Hekro Towers, Skyscraper in Johannesburg CBD, South Africa.
Hekro Towers is a 30-story skyscraper standing 117 meters tall in Johannesburg's central business district. The building's cylindrical design features a unique open central core that brings natural light throughout the interior spaces.
Originally built in 1969 as the President Hotel, the structure later operated as a Holiday Inn before converting to office use. This succession of purposes reflects how the city's business needs evolved over the decades.
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God currently owns the building and maintains a church facility adjacent to the towers.
The building sits prominently in the heart of the business district and serves as a landmark for navigation. Keep in mind that it functions as an active office and religious facility, so some areas may not be open to general public access.
The building's open central core was initially envisioned to house an indoor ski slope, an ambitious 1960s architectural dream. This unusual plan reveals how designers of that era often conceived spaces far beyond practical local use.
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