KZN Museum Plans underway for big move
It’s the beginning of a new dawn for the KwaZulu-Natal Museum as plans are underway to move the museum to the site of the iconic old St Anne’s Hospital, on Jabu Ndlovu Street.
A presentation of the museum’s proposed development was followed by a tour of the now old, run-down and derelict hospital site on Friday morning, facilitated by historical architect Lindsay Napier, who is one of the architect involved in the museum’s new development.
The old St Anne’s Hospital, also known as the Pietermaritzburg Sanitorium, dates back to 1897; and Napier said it is amazing it is still standing, especially in the condition it has been left to deteriorate into. The state of the buildings, left to rot and ruin, is overtly evident from before one sets foot through its broken doorways. On touring through the building, it was fascinating to see how nature had reclaimed the space as its own, with tree roots growing through the foundations and taking over what is left of the broken down interior, and yet, the intricately detailed architectural design still remains, withstanding the ravages of time, and cemented into the terribly chipped paintwork and cracked walls.
The building, owned by the Department of Arts and Culture, was last occupied in the 1980s by the NPA. The KZN Museum is driving the project and will be financing the move and the rebuilding of a new museum at this historical site. The development is designed specifically according to the needs of the KZN Museum, with a strong emphasis on education, and specifically with the future in mind.
Napier said they would restore what they could from the original building and architecture, but some buildings will have to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch. Currently, the proposed development is in the planning and design stages, and has received a positive response so far. Speaking about the move, the KZN Museum said it has outgrown its current premises at 237 Jabu Ndlovu Street. “We are limited in terms of new exhibition, collection and office space. The current site also does not offer parking facilities to visitors, especially big groups.
“The new site not only allows for a much bigger space for new and exciting exhibitions, but also allows for us to be able to manage and grow our collections in a much better way than we are doing at the moment. The all-important parking issue will be resolved with ample space for cars and buses, which will be in a safe and secure space.
“A new museum allows us to cater for our visitors in a way that will ensure the best visitor experience, so we are very excited about the positive benefit it will have, for not only the museum but also for the city as a whole,” said the museum’s marketing officer, Viranna Frank.