What is the tallest building in South Africa?
South Africa is one of the African countries that has for the longest time experienced revolution in its economic and structural development. It stands as the best structurally developed country in Africa. The hype of the development is noticed in the country's biggest towns and cities. Cities such as Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth have so much influence in setting the pace for the rest of the continent. Have you stopped to ask yourself, what is the tallest building in South Africa?
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Even though South Africa takes pride in being home to the most modern structures, that is not reason enough for the country to slack in the development sector. The country is still coming up with the best and classiest tall structures. The skyscrapers in the cities will take you by surprise, especially if you are not from the country. The tall buildings in the country can comfortably be compared to the tallest building in the world. You might want to know more about the tallest building in South Africa.
The tallest buildings in South Africa
As of date, this is the list of the nine tallest building in the country;
1. Carlton Centre
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If you happen to visit South Africa, having a glimpse of the Carlton Centre should be in your bucket list. Is Carlton Centre the tallest building in South Africa? The structure is not only the tallest building in South Africa 2019 but also the highest in the whole continent. The structure has 50 storeys above the ground, and it is 273 metres tall, equivalent to 732 feet. The structure was constructed for seven years, and the construction process was wrapped up in 1974. Carlton Centre Johannesburg has a worth of R88 million.
READ ALSO: How much does it cost to build a house in South Africa 2019?
The structure is made of reinforced concrete, with a perfect granite finish on the inside. To guarantee the safety of the structure, each floor of the structure has ribbed slabs that have been supported by the use of spandrel beams. To add to it, the foundation of the structure is situated at a depth of twenty metres below, this makes its stability unquestionable. It is currently the highest building in South Africa, even though there are speculations about another building being under construction.
The fifty storeys of the structure make it a formidable skyscraper. It also serves as a shopping centre in the country. If you are the type that wishes to have a bird's eye view of the city, getting to the top-most floor of the building might be the plug.
2. Ponte City Apartments
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Ponte City apartments is the second tallest building that also graces Johannesburg skyline. The beauty that the structure exhibits especially at night is one to die for. It ranks at the top of the list of the tallest buildings that serve as apartments in the country and the whole continent. The building has fifty-four storeys, and it is cylindrical, with an opening at the centre. The purpose of the opening is to allow extra light to penetrate the building.
Ponte City apartment was constructed in 1975 and is situated in Hillbrow. The structure is 173 metres tall and has an attractively massive advert of Vodacom company. Apart from that, the structure has the best views of the city and make the most of its strategic location. Ponte City apartments is the other building that graces the JHB skyline and its cost of construction is $2.5 million.
3. Marble Towers
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Marble Towers is third in the list of the tallest Johannesburg buildings. It is situated near Von Wielligh and Jeppe streets. The building is also known as Sanlam Centre or Sanlam Sentrum. It has 32 storeys that are equivalent to 152 metres above the ground. The structure has a unique sense of material as it is made of marble and concrete. It mainly serves as a commercial building as it houses most of the offices. Another thing that makes it stand out is the fact that it has an 8-storey garage that is attached to it.
Besides the aesthetics of the Marble Towers, the building also boasts of having the largest electronic sign in the whole of the Southern hemisphere.
4. Pearl Dawn
Pearl Dawn is currently the largest project that has been done in Kwa-Zulu Natal near Umhlanga Drive. The building was constructed in 2010, and the building's blue aesthetic finish blends perfectly with the blue waters of the Indian ocean next to it.
Pearl Dawn so far has thirty-one complete storeys, lying at a height of 152 metres above the ground. The building is expected to go up to a height of 183 metres with a total of forty-four storeys. Upon completion, the sructure is expected to be the tallest building in Durban city. Currently, the building is being used for residential purposes.
5. South African reserve bank building
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South African reserve bank building is located in Helen Joseph Street in the city of Pretoria. It also stands among the highest buildings in South Africa, with 32 floors which account to the structure's 152 metres height.
Construction of the South African reserve bank building ended in 1986. Three years later, the building was granted the South African Institute of Architects' Merit Award. It had earlier on received the South African Property Owners Association's Building Merit Award.
The black glass and Rustenburg granite facade structure was constructed by the Burg Doherty Bryant + Partners. The structure boasts of having curtain wall designs. Standing on the top-most floor of the structure gives the best view of the streets surrounding it.
6. Metlife centre
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Metlife centre is the sixth tallest building in South Africa. It is also Cape Town's tallest structure. The structure boasts of 28 floors which account to its 150 metres height. The structure was commissioned in 1993, and the most exciting thing about it is the fact that it has a spired antenna which is 22 metres tall.
7. 88 on field
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This is another skyscraper in the city of Durban. It is also known as the Southern Life Building. The structure has a total of 26 floors which account for its 147 metres height. The construction of the structure started in 1983, and by 1985, it was ready for use. The cost of construction was $40 million.
8. Kwadukuza Egoli Hotel Tower
This is another structure that graces the Johannesburg skyline. The building was constructed in 1970 and was initially called the Johannesburg Sun Tower. Initially, it was owned by Stanley Tollman who was a former businessman who had majored in the hotel business. In the 1980's, he abandoned the business and the hotel was converted to holiday inn. The idea did not work so well and is currently a mothballed. The building has 40 storeys and stands at a height of 140 metres.
9. Micheangelo towers
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This is one of the buildings that Sandton takes pride in. It currently stands as the tallest structure in Sandston with 34 floors accounting for the 140 metres. Its cost of construction was R750 million, and it is not as fancy as Sasol building Sandton that is not so far from it.
Jozi skyline
Are you the type that enjoys viewing the most beautiful views and would not mind spending your time admiring the beauty of views? If so, there are very nice locations that provide the best view of the Jozi skyline. This is the perfect background for a perfectly captured picture. One of those locations that you could check out is Hallmark House. This structure is situated right at the centre of the downtown Johannesburg. Here you are guaranteed of having the best view of the city and might make you get convinced that the world's tallest building is in South Africa.
The chronological order of the list of the tallest building in South Africa is bound to change anytime. This is so because the country is investing in skyscrapers. At this pace, we might not be shocked to realize that South Africa is home to the tallest building in the world.
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- Top 10 construction companies in Pretoria
Source: Briefly News
