Jack Barnett

Jack Judah Barnett (1924-1996) was an architect.

Biography

Born in Cape Town. His primary school years (1932-1937) were spent at Hillel College, Muizenberg. From 1937-1939 he attended Muizenberg High School. In 1940 he enrolled for a BA Fine Art, of which he completed the first year of study before switching to Architecture (1941-1945) in the School of Architecture in Cape Town, from which graduated with distinction. In 1946 he was awarded the Helen Gardner Travel Scholarship residing in New York, USA (1948) and visiting Italy. In 1949 he was employed in the offices of Harrison and Abramowitch. Between 1948 and 1949 he assisted in the practice of Kantorowich and Hope, and in association won the national architectural competition for the Harrismith High School, Orange Free State. In 1949 he was awarded the Baker Scholarship to the British School at Rome. Between 1950 and 1951 he, as Herbert Baker Scholar, was resident at the British School at Rome (BSR). He toured Italy extensively, as well as visiting Sweden, Denmark, France and England. He attended the Berlin Youth Festival in East Berlin. In 1952 he left for Israel where he was employed at the new town of Ashkelon as resident architect. The water tower here was his first built project and he designed the public buildings in town the centre. He married Naomi Shapiro in November of that year.

In 1954 he returned to Cape Town to open architectural practice. Between 1955 and 1957 he was appointed Studio Master at the University of Cape Town School of Architecture.

He served between 1973 to 1977 as committee member of the Cape Provincial Institute of Architects (now Cape Institute of Architects), between 1975 and 1977 as President. He also served as Member of the National Board of the South African Institute of Architects and as Member of the South African Council for Architects (SACA) and Chairman of Education Advisory Committee of the South African Council of Architects. In the period from 1978 until 1996 he acted as architectural correspondent for the Cape Times. Between 1981 and 1994 he was a Trustee of the Community Arts Project.

Contribution to South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance

He and Leslie Broer designed the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. He also designed the Fish Hoek High School Theatre.

Awards

In 1977 he was recipient of the Institute of South African Architects Award of Merit for the Baxter Theatre. In 1982 he was awarded the Gold Medal Award from the South African Institute of Architects for his outstanding academic career and success in many architectural competitions.