Quarry to Cornerstone – Rocks to Building Materials: Tommy’s Talk

Tommy Brümmer, one of Cape Town’s top town planners knows the city like the back of his hand – he has worked here for three decades, after a Geology and Geography B.Sc. and then planning at Stellenbosch University.

Cape Town was built using the three basic rock types: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. All three occur in the City Bowl and are quarried for construction way back and now.

Using photographs (current and archive), stories and insights, Tommy’s talk shows how these materials are used in huge landmark buildings to humble city walls.

Tommy has given popular talks (and tours) for Culture Connect on William Grant architecture. This talk is a first for us and also a first for us is holding an event in the new School of Explorative Architecture (SEA), in House Union Block, HUB, (blue building pictured below). It is home of the Spier Arts Trust. On the ground floor will be the new 100 PORTRAITS exhibition – 60 portraits from South Africa’s National Portrait Award organised by Rust en Vrede Gallery where the top 40 portraits will be exhibited.

Architect, author and Assoc Prof Nic Coetzer, who heads up SEA, will be hosting us.

Thursday 7 September 2023 – a First Thursday

17h30 to 19h00

Cost: R200 includes delicious Spier wine; R100 for full time students (free for architectural students)

To book: kate@cultureconnectsa.com 072 377 8014 (WhatsApp great)

Second Floor

House Union Block

25 Commercial St (Parliament end)

Cape Town City Centre, 8001

Do join us for supper nearby at Cousin’s restaurant afterwards (suggestions welcome)

Thank you Spier Arts Trust for your support of this event

First picture: construction of Anglican cathedral, St George’s, 1889 – 1894