A cradle for civil society

The Novalis-Ubuntu Resource Centre is a building that has provoked a lot of comment about its unconventional design. For me it is very personal. Each time I walk into the building I experience something remarkable. It is a feeling of peace and, somehow, of renewal. And it’s a feeling I’ve had ever since the building took shape in 1995/96.

Architect Brian Johnson’s harmonious forms have created a space that many other organisations and individuals identify with, judging by the number of people who have used the Resource Centre for a wide range of activities.

I was one of those who took turns turning over the soil at the ceremony that began the process in May 1995, along with Ralph Shepherd, Anne-Lise Bure, Len Smith, Brian Johnson, Nana Gobel (of the Friends of Rudolf Steiner Education in Germany), Dr Nick Lee, former editor of the SA Medical Journal, and teaching colleagues John Coates, Howard Dobson and Yvonne Bleach, together with co-workers Maria Rademeyer and Laurine Le Roux.

A geometrical form known as a dodecahedron was buried in the foundations, a symbol of the totality of the universe, and a blessing was given by the Reverend Neville Adams as we listened to these words by teacher Peter King: “This building is dedicated to education that will empower a future generation to accomplish its chosen tasks with strength of purpose, with sureness of heart, with clarity of intent and with love in freedom.” From that solemn ceremony has flowed much hard work, love and wisdom.

The Resource Centre has been a cradle for a basketful of creative civil society programmes that have sought to express the same relevance and commitment to people’s needs as the remarkably healing human-scale architecture for which the building has become known.

Written by Stan Maher