Rex Distin Martienssen

In 1930, an M.Arch in 1940 and a D.Litt. In 1941. He also became an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1930 and in 1939 was elected President of the Transvaal Institute of Architects. He became a senior lecturer in architecture at the University of Witwatersrand and acted as temporary head of the department. He became a member of the Engineering Faculty in 1937 and of the Architecture Faculty in 1940. He travelled to Europe quite frequently to stay abreast of changes and new ideas. On one of his trips abroad in 1934 he met Le Corbusier, which was to be the start of an enduring friendship. In the same year Martienssen established a practice in Johannesburg, and designed his own home House Martienssen in Greenside – a house quite remarkable even by current standards. He became co-editor of the South African Architectural Record in 1932 and published some 40 articles on Greek, Renaissance and modern architecture. His thesis, The Idea of Space in Greek Architecture, was published posthumously in 1956. In 1937 he was nominated by Le Corbusier and became a member of Congrès International d'Architecture Moderne. Rex Martienssen was married to architect and historian Professor Heather Martienssen of the Witwatersrand University Fine Arts Department – the first woman professor at the university.

• Name — Rex Distin Martienssen • Born — 26 February 1905 • Birthplace — Queenstown, Cape Colony • Died — 23 August 1942 • Place of death — Pretoria • Citizenship — South Africa • Education — University of Witwatersrand (M.Arch.) • Occupation — Architect