Mutual Heights, Art Deco apartment building in central Cape Town, South Africa.
Description
Mutual Heights rises approximately 312 feet (95 meters) above Darling Street, displaying geometric forms, triangular prismoid windows, and an exterior wrapped in a carved stone frieze that stretches along three sides of the structure.
History
Completed in 1939 as the headquarters for the South African Mutual Life Assurance Society, the building held the distinction of being the tallest structure in Africa outside Egypt's pyramids until the late 1950s when operations moved to Pinelands.
Culture
The long carved stone friezes created by artist Ivan Mitford-Barberton illustrate themes of European influence on South African development, while murals by Le Roux Smith le Roux in the Assembly Room reflect optimistic views of financial institutions' social roles during the early 1940s.
Practical
The building now functions as a residential complex with about 180 apartments and ground-level retail shops, while the original Banking Hall serves as an event venue available for filming and private functions.
Did you know?
The original window hardware was carefully removed during renovation, restored off-site, and reinstalled to preserve authenticity, ensuring that decorative elements like engraved lift panels and etched glass maintain their historical character alongside modern residential use.
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Art Deco shaped cities from the early 1920s through the late 1930s. The style combines geometric patterns, metallic surfaces, and decorative ornament with functional architecture. Buildings display characteristic vertical lines, stepped forms, and symmetrical facades. The Chrysler Building in New...
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