Would you have guessed that during the 1930s Springs was mentioned in the same breath as Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, as a budding South African metropolitan city? Probably not.

Undergoing massive development between the two World Wars, Springs happened to be home to many Art Deco-inspired buildings, as this was the architectural trend of the time.

We’re talking the second most Art Deco buildings in the world, behind only Miami. Talk about a claim to fame – and you thought the place was uncultured.

If you’re not down with the term, SA People elaborates:

The term Art Deco had its origins with the international exhibition “Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes” held in Paris, France 1925. Shortened to Arts Deco, later to become known as Art Deco, the style developed principally from exotic African and Eastern art forms.

The style centred on designs of mysterious and romantic animals, the sun, fountains and organic motifs while cubists such as Picasso and Braque, futurists such as Severini, Boccini and Marinetti and the surrealism of Dali and Cocteau influenced Art Deco greatly.

Although Springs had a phenomenal growth due to the gold mining era, the architecture developed a character of its own by combining “the elements of streamlined, tropical and industrial Art Deco with the more reserved classical style”.

Some of the best examples of Art Deco building style is evident in the Central Fire Station, opened on 13 July 1938 and designed by a Mr Anifantakis.

Although Springs’ heyday may have come and gone, the City of Ekurhuleni is aiming to restore the buildings to an international level, making them a town attraction.

Good luck, as I hear they in quite bad form at the moment.

Check out more pics HERE  – there really are quite a few.

[source: theheritageportal]