was held in Bloemfontein at Die Ou Presidensie in 1988.

Born 7 November 1938
Education 1961: Bachelor of Architecture, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Projects featured House De la Harpe, Johannesburg, Gauteng (1976); Saheti Primary School and Nursery, Johannesburg, Gauteng (1971)

SG 01

SAHETI PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERY​

Bedford View, Johannesburg, Gauteng | 1971

HOUSE DE LA HARPE

Johannesburg, Gauteng | 1976