The philosophy and ideas of modern architecture, labeled the international style that originated in Europe were dispersed widely around the world. The theme in this paper is the transmission of the principles of modern architecture from Western Europe to one place, the tip of Africa. The new views were introduced into South Africa as early as 1925 and were continually applied until the early 1940s when local interpretation of these new views of architecture became apparent. Although Walter Gropius and Mies van de Rohe influenced the architects designing South African buildings during the 1930s and early 1940s, Le Corbusier held greater sway than these two internationally known architects. He named the close group of young architects who followed his way le groupe Transvaal. Their ideas were reinforced through visits to Paris, reading his books, and through publication of Le Corbusier's buildings in the local influential architectural journal.