One of my colleagues took us on a little tour of a few blocks around the office building we’re working from. We walked around quite a bit of the financial district in Johannesburg, and it was fascinating walking with Jason because he knows quite a bit about the history of the buildings.
This is the first time that I’ve really noticed how much gorgeous Art Deco architecture actually exists in the CBD. And I just love the way that some of the old beauties exist next to glass towers.
One of the first place we went was to the Guildhall Pub. It’s the oldest pub in Johannesburg and opened in 1888. Such character in there!
This is the building, the National Bank Building, that we’re working in for the next few days. It’s one of the oldest buildings in Johannesburg and was opened around 1902-ish. I really really wish I had a wider angle lens to take a better photo of it. The greenish dome is on top of the corner of the building, and is copper (hence the green). I took that photo from the balcony at the top. What fascinated me was in the inside of parts of the building… we went around the bottom floor of the one part, and it’s more than impressive with the art deco mixed with older styles and all the marble and gilt etc… it’s such a pity they didn’t let me take any photos of it.
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The best part of the walk was when we stopped outside the Rand Club to admire the stunning building, and as we were commenting on the columns and the detail at the top, we were stopped by a guy watching us and he asked us what we were doing. We told him, and we had a discussion about the architecture of the building. He told us that the building there now was built in 1904 (it’s the third building that has been on that site), and it’s all art deco in styling. That surprised me, because I thought it was a mixture with the art deco styles columns, yet for some reason I thought the top of the building was pre-art deco (but then again I’m no architect). He also told us that it was designed by the same architect that designed the National Bank Building which we are working in!! How cool!
Just before he got in his car, I asked him how he knew… turns out he’s the Chairman of the Rand Club!! LOL!
I would love to have seen the inside of the building, but we were completely inappropriately dressed for the place
It was an awesome experience being a tourist in my own city. Loved it!! Made me realise what a special place it is, and it made me hope that this revitalisation of the CBD just goes from strength to strength… because those old beauties deserve to be restored to their former glory.
I just love the contrasts in this city… old Johannesburg has got so much soul… with this beautiful district and the mining district and the more funky Newtown… compared to the almost heartless Sandton.
See the full set of 2010 photo-a-day photos on my Project 365 Flickr Set.
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