Did you know that the South African city of Durban’s City Hall is almost an exact replica of Belfast City Hall?
Durban City Hall was designed by architect Stanley G. Hudson and was erected sometime between 1906 and 1910.
Interestingly, if you have seen Belfast City Hall, you will notice the striking similarities between the two right away.
That’s because Durban City Hall, which features the Edwardian Baroque Revival style, also known as the Neo-Baroque style, is nearly an exact replica of Belfast City Hall.
Durban City Hall – an almost carbon copy of Belfast City Hall
In 1903, the Town Council of Durban welcomed architects to put forward designs for the new town hall.
It was Stanley G. Hudson who submitted the winning design, which at the time the Town Council considered “very bold and progressive”. As it turns out, Mr Hudson was inspired by the design of the Belfast City Hall.
Perhaps the most notable exact similarity between the two city halls is the iconic green central dome at the core of the two buildings.
The façades of Durban City Hall are adorned with symbolic statues relating to the arts, music, literature, industry and commerce.
The area surrounding the Belfast City Hall has statues, plaques, and memorials for all kinds of occasions, including war memorials and tributes to notable people in the city.
Belfast City Hall – the inspiration for Durban City Hall
So, as it turns out, Belfast City Hall was the inspiration behind Durban City Hall, and this wouldn’t surprise you when you look at the two side by side.
The City Hall that stands in Belfast city centre was commissioned to replace the Old Town Hall in Victoria Street after Queen Victoria gave Belfast city status in 1888.
Construction on Belfast City Hall began in 1903. It was designed and completed by architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas in 1906 in the Baroque Revival style. This is the exact style of Durban City Hall.
Interestingly, the Port of Liverpool building, which was designed by Sir Arnold Thornely, is also very similar to Belfast City Hall. It was completed in 1913.
The influence of Irish architecture around the world – some of the world’s most famous buildings
Belfast City Hall isn’t the only Irish building that has inspired other structures around the world.
Some of the world’s most famous buildings were modelled on Irish construction and architecture.
For example, Leinster House, the seat of the Oireachtas (the parliament of Ireland), was the inspiration for the White House.
It is said that James Hoban, the Irish-American architect who designed the White House, modelled it on Leinster House. He also modelled Charleston County Courthouse on Leinster House, too.
