Schlesinger Building, International Style skyscraper in Braamfontein, South Africa.
The Schlesinger Building is an International Style skyscraper that rises 110 meters above Johannesburg across 21 floors. Its facade features grey-green glass panels divided by vertical aluminum elements, creating a distinctive structured appearance throughout the building.
The building was completed in 1965 and held the title of Africa's tallest structure until 1968, when another building surpassed it. This brief period of prominence marked an era of rapid vertical development across Johannesburg.
The building takes its name from businessman John Schlesinger and reflects how modernist design reshaped the urban landscape of South Africa during the 1960s. Visitors walking past can immediately recognize this style through its clean lines and unadorned approach to form.
The building is located in downtown Johannesburg and functions as an office complex, so it is mainly visible from the street and forms part of the urban landscape. Visitors can best appreciate the architecture from ground level and observe the facade from various angles.
The facade combines concrete construction with alternating patterns of aluminum mullions and horizontal glass spandrels, creating a visually varied surface. This specific combination of materials and patterns is characteristic of 1960s architecture and shows how engineers created both durable and visually engaging designs of that era.
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