This is just a discussion to educate me and others. I have some questions and want to gauge opinions on them. This is subjective, so respect others opinion :)

* Which do you think are Africa's top 10 skylines now, and the top 10 skylines in the future?

* Also, in African cities, is the trend to build new office developments in the Central Business District, or in other newer areas of the city.

* Will the nations with oil or oil reserves eventually have the best skylines and projects in Africa compared to other countries on the continent?

* What is the best proposed/under construction/new tower in Africa?

Thanks.
SE9

* This is the top 20 skylines in Africa now according to the poll results on the "Rate Our Skylines" chart (http://www.skyscrapercity.info/900.php?id=1003) section.

(The list is indicative. I don't agree with it.)


1. Cape Town, South Africa (49)
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6728/southafricacapetown7cf.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=southafricacapetown7cf.jpg)

2. Johannesburg, South Africa (137)
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5688/1177810490862d282aeo4oz.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1177810490862d282aeo4oz.jpg)

3. Durban, South Africa (144)
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/478/238506867616510246o9bb.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=238506867616510246o9bb.jpg)

4. Nairobi, Kenya (166)
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8208/94099169aaddbb5791o4al.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/my.php?image=94099169aaddbb5791o4al.jpg)

5. Harare, Zimbabwe (189)
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7463/1115800501d8c165f98uu.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1115800501d8c165f98uu.jpg)

6. Abidjan, Ivory Coast (238)
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/9424/69986923696187dd34o3zq.th.jpg (http://img47.imageshack.us/my.php?image=69986923696187dd34o3zq.jpg)

7. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (345)
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/7010/730908295bd8841577b0jw.th.jpg (http://img47.imageshack.us/my.php?image=730908295bd8841577b0jw.jpg)

8. Libreville, Gabon (361)
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/8652/6451984922222179ebo1aq.th.jpg (http://img506.imageshack.us/my.php?image=6451984922222179ebo1aq.jpg)

9. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (366)
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/8273/city6pq.th.jpg (http://img506.imageshack.us/my.php?image=city6pq.jpg)

10. Cairo, Egypt (368)
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3843/73638843d348e4c9467rn.th.jpg (http://img529.imageshack.us/my.php?image=73638843d348e4c9467rn.jpg)

11. Windhoek, Namibia (400)
http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/4059/51228788edd524525fb1kq.th.jpg (http://img483.imageshack.us/my.php?image=51228788edd524525fb1kq.jpg)

12. Addis Abeba, Ethiopia (431)
http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/6541/87213616d327112776o3si.th.jpg (http://img483.imageshack.us/my.php?image=87213616d327112776o3si.jpg)

13. Maputo, Mozambique (439)
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2629/117180936de059284ecb1hl.th.jpg (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=117180936de059284ecb1hl.jpg)

14. Yaounde, Cameroon (449)
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4204/26928404f2f9a67ddb5gn.th.jpg (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=26928404f2f9a67ddb5gn.jpg)

15. Dakar, Senegal (462)
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5017/19749421fdd0094ecbo6wy.th.jpg (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=19749421fdd0094ecbo6wy.jpg)

16. Lagos, Nigeria (476)
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/4171/212b3007kf9gp.th.jpg (http://img372.imageshack.us/my.php?image=212b3007kf9gp.jpg)

17. Accra, Ghana (481)
18. Kampala, Uganda (497)
19. Lusaka, Zambia, (513)
20. Asmara, Eritrea (545)

PRESENTLY (I will just do it for sub-saharan Africa, don´t take it amiss)

I think that the best African skyline is:
1.) that of Durban (beyond any doubt, many nice projects are under construction and it is next to the ocean, makes up the charm of a skyline, to my mind)
2.) Cape Town (highrises are not really high but everything is well-kept and orderly)
3.) Johannesburg
4.) Abidjan (the lagoon city used to be a very precious pearl with some great potential, Ivorians have a hang for monumental and striking projects)
5.) Nairobi
6.) Lagos (yes, it is a bit shabby, but by African standards it is impressive, unfortunately most of the new high rises are not built on Lagos Island nowadays but on Victoria Island and Ikoyi)
7.) Harare (it has some quite fancy high rises)
8.) Dakar
9.) Luanda
10.) Maputo


IN THE FUTURE which will be in the next 10-20 years (this is highly speculAtive as in all the countries it has to be PEACE)


1.) Durban
2.) but very closely followed by Luanda (there are really nice projects under construction, there, read in the papers, they are already talking of "manhattan of Africa", futhermore they are trying to copy Brazil)
3.) Johannesburg (rejuvenation projects are under way among others)
4.) Abidjan (once peace returns - it may sound strange to you now - but swanky projects are there amass, in the 90´s : Abidjan wanted to build the "Tour des Eléphants" wih more than 70 floors which should have been built by Ivoirian born Lebanese architect Pierre Fakhoury, the project was however but on ice but it is not forgotten)
5.) Cape Town
6.) Khartoum (still remember than multi-billion project)
7.) Nairobi and Dakar (I have to put both in the same league, Dakar will get the huge "tour de Khadaffi" and some more nice projects, Nairobi is also expanding)
8.) Harare (will profit when Mugabe dies and due to its the closeness to South Africa)
9.) Lagos (may sound strange to some but I do not think that we will see any glitzy skyscrapers in Lagos, development is no longer on Lagos Island but it all will be decentralised urban high- rise development, there are projects and a lot but they are no particular high rises, Nigerians don´t feel the need to construct skyscrapers but there will definitly be some very nice other projects to come)
10.) Maputo and Addis Abeba (in the same league)

As far as Africa´s oil nations are concerned (well, I am not a fortune teller) but I think that the high rise development will speed up drastically in Luanda which will have a nice skyline in 10-20years time; we also have to look out for Abidjan (where oil companies where there before the crisis started...) and for Khartoum as well. As far as Gabon or Equatorial Guinea is concerned, well I don´t think that we will see a string of 30+ towers there in the future what doesn´t mean that there will be no other nice projects . South africa will remain at the top end (especially Durban), I think. We also have to watch out for Dakar and Nairobi
Construction of high rises can be spurred with the discovery of oil but it is not a logic consequence (as in the case of Nigeria)...Lagos and Abuja will have many city centres in the future, I think (that´s the trend for those two cities)

But who really knows how the world will look like in 10-20 years?

The best proposed skyscraper in Africa is the Tour de Khadaffi in Dakar and it is under construction.

^^ I am surprised Kinshasa is not on "Rate Our Skylines" list. Kinshasa and Abidjan have very developed skylines for nations in conflict.

For me I think that oil producing nations will most likely take the top spot, mostly in the near future; because even though Africa is going through some urbanization the majority of the people still live in rural areas and African governments are not likely to spend a lot of money on urban infrastructure if there is no real growth.

I think only oil rich nations like Sudan and Angola will invest much more in urban areas as a sign of status. Also I think S. Africa will continue to hold the top spot, at least in the near future.

Anyway here is my list now… (Only Sub-Sahara)

1.) Durban, Jo-burg
2.) Cape town
3.) Nairobi
4.) Harare
5.) Abidjan*
6.) Dakar
7.) Maputo
8.) Lagos
9.) Addis Ababa
10.) Luanda, Kampala

*typo correction, Kinshasa should not have been on this list (I see what you where talking about now Matt, my mistake)

Future

1.) Durban, Jo-burg
2.) Luanda, Khartoum
3.) Abidjan (highly dependent on political climate)
4.) Cape town
5.) Nairobi
6.) Dakar, Harare
7.) Lagos
8.) Addis Ababa, Maputo
9.) Accra
10.) Kinshasa (there is always a possibility of peace and resurgence here)


Nice thread btw SE9, good concept.

Just one small correction, skipperbill! you can´t compare Kinsasha to Abidjan, don´t tell that to an Ivorian or he will jump you right into your face :) , These are two different worlds. Moreover, Côte d´ivoire is not known to have been a nation in crisis in the past as compared to Zaire. Côte d´ivoire was the undisputed posterchild of stability and development in Africa from the 60´s up to the 90´s. Futhermore, Mobutu was an awful dictator who just shamelessly and ruthlessly exploited his country to the fullest whereas the first president of Côte d´ivoire invested a lot of money in his country (even in rural areas which is very rare for Africa). Kinsasha has always been a "trash dump" if you compare it to Abidjan....even in times of peace (there were some Congo-Belgians whom I knew when I lived in Abidjan who moved from Zaire to Côte d´ivoire and they told me that both cities are incomparable to each other).....but maybe the future will write another story, who knows....

^^ Oh, I agree Matt, Kinshasa cannot be compared at all with Abidjan and of course the history of Cote d'ivoire and the Congo are far and apart.
Even though Cote d'iviore has gone through some rough periods recently, it is not at all the ungovernable mess that the Congo has turned into. Further, Abidjan and most other Ivory Coast cities are still in somewhat good shape(they still have all the infrastructure in place for a revival).
I was just surprised recently to see that Kinshasa had some nice highrises and, although the shape of the roads where dismal at best, at least they had a large network which was all surprising for a nation in conflict.

Anyway thats my short explanation of that (sorry to divert the purpose of the thread).

algiers of course
http://lava.nationalgeographic.com/pod/pictures/sm_wallpaper/NGM1973_08p200-1.jpg :jk:

but if you ask me i think tripoli has a very good skyline

The trend across Africa is to build new developments in the Central Business Districts. Johannesburg and Durban are exceptions. Those cities sprawl like any American one, and the development is spread out throughout the metropolitan areas.

This is why Dyrban has Africa's top skyline
http://img281.imageshack.us/img281/5116/cbd2nc.jpg
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/6096/7810233412ff9e84563tf.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/apartment_pics_012.jpg
http://www.myimagehub.com/userfiles/dysan1/Copy%20%282%29%20of%202005-09-11%20012.JPG

...and why it will continue to be so in the near future
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/Durbshighrise.jpg

I doubt many on the list has a better skyline than Pretoria (which for some reason is not there).
http://w1.878.telia.com/~u87811334/gallery/Pretoria.jpg
http://www.stock-photography.co.za/images/pretoria-city-centre.jpg
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8/pretoria19ok.jpg

For now.....

1) Johannesburg
2) Durban
3) Cape Town
4) Pretoria
5) Cairo
6) Abidjan
7) Nairobi
8) Lagos
9) Windhoek
10) Port Elizabeth

in the future however....I think South Africa will still hold a top spot....but....a few other cities will make great strides.....

The trend across Africa is to build new developments in the Central Business Districts.

In Nairobi, all office projects I know about are being constructed outside the Central Business District. They are mainly being constructed in two areas: Upper Hill and Mombasa Road Area.

All of Nairobi's newest towers have been built in Upper Hill, and most projects are situated there too. Upper Hill is about 3 miles from the Central Business District. I think because of space and cost, Upper Hill will one day overtake the CBD in terms of skyline.

These are just some of the towers that have been built in Upper Hill since 2000:

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8034/41245513nbofeb050207iq.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/8462/41245508nbofeb050136wu.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3879/41245510nbofeb050160wx.jpg

http://www.mmiarch.com/vic2/hex11.gif

and there's more of the same Under Construction in the Area:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1169/img683tv.jpg

Nothing about Casablanca, Algiers and Tunis? :|

Uum, its not me that made that list, its the votes of the forumers on skyscrapercity.

I already said I don't agree with it.

Nothing about Casablanca, Algiers and Tunis? :|


well casablanca has a good skyline, tunis has a decent skyline too, but algiers :rofl: maybe oran

^^ it's up to you to show the world what you've got. So please post pictures of your cities.

Algiers is the most beautiful from the pictures but Cairo is also cool. The best skylines are in South Africa ( and some northern african cities )

Here are my top ten skylines:

1. Nairobi
2. Port Louis
3. Durban
4. Harare
5. Cairo
6. Cape Town
7. Abidjan
8. Lagos
9. Windhoek
10. Johannesburg - Downtown

In 10-20 years time:

1. Durban
2. Cairo
3. Khartoum
4. Tripoli
5. Casablanca
5. Dakar
6. Lagos
7. Accra
8. Nairobi
9. Abuja
10. Luanda

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/8352/casavue36yv.jpg


Casablanca City

You can see the contrast between the mediavel city and the new city

^^
Great picture!!!!
Really impressive too. And welcome to the forums!

really nice a never saw a skyline from this angle really great job, did u take it yourself

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/8352/casavue36yv.jpg


Casablanca City

You can see the contrast between the mediavel city and the new city


freakin huge city :eek2: !

I'm entrigued by Casablanca's skyline!

I like it so much, I entered it into the "Rate our Skylines" section here: http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=353643

I will do research into Casablanca's impressive skyline. Here's some pictures I've already come up with:

(I can get larger versions of some photos)

http://static.flickr.com/43/123633727_1d4d2002f4.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/31/123633728_62f147278c.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/35/123633726_4d199d4b96.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/21/29750201_13d1d5210a.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/26/57809050_698caca0cc.jpg

nice research thx for making the effort:)

http://static.flickr.com/26/57809050_698caca0cc.jpg

Stade Philippe in the Background, they should seriously tear that one down (among othe things) to make room for more developpements since there is simply no room in that part of town and the cost of land there costs big $$$

Stade Philippe on the Background, they should seriously tear that one down to make room for more developpements since there is siply no room in that part of town and the cost of land there costs big $$$
you totaly right plus it is not used , but it will cost them alot to destroy it also , specially that they spend alot of money to built it, perhaps we have to wait till an american movie maker come and destroy it like what they did with the ugly unfinished building which was in la corniche

you totaly right plus it is not used , but it will cost them alot to destroy it also , specially that they spend alot of money to built it, perhaps we have to wait till an american movie maker come and destroy it like what they did with the ugly unfinished building which was in la corniche

Yea haha that ugly thing!! was supposed to be a 4 star hotel or something til the owner went bankrupt or something like that. so glad they tore that one down! :hahaha:

^^
Great picture!!!!
Really impressive too. And welcome to the forums!

I think you should get a forum. I know that South Africa has a forum, but Morocco has even greater potential than South Africa as it has bigger projects due to it's faster growing economy and doesn't have near the crime levels of SA and doesn't have AIDS either. From what I can see your highways in Morocco are better than the ones in SA as they were built in the last 10 years while in SA's were built 30 years ago under apartheid.

Also your tourism industry has great potential. There are five times as many five star hotels in Morocco than SA and unlike SA they maintain their standards too!

please people disregard the message of Mosi-oa-Tunya and don't make any comment on it, we are not in this forum to proof who is better or to make trouble or to spread hatred. this forumer should be banned, becasue he/she is trying to make trouble

There are five times as many five star hotels in Morocco than SA and unlike SA they maintain their standards too!

SA recently won an award for having the best standard of hotels in the world and it's hotels usually dominate lists of the world's top hotels. I also doubt that Morocco has 5 times as many 5* hotels as they are common place in SA with numerous more being developed. I have no doubt Morocco is a great country and I'd love to visit it but your statements are simply untrue.

my top ten for the future(10-20years)
1) Durban
2) Cape town(its cbd has to have the most active than an african city i've seen so far but i may be wrong but the construction here is amazing)
3) Cairo
4) Luanda/Tripoli
5) Nairobi
6) Johannesburg(its a city full of office parks otherwise it would be number one)
7) Khartoum
8) Maputo
9) Casablanca
10) Abidjan(would have easy made the top 5 but war is killing it same goes with harare its a lost cause)

cape town cbd is not that big now but its booming building wont be that high coz of all the awesome art deco buildings(cant demolish) but some great high-rise are coming up here some grounds shots this is probs why it was voted number 1 so watch this space
http://www.kapstadt.org/images/images-cape-town/kapstadt-images/kapadt-images-g2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/hsark2/DSC00633.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/hsark/DSC00376.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/hsark2/DSC00642.jpg
ps casablanca looks great nice and clean

hey guys (and sweeties)... this thread is not for a moroccan / south-african confrontation... and thanks!
(ps: en ek dink dat mosy-oa-tunia is nie marokaner nie ;))
en dankie Hsark! :)
(South-Africa is great... :))

Casablanca

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/7065/skyscrap7sj.jpg


http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9033/skyscr3dk.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4379/sck4be.jpg

The top ten african skylines now for me are:
1. Durban
2. Tshwane
3. Johannesburg
4. Casablanca
5. Nairobi
6. Capetown
7. Cairo
8. Abidjan
9. Lagos
10. Harare

and in 20 years the future top tep in my opinion will be

1. Durban
2. Luanda
3. Casablanca
4. Johannesburg
5.Lagos
6.Tshwane
7. Abidjan
8.Dakar
9. Cairo
10. Alexandria

For me and for now:

1) Durban
2) Cairo
3) Johannesburg
4) Casablanca
5) Lagos
6) Pretoria
7) Cape Town
8) Nairobi
9) Abidjan
10) Harare

Casablanca
one of the financial districts


http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/4479/sk9uc.jpg

Atlas tour

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/6958/atlas6ih.jpg

great pictures of casablanca finacial district, you can also post them in casablanca pics

Wow, Casablanca was the hidden beauty of this forum, I never thought it could be so
modern and charming. Great pics.

^^
Yes it's terible good pics are very hard to find.
But this year Im gonna make a lot pictures! And post them all on ssc!

these pictures have all been taken by me last year. except the aerial one.

I ll send more pictures later :)

Its very good man.. very good.

Tanger also has a nice downtown with some nice buildings.

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/8352/casavue36yv.jpg


Casablanca City

You can see the contrast between the mediavel city and the new city

that's the best picture of casablanca i have seen.

as for my top ten now.

1. Durban
2. Johannesburg
3. Cairo
4. Petoria
5. Nairobi
6. Abidjan
7. Casablanca
8. Cape Town
9. Maputo
10. Luanda/Port Louis

In 10-20 years

1. Durban
2. Johannesburg
3. Cairo
4. Luanda
5. Casablanca
6. Petoria
7. Nairobi
8. Maputo
9. Dakar
10. Cape Town / Port Louis

My top 10:

1. Durban
2. Johannesburg
3. Cairo
4. Cape Town
5. Pretoria
6. Nairobi
7. Harare
8. Port Louis
9. Casablanca
10. Abidjan

From the look of things the only major difference in 10-20 will be Luanda and maybe Dakar should move onto the list. I'm also surprised no one has mentioned Abuja, I think it's way better than Lagos.

Is Port Louis´s skyline really so "great"? Any pics to proof it, better than that of Abidjan??? I truly doubt it.

Here's some pictures I dug up of Port Louis and Abidjan, so that y'all can decide which skyline is better:

All pics were taken in 2005-2006.

(I won't post large pics for convenience)

Port Louis

http://static.flickr.com/37/94591704_ad0f8c510a_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/48/151817393_f09c3b819e.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/1/800807_988f280088.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/32/94592074_74448b3867.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/29/94592172_91c07aef88.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/1/800430_bfccc46213.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/29/49005251_3e28bf5ed3_b.jpg

Abidjan

http://static.flickr.com/18/69986786_b0731ed1a9_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/27/50770751_9d0cb75610.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/9/69986923_696187dd34_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/48/130516780_9827a215f8_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/47/127973720_8e63e2a713.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/45/127973721_aa7603377c.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/35/70239809_843ca60271_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/18/69986786_b0731ed1a9_o.jpg

Well, let me just add these pics of Abidjan which shows that Abidjan´s skyline is still beyond any doubt more impressive than that of Port Louis....but if Côte d´ivoire crisis continues to stuck, one day even that of tiny Port Louis might be better :cry: :cry: :cry:

http://www.tiemoko2005.com/sitebuilder/images/Abidjan_at_night-703x217.jpg

http://www.tiemoko2005.com/sitebuilder/images/abidjan4-699x600.jpg

http://www.tiemoko2005.com/sitebuilder/images/abj1-391x456.jpg

http://www.azmibazar.ch/photo_gallery/ivorycoast/civ_plateau_jour2.jpg

http://lbpabidjan.skyblog.com/pics/247267399.jpg

http://www.abidjanlumieres.com/defile/3.jpg

http://isa-africa.com/ci/phoABJ/aplateau.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1258/00000075rd.jpg


http://www.sbisr.co.il/images/sodeci.jpg

http://www.allworld-vacation.com/africahotel/ivoireintercont.jpg

altghough the first pic is of miserable quality it shows the snaking string of high-rises along Abidjan´s lagoon :)

http://pages.globetrotter.net/webatout/nefertiti/abidjan.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/u10/photos/cote_ivoire/abidjan/Plateau_cathedral.jpg

http://www.winne.com/coteivoire/images/BF-Photo7.jpg

Is Port Louis´s skyline really so "great"? Any pics to proof it, better than that of Abidjan??? I truly doubt it.

I listed Port Louis above Abidjan because as a whole I think it looks better - nicer looking individual buildings and setting. Abidjan does have more tall buildings and 10 years ago I'd have listed it quite highly but it's getting left behind. It looks like a skyline from a few decades ago whereas Port Louis' looks newer and more stylish. Abidjan is still a great city and I really hope things get back on track there and soon.

Grepz, well it is your opinion…but as for me I cannot even spot any tall or even stricking buildings in Port Louis skyline as opposed to Abidjan (altghough most of the building date back to the late 70´s and 80´s)....but that should not be any criteria... Take Johannesburg, its skyline also dates back to the 70´s and 80´s but it still looks very impressive and even much better than that of most American cities (apart from the big ones like L.A., New York, Houston, Chigaco)

To my mind, Abidjan is still leaps and bounds ahead of the majority of all other Sub-saharan Africa cities. The setting of Abidjan is like that of Miami in the 80´s (sweeping highways, partly glitzy towers along the lagoon and a lovely tropical feeling).
Well, let´s hope that the crisis will soon draw to a close...if not...Abidjan will range among cities like Kigali or Lilongwe one day...what a downfall and what a pity

with 6% growth in GDP this year and 8% growth predicted in the future, accra, ghana should join the top 10 pretty soon

Guys great thread, surprising it has taken me this long to join in!

Impressed to See most of you believe that Durban will be the reigning number one in 10-20 years and is now! I do believe that it will dominate as the Skyscraper Capital of South Africa and most likely the continent...

But that said, i am impressed with Casablanca from those shots posted. from groundlevel it is awesome in places, pity the skyline is not too impressive now.

My top 10's

Now

1. Durban
2. Johannesburg
3. Harare
4. Nairobi
5. Cairo
6. Cape Town
7. Pretoria
8. Abijan
9. Port Louis
10. Cairo

In 10-20years

1. Durban
2. Casablanca
3. Cairo
4. Port Louis
5. Johannesburg (if they build some more highrise!!!)
6. Cape town
7. Nairobi
8. Luanda
9. Harare
10. Abijan

ps...CT always gets bonus points on the rankings for its lovely mountain...even thought that aint truely skyline.

the thing about kyline of casablanca is that most high rise building are not on the sea side there are in the middle of the city , and casablanca is in a plane land , it's hard to distinguish the highrise from midium rise , i guess the photo of the skyline was taken from the top of the hassan II mosque minaret the highest structure in casablanca , because it it the only way you can have this view
but in the future with many high rise building friont of the beach the skyline will be totally different

Nah that picture of Casablanca looks like it was taken from an airplane, or some other airbourne vehicle.

I was wondering.. In Durban, is the current trend for commercial (office), residential or hotel towers? Thanks.

^^ The trend here is rather mixed.

The majority of our new construction is in the 8-12F range in mixed use styles that encompass residential, commercial and retail in one block, and some including hotels as well.

As for the High rise dev, these are mainly residential towers. Of the 35 or so buildings over 12F u/c, planned or approved, only 8 are not residential blocks (5 hotels, 3 commercial blocks).

But as was said, it is the residential towers that dominate. The Pearls towers will all be 25F, 33F and 44F; The Mast is 40F and 153m; San Raphael 35 and 135m....i cld go on and bore u...but lets just say that in 3 years time there will be 7 new buildings in the top 20 for durbs...quite good going, and will only extend the beachfront skyline.

The dev are also concentrated in basically 3 areas of the city: Durban point (with the massive redevelopment taking place there), Umhlanga and Umhlanga Ridge (The Pearls tower complex on the beach and the massive new town centre on the ridge proper) and in the golden triangle axis of the beachfront and cbd.

There are many towers that have no renders yet and are proposals, with alot of middle eastern money pouring into Durban.

Durban really rocks, I am always impressed whenever I see photos and projects from that city...(Durban is still overshadowed by cape town but I think it will succeed in claiming its rightful status pretty soon cos´ Durban´s skyline is leaps and bounds ahead of CT´s)

...but I cannot understand why Port Louis is rated so high, there are no really tall skyscrapers to be seen. Moreover, I don´t think that Port Louis skyline will be better than that of Luanda in 10-20 years only if "another Kuwait" (100 bn barrels of oil) gurgles somewhere off the coast of Port Louis...but this is not the case (only place with oil exploration in East Africa is Kenya and some gas for Mozambique and Tanzania) People from all over a queing up to rebuild Angola (it is like the Wild West) and in the papers one can read that there are numerous (high-rise) projects to be built. Luanda will suprise the world in 10-20 years time...the country is just starting...watch out!

Here's some photos of Harare's Eastgate Shopping Centre

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/3274/016sbsecd217ti.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1972/shopping0127011bwm7rg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/1898/shopping0059004bwm4uf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2479/zim00tx8023qa.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Just another of the durban skyline, cuts out alot but shows the density in the west/smith locale

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/durbanairwow.jpg

And the Victorian Embankment at night from the yacht mole

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/CopyofIMGP1546.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/1/800430_bfccc46213.jpg i like alot very impressed very :) http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/durbanairwow.jpg mmm lots of brown buildings hope there develop more new skyscrapers there like the point

The old memories: some pics of Harare skyline when used to be a prosperous city

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5029/bdghrecityscap7oh.gif (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/4039/bdghrecityscap058ab.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/4982/trthreunitysqu019cb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/7015/bdghrecityscap016ca.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/552/bdghreresbank027ht.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The 2nd to last photo is incredible. Its sad when you see what cities like Abidjan and Harare have become.

A recent Harare photo:

http://static.flickr.com/6/11158005_01d8c165f9_b.jpg


Pretoria skyline, a little overlooked imo:

http://static.flickr.com/35/72451726_62e351aeff_o.jpg

A Kampala skyline pano I stitched together. Its okay, but I don't see foreign investments in the form of skyscrapers coming soon:

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9125/kampalaskyline3iy.jpg

Ì've always stated that Kampala doesn't look like any other city in the world.

From memory the building in front is the Shereton and the tall building in front of that is Zanu Party HeadQuarters on the aptly named Rotten Row.

Notice the lack of cars on the main road on the side - this is Zimbabwe's effort to reduce polution by getting everyone to walk ;)

http://www.cricketump.com/images/various/Harare,%20capital%20of%20Zimbabwe.JPG

Harare on the pics posted look like a medium-sized city in Aussieland, somehow. It still looks fine on the pics! When Mugabe is gone, the country will surely find its way to economic recovery, infrastructure is there (which is not the case for many African countries)...and as Côte d´ivoire the country is associated with a good economic past in the minds of the people/investors.

Harare on the pics posted look like a medium-sized city in Aussieland, somehow. It still looks fine on the pics! When Mugabe is gone, the country will surely find its way to economic recovery, infrastructure is there (which is not the case for many African countries)...and as Côte d´ivoire the country is associated with a good economic past in the minds of the people/investors.


In a way Matthias, that is what makes it worse, Zimbabwe for me was never like some kind of third world banana republic it was a well advanced country on a par with many western countries. It's fall in to chaos is so much more painful because it should never have happened.

SE9's skyline of Africa... I just used about 3 buildings from each city:

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2788/sskylineofafrica3su.jpg

Nice work, but theyre arent on scale, are they? Cape Town's Shell and LG buildings look tiny compared to Joburg's towers, Wouldve looked awesome in one city thou.

someone should do a diagram of the oran sheraton, and martyrs monument in algeria

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/en_US/Media/Graphics/Brands/Sheraton/Properties/1572/images/eu1572wb2_lg.jpg

http://www.winne.com/algeria2/french/images/monument.JPG

Which cities did you include? I can see Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Cairo, Pretoria, Nairobi and...?

there is also casablanca twin center , but it would better if there were the name and the cities because i don't know where are most of these buildings
also the hassan II mosque with its high minaret is missing

Nice work, but theyre arent on scale, are they? Cape Town's Shell and LG buildings look tiny compared to Joburg's towers, Wouldve looked awesome in one city thou.

They are to scale! :)

I included:

Cape Town, Cairo, Casablanca, Durban, Harare, Johannesburg, Luanda, Lusaka and Nairobi.

They're the only cities that had buildings that I could find. Lagos and co didn't have any :(


http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2788/sskylineofafrica3su.jpg

From Left to Right: Cape Town, Cape Town, Lusaka, Cape Town, Luanda, Durban, Durban, Johannesburg, Casablanca I, Cairo, Casablanca II, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Harare, Johannesburg, Nairobi, (cant remember.. a monument), Lagos.. can't remember the rest.

Here's the tallest building in some African cities in order:

Johannesburg: Carlton Centre Office Tower (222.5m)

Casablanca: The Great Hassan II Mosque (210m)

Pretoria: John Vorster tower (198m)

Cairo: Cairo Tower (188m)

Durban: 88 on Field (148m)

Nairobi: Times Tower (140m)

Cape Town: Metlife Centre (128m)

Harare: New Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Tower (128m)

Casablanca: Twin Centre (115m)

Abidjan: Tour Postel 2001 (106m)

Lagos: National Oil Headquarters (83m)

Alexandria: Abu Al Abbas Mosque (73m)

The tallest in my city:

Port Louis: Bank Of Mauritius (124m) [Total height]

Hi, Luanda seems to be in most lists, but I haven't seen pictures of its impressive skyline. Any pix??

Hi, Luanda seems to be in most lists, but I haven't seen pictures of its impressive skyline. Any pix??

Luanda is currently Africa's Dubai with many projects planned on the way. It will suely has one of the best skylines in Africa in 10 years but currently it is still a work in progress. here are some pics.

http://www.sanzalangola.com/galeria/albuns/album63/Liceu_cedida_por_S_o_Gamboa.jpg
http://www.sanzalangola.com/galeria/albuns/album63/Maianga_cedida_por_S_o_Gamboa.jpg
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/4629/luanda18xx.jpg
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/637/skyline5rb.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/48/131976097_f7507546e5.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/44/145814729_9b548d99e9.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/53/131991211_5402f743bf.jpg?v=0

Thanks for those Luandan photos! Looks like a Brazilian city. Where will the new skyscrapers rise, along the coast? What's on that long thin peninsular strip?

You are to blame, I so often ask myself if Angola would not have had that fuuuuuuuucccccccckkkkkkkkkkiiiiiiiiinnnnngggggggg war, how would that country have looked now...if the decolonisation would have been smooth as in some countries in Africa.....I am dead sure that there would have been another Malaysia in Africa by now!

You are to blame, I so often ask myself if Angola would not have had that fuuuuuuuucccccccckkkkkkkkkkiiiiiiiiinnnnngggggggg war, how would that country have looked now...if the decolonisation would have been smooth as in some countries in Africa.....I am dead sure that there would have been another Malaysia in Africa by now!

All i can say is shit happens and that we should just come to terms of what we have right now which is a fast growing country from a low base.

At least the new infastructure will end up being more modern than nearly any other African nation because it will all be new.

The city has an interesting shoreline. Almost Miami-like...would be spectacular to see a 'Miami Beach'-strip of condos and hotels on that peninsula!

BTW those buildings are NOT to scale. the carlton centre is no way that much wider than the shell centre on strand street.

as for luanda it is one of the most stunning locations of any city in the world. When the have cleaned up the beaches (they are currently disgusting) then it will be a superb holiday spot. In 10 years time you will see US and UK tourists going to angola for beach holidays etc. It will be awsome.

Mike2005, yeah, that would be very nice but I think that Lobito and Benguela will attract those tourists and not Luanda in the coming years , Luanda will "only" be for business (although there are nice spots like the "Ilha")....in the 60´s and 70´s you had quite a good number of Portuguese (those with money and fame) that went from Portugal to Angola and Moz. for a holiday...and I also heard that Bod Dylan dedicated a song to Maputo (city was called Lourenço Marques) at that time...
Maybe Malawi and Ruanda have great tourism potential, too (because of the mountains, but they have no beaches which is negative)
Angola´s landscape is very diversified and tourism potential is there, beyond any doubt.


Countries which do offer a lot of scenic variety (for tourism) in Africa are, to my mind: South Africa, Angola, Kenya, Côte d´ivoire (if tranquility ever returns :bash: ) and Gabon (flora and fauna in Gabon are awesome and very untouched; beaches around Port Gentil in Gabon are like in on the Antilles snow-white sand and turquoise water, I have seen it myself)


in terms of ethnic and cultural variety: it is undoubtedly Nigeria in sub-saharan Africa that offers a mind-blowing ethnic diversity (but developing tourism in Nigeria will be an enormous task)

Malawi has beaches for several hundred miles along the coastline of Lake Malawi :)

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/4460/47943466img48527rj.jpg

I wouldn't go swimming in it though, I have friends who have picked up all sorts by swimming there.

I've swam there! Wasn't too bad.

I was told that the water is much better towards the north of the lake, compared with the southern parts which are hazardously dirty.

SE9, oh yes, I have forgotten about Lake Malawi. :)

I've swam there! Wasn't too bad.

I was told that the water is much better towards the north of the lake, compared with the southern parts which are hazardously dirty.

sorry to spoil your day mate:

http://www.travelhealthzone.com/ask/2000/5/bilharzia.php

Ah, but I don't have bilharzia ;)

I usually have check-ups before and after going to Africa (for injections, malaria, blood tests etc.), and there's nothing wrong with me.

It says:

There are some parts of the Lake that seem to be more affected than others, and the worst appears to be in the South...

Ah, but I don't have bilharzia ;)

I usually have check-ups before and after going to Africa (for injections, malaria, blood tests etc.), and there's nothing wrong with me.

It says:

Excellent stuff.

My advice for anyone going to Africa is always take lots of condoms (never sleep with a girl that throws herself at you), have some hepititis injections etc.

Re malaria I have never taken the pills, but I have always dressed sensibly at night and worn anti mossi sprays.

Apart from that there is not alot more you can do.

By the way, if ever you are feeling ill after coming back from an African country, make sure you see an African doctor not a British one as they will have no experience with tropical diseases.

I'm in the wrong game, I should work for the the foreign office :)

^
lol, I wouldn't trust some Kenyan doctors though. The quacks will give you the all-clear... at a cost -/. :D


As for Luanda, are the towers being built far apart? I was wondering if there were going to be dense areas, or if the towers will be dotted along the coastline.

I have to say that I'm impressed with the development that is taking place in Luanda.

I must admit I am disappointed with Nigeria, for a country with so much oil (and therefore revenues), their capital and secondary cities have horrendous skylines.

Hopefully that will change in the future though :banana:

Put in place a Government like the Military Governments that ruled Nigeria for 30+ Years, and you will understand why Nigeria is where it is today.

Put that type of a Government in any Country and empirically the country will be moribund. Nigeria is not anywhere today that it shouldn't be for a country that was plagued with Tyrants for most of it's history.

You cannot compare Nigeria with western countries like America or Britain, and you cannot compare Nigeria with countries like South Africa or Egypt, or countries that are endowed with Black Gold. Because, simply put, none of those countries were ruled by corrupt leaders for the vast majority of their histories.

Fortunately Nigeria is not in such a position anymore, and in the next couple of decades Nigeria will certainly have Financial Centers that are reflective of it's population and Resources.