SA architecture as Image and Text: A critical overview of publications in 2003

Abstract

Architectural Africana is not well served by publishers. The crop of the year 2003 must be seen in this light.

Winds of change blew through the magazine publishers. Piel de Beer, who has been editor of Architecture SA (as part of the now defunct Warrman's stable) since 1989, later SA Architecture (as part of the Primedia stable), has been (temporarily?) given sabbatical to convalesce and his duties are now performed by Julian Cooke . The magazine also appears under the banner of Architecture South Africa (in the stable of Pica sso Headline). Leading Architecture - the independent break-away - have abandoned the experimentation introduced by Madelaine Page by having guest editors drawn from academia and following themes of their choosing, and on her resignation, have elected to become just another trade magazine. Fortunately Urban Green File, under the editorship of Carol Knoll , still remains a source of current, cutting edge, critical and independent commentary. In the presence of more likely competitors, this magazine has received the second consecutive PICA award for best trade magazine in the architectural category.