Grandborough Court on Durban's South Beach shortly after it was built in the 1930s.
Image: Durban Art Deco Society
The old picture today is the notable Art Deco residential building Grandborough Court on Durban’s Marine Parade (today OR Tambo Parade). It is taken from the online postings of the city’s Art Deco Society.
Completed in 1935, it was designed by AG Frolich of the practice Obel & Obel. This "grand old lady of South Beach" was among the first major luxury apartment blocks built on the beachfront. It remains a prominent landmark of the city's 1930s architectural heritage. The building is a prime example of Durban's rich Art Deco movement, often cited alongside other notable nearby buildings like Anthea Court.
Recently the building has undergone exterior renovations to maintain its aesthetic, with a colour palette influenced by the Miami Design Preservation League. It has been repainted and preserved to maintain its original Art Deco features.
Today those paint colours have faded somewhat, it looks like the grand dame could do with a judicious touch-up job or face lift.
Grandborough Court on Durbans OR Tambo Parade today.
Image: Frank Chemaly