Anglo American Sandstone

Anglo American’s Architectural Past Preserved Anglo American, one of the world’s largest mining companies, has spent close to 100 years mining platinum, thermal coal, diamonds, and iron ore in South Africa. When the company established offices in downtown Johannesburg in the late 1930’s, it decorated the building with sandstone panels featuring detailed carvings of plants and animals. Over the past eight decades these have been damaged, due both to environmental degradation and vandalism. Specialists in the construction, renovation and recycling of buildings, Gordon Verhoef & Krause, have spent the last few months repairing and recreating the panels in order to preserve this architectural heritage and restore it to its original beauty. According to John Croad, Director of Gordon Verhoef & Krause in Gauteng, “Our mandate was to remove large, carved sandstone blocks from the sides of the main external staircase which leads to the building’s entrance and replace them with new blocks with matching sculptural carvings. As parts of the original sculptural detail had deteriorated and begun to delaminate over time, new blocks were cut to size from quarry sandstone and hand-carved to match the existing details. This process was a long and slow one with meticulous care taken to replicate the exact original design.” The team encountered several challenges whilst carrying out the work. Among them was accessing the panels due to their enormous weight. Croad explains that scaffolding had to be erected on both sides of the staircase wall to create a platform from which to work. Large pulleys or hoists were also attached to assist in the removal and replacement process. This process was fraught with health and safety risks due to the sheer size and weight of the engraved blocks and thus safety precautions and careful management was key to preventing injury to the workers on site. Another difficulty faced was that the stone had deteriorated too extensively for the stone masons to use a mould and cast process to replicate the sculptures as was originally planned. The new stone blocks therefore had to be hand carved by eye. The job began with off-site manufacturing in June 2014 and installation took place between September 2014 and January 2015. Croad concludes that “the project was challenging, but well suited to our experience in stone restoration.” About Gordon Verhoef & Krause Gordon Verhoef & Krause is a leading specialist in the field of building, renovation, restoration and the recycling of buildings. From humble beginnings as painting contractors in the early 1960’s, founders Gordon Verhoef and Earl Krause have built a substantial national business that boasts an impeccable track record and sound reputation. Over the years the company has been associated with high profile, landmark projects such as the restoration of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the City Hall in Cape Town, as well as numerous contracts involving prominent government and public buildings, national monuments, commercial buildings, corporate offices, churches and schools. Visitwww.gvk.co.za for more information.