Since we all like good architecture and obviously have differing opinions on what is good and bad, here's the opportunity to debate this topic.

Do we like the style of architecture that developers are implementing?

How many of the buildings will look terrible in a few years? out of touch with their surrounding?

Also which is your top 3 buildings planned or recently completed for SA (recent being this year)

If you forgot what they look like, click here to refresh your memory


San Raphael (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=241996)

Michelangelo Towers (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242384)

Hibbernian Towers (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242092)

The Spinnaker (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242121)

The Pearls of Umhlanga (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242109)

Icon (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242095)

Topaz (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242090)

The Quays (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242001)

Cape Royale (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242106)

Royal Palm (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242740)

The Waterkant (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242107)

The Sails (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242755)

Ocean View (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=242091)

Do we like the style of architecture that developers are implementing?

I do.

How many of the buildings will look terrible in a few years? out of touch with their surrounding?

Possibly the Eurocape Hotel. But i doubt it.

Also which is your fav building planned or recently completed for SA (recent being this year)

Either the One and Only *******, or The Icon

If i could vote 4, i would have gone for the Topaz.

San Raphael, I like its desing and its height!

Michelangelo Towers, good height and it fits very well with its surroundings

The Spinnaker, I like that rooftop! and it looks a lot with one of my favorite buildings in Miami, FL

It a hard choice this. so many cool buildings.

"Do we like the style of architecture that developers are implementing?"

Nah not really... I think we're still quite conservative when it comes to architecture.

"How many of the buildings will look terrible in a few years? out of touch with their surrounding?"

I don't think any of them really. The Durban buildings in Umhlanga/The Point will be very IN touch with their surroundings. Miami skyline here we come.

"Also which is your top 3 buildings planned or recently completed for SA (recent being this year)"

I voted for The Pearls and Ocean View.

The Strand seems to be the only area that will follow the "Durban type" skyline in SA. So it seems that the 2 will be compared alot in terms of the design quality in the years to come.

The obvious difference is that they are starting from scratch with their skyline, whereas the point and suncoast dev areas will be extending durbans existing skyline, and umhlanga's will be going a bit further heavenwards...

I am a huge fan of the Pearls Dev, but alas i LOVE San Raphael more. The quirkiness of the angles excite me.

I voted:

San Raphael, Pearls and icon...but there was a big toss up between icon and the quays! I LOVE the quays. Think that they are pursuing a different colour palette to the rest of SA, and as such a new element in forming an SA identity architecturally.

The one building i really dislike is Michelangelo towers. The faux tuscan look on that grand scale is sickening. But it does provide a great symbol of the tuscan influence on jozi...but its a pity.

And i must say that besides Topaz, and to a lesser degree Ocean View, i find the Strand buildings quite uninteresting. Hibbernian is interesting, but due to the fact that i spend hours trying to figure out what the architect was thinking. All those conflicting design schemes combined into one! and the bulges in funny places...

SR for me, its the only one showing any sign of a mature design( with the possiblity of Michelangelo) and it design is sympathetic to the tropical, maintenance free Miami style of architecture.
I excluded anything under 10F as they are just ground scrapers and dont excite me

and you guys are all voting more than once

ur allowed to vote for THREE mate :)

Thats why we voted more than once...

It said top three! :)


So u saying that u like the Michelangelo??? You dont like the Pearls design...does it not fit a mature design? please elaborate

Michelangelo suits its enviroment and doesent clash with its environs such as the hotel and sandton squire and also the forum tower next to it.
I like the Pearls but am disapointed as it is very simmilar , in fact its almost the same as a design which was presented to us by Creative Kingdom who are doing the Pearls also. There are things I like about it such as its integration into the boardwalk at the front as well as its tropical gardens in the front of the towers (simmilar to edge of the sea and cabana beach), but I dont like its overuse of Glass and whislt sounding like a NIMBY feel it completly dominates its enviroment and shoudl have a bit more concrete/stone feel to it.
It is growing on me and its height and desnsity are its best traits.

I think even the buildings that do go out of style will still be a statement- it is how you look at them. For example, they will all bring back memories of an architecturally changing and maturing South Africa. :D *Cheesy* ;)

My three favourites? I will have to ponder that....

i see what u say giles, but i still dont like the faux theme that the architects have gone for with michelangelo towers. to me that is deviod of architectural merit and continues the tuscan dominance in jozi.

regards the pearls. i agree with the overuse of glass aspect, and how u feel it overly dominates its environment. i saw new skyline pics of it today in the Sawubona mag on SAA and it does blend alot more in those pics than the ones we have. and it doesnt look too out of place in terms of height either.

I think the boardwalk side is fantastic and will fully integrate with the developing village ameaties around it.

the back of it does have alot of concrete tho, so from behind it doesnt llok totally out of place with the oysters dev, just higher

Now it was tough not to choose the Quays for me..........the only downside is the height. But I just LOVE the Quays! Hmmmm....many people hate the Michelangelo.................I guess the Tuscan (or Boertoskaans ;) ) style is'nt very popular, though its very prevalent. The height and dome did it for me.......and the location and relationship to the Forum Tower.

This sounds like a competition again :( I really wish we can join together and work together to promote SA on these forums and not simply point to one city, like Durban or Cape Town. Let's work together and promote even our less favourite cities.

say what??? when did that come up? People are expressing what they feel about buildings not cities mate...theres a difference. If u could tell me about a significant dev in pofadder that competed with the buildings going up in CT and durbs, then i would talk about that. otherwise there is no point.

lol I know we are only talking opinions... thats fine. I just felt a need to say that in a thread somewhere because I feel it's important.

Okay, back to the previous topic...

Hmmmm....many people hate the Michelangelo.................I guess the Tuscan (or Boertoskaans ) style is'nt very popular, though its very prevalent. The height and dome did it for me.......and the location and relationship to the Forum Tower.


The height and the dome did it for you eh? ;)

I don't hate the Michelangelo that much... it at least gives Sandton a bit of height. But I just wish we would have some more highrise development here. :(

well surely the hydro does count as some high rise...even tho its not that high. I do like it. Maybe some more office towers? or no space?

Yah theres space! How about they BULLDOZE some of those matchbox houses. I suppose they could build on the Citibank next door to the Michaelangelo. Talk about density.........though the Forum IS very close too. And the Sandown lot is still open right? I suppose they'd have to change the zoning code for Office construction there?

Ohhh, I love the Pearls of Umhlanga! I can't wait till they're finished building it.

well all the buildings in the pearls will be complete by end 2008!!

Pearl Breeze will start rising soon.