Ansteys Building

Ansteys Building is an Art Deco skyscraper in Johannesburg standing 77 meters tall with two ziggurat-shaped towers and a curved podium clad in green terrazzo. The corner at Rahima Moosa Street displays distinctive horizontal ribbon windows that wrap around its facade.

Completed in 1937, the structure was the tallest building in the southern hemisphere at that time. Its construction marked Johannesburg's rapid growth during the years before World War II.

The building traces back to Norman Anstey's department store vision and shows how downtown Johannesburg shifted from a shopping destination into a residential neighbourhood. Visitors can still spot the refined details that once drew shoppers, now integrated into residents' daily lives.

The building is located near Bank City and is easy to spot from street level. It houses residential units of varying sizes and is accessible for those interested in viewing its Art Deco design up close.

The fourth floor once housed a tea terrace where models displayed clothing while waiters served guests, blending retail with social gathering in a way rarely seen today. This combination of commerce and leisure reflected an earlier approach to department store design.

Location: Johannesburg

Inception: 1937

Architectural style: Art Deco

Floors above the ground: 20

GPS coordinates: -26.20370,28.03988

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:20