Education
He studied at the University of Witwatersrand and obtained a Bachelor of Architecture in 1930, an M.Arch in 1940 and a Doctor of Literature
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Rex Martienssen
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Rex Distin Martienssen, Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Congrès Internationaux d’Architecture Moderne, 26 February 1905 Queenstown - 23 August 1942 Pretoria, was a South African architect who was greatly influenced by Le Corbusier and spearheaded a modernist architectural movement in South Africa.
Career
Because of his early death while training as a lieutenant in the South African Air Force in World World War II, Martienssen was unable to implement many of his ideas, but he left a rich legacy of writings to posterity. in 1941. He became a senior lecturer in architecture at the University of Witwatersrand and acted as temporary head of the department. He travelled to Europe quite frequently to stay abreast of changes and new ideas.
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.
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.
Membership
He became a member of the Engineering Faculty in 1937 and of the Architecture Faculty in 1940. In 1937 he was nominated by Le Corbusier and became a member of Congrès International d"Architecture Moderne.
