The revival of Ponte is a potent symbol of Johannesburg’s renewal
From yuppie icon to slum and back
IN 1976 Africa’s most glamorous residence opened in downtown Johannesburg. Ponte City, a cylindrical brutalist skyscraper stretching 54 storeys, was built for yuppies who had flocked to the city, often from Europe. It was reserved for the wealthy—three-storey penthouses had wine cellars, saunas and jacuzzis— and for whites. The only black residents were servants, in whose quarters windows had to be at least six feet off the ground, lest they see into whites’ rooms.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “A shaft of light”
From the September 1st 2018 edition
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