“Did you know that Tuynhuys started as a simple toolshed?” I ask my captivated audience. We stand before the grand building a testament to centuries of South African history.
Tuynhuys the President’s office in Cape Town is much more than just a workplace. Its history stretches back to 1674 when the Dutch East India Company built a small garden house. This humble structure served as a toolshed. By 1682 it transformed into a guesthouse. It hosted foreign visitors to Governor Simon van der Stel.
Over the years Tuynhuys underwent numerous renovations and expansions. By 1751 it was established as the governor’s summer residence. This became a tradition for all Dutch governors of that era. By 1790 it was known as The Governor’s House in the Company’s Gardens. Its elegant rococo balusters stucco drapes and Greco-Roman sculptures were already in place.
The building’s design is a fascinating blend of architectural styles. It incorporates elements of Louis XVI Neo-classicism and Baroque architecture. This reflects the influence of 18th-century Dutch and Dutch East Indies styles. Similar features appear in colonial buildings in Amsterdam and Jakarta.
The architect Louis Michel Thibault is largely credited for the plans and overall design. He studied under Louis XVI’s chief architect. However the artistic detail of the facades including sculptures of Mercury and Poseidon is attributed to both Jacobus Leeuwenberg and Anton Anreith. Both were prominent sculptors who worked in the Cape in the late 18th century.
What is less known is the significant contribution of skilled slaves. They played a crucial role in building Cape structures during this time. Historian Robert C H Shell researched the possible involvement of a slave named Rangton van Bali. He might have created a similar door at Genadendal the President’s former residence.
After the British took over in 1806 Tuynhuys became Government House. Its decorative facade was covered up for a more simplistic Georgian style. Lord Charles Somerset expanded it adding a ballroom a grand staircase and fireplaces. He aimed to make it fit for a representative of the monarchy. The British Royal Family even stayed there in 1947.
In 1968 architect Gabriel Fagan meticulously restored Tuynhuys to its 18th-century glory. He used drawings by Josephus Jones and Louis Michel Thibault. He sensitively incorporated later additions. Tuynhuys was renamed De Tuynhuys in 1972.
Finally on the steps of Tuynhuys in 1992 FW de Klerk announced the end of apartheid. This iconic location continues to stand as a symbol of South Africa’s complex yet resilient history. Isn’t it amazing how a simple toolshed could become such a vital part of a nation’s story?