T UCKED AWAY IN THE HEART OF THE DURBAN CBD, a stone's throw from City Hall and dwarfed by its imposing neighbours, rests an architectural masterpiece by one of South Africa's most celebrated and revered architects. I first stumbled across the Netherlands Bank building as an architecture student in my second year of studies (the true puberty phase of architectural education). “Stumbled” is the correct word, as the four-storey building is easily lost among its soaring Smith Street surroundings. I stood across the street, watching people steal a moment from the hustle and bustle, at peace among the trees and bubbling fountains around its base. That moment left an indelible impression, and as I learnt more about the building and its legendary designer Norman
