Debate through Criticism
When Pieter Franz (Piet) de Beer accepted a position on the teaching staff of the School of Architecture at the University of Cape Town in 1991, he was unaware that the part-time appointment as editor of the ISAA bi-monthly journal might become integral with his move from Pretoria.

The overlap of his teaching activities set the tone for his focus on debate as the key to the development of an active architectural culture. The July/August 1991 issue of Architecture SA was the first under the editorship of Piet de Beer. From the outset he made clear in his Editor’s Notes: “Architecture thrives through comment and criticism”, and Architecture SA was to become “a forum for interaction”.

That stance set the tone for a 13-year editorship in which he simultaneously balanced possible confrontation with the recording of delight in detailed construction, by initiating a Technical Section alongside the Practice Column.

Negotiating Publisher’s Fortunes and Managing Change
The then publishers, Warman, had two concerns: the economics of the journal and the adherence to deadlines. Yet, within a miserly travel budget, De Beer averted both parochialism of coverage, and advertorial content, while promoting the objectives of the Institute of Architects within a lively forum. The only faction not satisfactorily serviced was that of academic writing. Piet de Beer achieved a major milestone in this regard when at the end of 1993, and following a prolonged struggle, he obtained official SAPSE accreditation for the journal, and later ISSN registration.

With the change from the ‘Old’ South Africa to the New (1994), De Beer introduced the ‘Acid Bath’ column giving opportunity for members to vent their views on contentious issues, while covering controversial themes such as Risk Work and the role of Women in Architecture. For architecture to remain relevant, the “issues of the day must be addressed and seen to be addressed”, he wrote.

Six years on, with the issue of November/December 1997, De Beer had a new master, Primedia Publishers, based in Johannesburg, and, to boot, a new name for the journal: South African Architect. Despite this elevation in the publishing world, in the inaugural editorial, De Beer declared that Architecture SA was the “only serious architectural journal in the country” and that South African Architect intends to continue in that tradition, which it did. In his role as editor, De Beer ensured that the Institute’s official journal in fact remained relevant and in a leading role.

Improving Standards with Limited Means
The distance between Cape Town and Johannesburg saw De Beer turn necessity into a virtue, as he emerged as a virtual editor in the electronic era. What is more, Primedia also wished a bi-monthly publication. De Beer managed to steer through uncertainties, such as sudden cuts in content prompted by advertising shortfalls, and on occasion, would expend from his own pocket to improve the quality of the Journal, such as commissioning the best photographers for a particular project. Yet, instead of deserved praise, the uninitiated let him reap undeserved criticism.

With the ‘benchmark issue’ at last achieved, the May/June 2002 issue saw the end of a nearly 5-year relationship with Primedia. The new publishers, Picasso, were based in Cape Town, and as of 2002 the title of the journal reverted once more from person to issue: Architecture South Africa.

Editing with Passion
The editorship of an Institute’s Journal is often a thankless task, and if Piet de Beer will be remembered for only one thing, it is his continued passion for debate. An editor of an architectural journal cannot but make enemies. However, even those will acknowledge his integrity of challenging compromised architectural production in a commercial publishing environment.

The Writers and Critics Award is presented to Pieter Franz de Beer as a tribute to his efforts in keeping alive a passionate engagement in architectural debate under the difficult circumstances of changing publishers; and for securing academic status for the Journal; during the country’s period of transition.