A Chat with Cool Capital’s Pieter Mathews

From the last days of August this year until lovely November, Pretoria will experience “the world’s first uncurated, DIY guerrilla biennale.”

By: Letlhogonolo Ndhlovu

ShowMe asked Pieter Mathews, architect at Mathews & Associates Architects and the organizer of Cool Capital Biennale about his love for the Capital City.

Where did you grow up?

Lichtenburg in the North West province.

What is it about the capital city that you love so much that you feel people are not aware of?

The amazing potential of our heritage buildings,especially the buildings from the Modern movement era such as the Second Bank of the Netherlands by Norman Eaton.

Neglected buildings like the Old Staats Museum at the Zoo, Capitol Theatre which is currently used as a parking garage and the Old Synagogue on Paul Kruger Street where Nelson Mandela was held for his trial.

Define Pretoria in one word?

Underrated!

What is your favourite local cuisine in Pretoria?

I Like Brassiere de Paris- as it is located in one of our best examples from the modern brutalism era, designed by Karel Jooste.

What is your favourite sculpture in Pretoria?

The Stick lady on a Donkey by Angus Taylor.

Angus donated the sculpture to Cool Capital and we placed it in front of Hoërskool Waterkloof. Go and have a look.

What is your favourite building in the capital?

We are busy with a Norman Eaton documentary so it must be the Second Bank of the Netherlands near Church Square. Eaton was the first architect to localise the modern idiom. It is called critical regionalism.

Instead of getting inspiration from abroad he looked to his own surroundings for local inspiration. The film will premiere in September during Cool Capital.

And your favourite art gallery in Pretoria?

I love to pop in at Fried, Trent and the Association of Arts, depending on the artist on show.

How did the Cool Capital idea come about?

Our firm was invited in 2012 to the Venice Architecture Biennale and the theme was Common Ground. I spotted a poster challenging the visitors to make a difference in their own cities. I thought let’s give it a try.

It looks like we are going to see a very good start of the world first uncurated, DIY guerrilla biennale. A biennale occurs every two years.

What are the small changes that people have suggested that could change the face of the city?

There are so many that I can’t choose, have a look on the website www.coolcaptal.co.za.

Which local initiatives are involved with Cool Capital and how many submissions have you received so far?

I never even dreamt that we would receive the amount of submissions that are in at this point in time.

I am very excited about all the schools taking part and with Atterbury property sponsoring this project; I can’t wait to see with what the kids come up with.

I was at a Capital collectives gathering recently and somebody asked why there isn’t a place in Pretoria to watch the African sunset. Is there a place like that for you in the capital?

Jip, the Voortrekker Monument is taking part in Cool Capital Biennale and we are showing films on roof tops all over in the city. Follow Cool Capital on Facebook and attend a Molo Mollo screening. We are also working with City Property to open some of their rooftops during the Cool Capital Biennale.

What do you do for fun when you are not busy working as an architect and on Cool Capital Biennale?

With not a lot of time at hand I try to spend it with my family. Weekends I take my bicycle and cycle through the city to discover significant buildings, vistas and views in our city.

What advice do you have for young artists or architects?

Persevere, do you own thing, have fun. Be more you and use the Cool Capital platform as an opportunity to build your portfolio. Do not wait for better days.

What is your most valued architectural project you have worked on so far in Pretoria?

We are busy with the Tshwane Rapid Transport stations in the heritage sensitive areas of the city. It is a great privilege to work between all these buildings of architectural historical significance.

With all these exciting changes taking place in Pretoria, what do you think it will be like to live in the capital in the future?

I think we will be amazed once we see the impact of the TRT and the rejuvenation of the inner city. The new urban design for Church Square will make us all want to celebrate Pretoria.

Check out this really cool video of the making of Lady on a donkey stick figure by Angus Taylor.

Visit the ShowMe Pretoria Art and Culture Page to find out more about art in Pretoria and find art exhibitions, art galleries and events on the ShowMe Pretoria Events and Entertainment Page.