Charlton Centre
Johannesburg, South Africa

HEIGHT: 223m/730 feet
FLOORS: 50 floors
COMPLETION: 1973
ARCHITECT: Skidmore, Owings & Merril (SOM)

http://photo.starblvd.net/RateOurTalls/1-1-5-1078348081?m=1&pg=0&ro=0&co=4

http://photo.starblvd.net/RateOurTalls/2-3-5-1076689930?m=1&pg=1&ro=2&co=4

http://photo.starblvd.net/RateOurTalls/2-4-1-1079086063?m=1&pg=1&ro=3&co=0

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/664/81carlton_pic2.jpg

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/664/1479carlton-big.jpg

4/10

Pathetic, however it seems to fit for Africa's tallest building.

I don't care for it.

5/10

4.5/10

70s SOM ...

....errrr, 4

5.5/10

I cant believe that this was allowed to be Africa's tallest for such a long time and still is!

5/10. what a bore.

not even africa deserves this crap.

4/10

I sorta like it. It fits in with the rest of the skyline... 6/10

It kinda blows... 4.0/10

5/10..............well atleast it's tall.

No imagination whatsoever. Knock it down for something better. 3/10.

At least its from South Africa.. But i do agree its design needs a thorough review! >(

6.5/10

A uninspiring box gets my standard 4/10 vote.

6/10
Okay. It's tall and stand's out. Not that bad.

Uhmmm

5/10

Ugh. Another SOM "masterpiece".

>3

6/10...Very dull, bland, unimaginative. Though I do like how it blends in with the natural landscape, and gives you the sense it wasn't man made.

ugly, 7

Quite boring box, 5.5/10

4/10 - Dull, almost ugly slab that's too fat to soar well, with a facade that makes no attempt to dance with the light at all...

Sheesh! THAT'S by SOM?!! Did one of their interns get the job by mistake?

It's a dull tower.No good..
4.5/10

I usually love SOMs buildings ...but...thins one is errr...
4/10

facade: i hate it!
form: it's a box, in combination with this ugly facade ->
points: 1/10

Tall and ugly
6/10

5/10


I don't like it

Needs better pictures, now I can only rate it 6/10

10/10. My favorite building in the world.

Sounds stupid?? It was my first skyscraper.I grew up on the countryside of South Africa and this was my first. I was only 12 years old when I saw it for the first time.The Carlton Center was already 14 years old by that time.

How can you forget your first ????

This building was the beginning of my love for skyscrapers.How can I put into words?? Those of you who truly love skyscrapers will understand.

:angel1: :angel1: :angel1: :angel1: :angel1: :angel1: :angel1:

just a box
just a 6

2/10, very very ugly

3/10

the color's not bad, but those detached support columns from the main building that creates a caged look makes it look absolutely low quality.

6.5

this ugly building is #173???????????
3 or less!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A hideous building that no city should have the disgrace having this as their tallest. If only you could rate a building 1/10.

Dull box
nice outer shell with rough rendering but nothing much to to save it
4/10

5.5/10

Boring box. 6/10

3...looks like a giant skyscraper version of a Target store

Oh there just so much sence of hopelesness in this one but it doesn't bother me that much. 3.5/10

looking at age size and location 8

Boring and ugly, 4/10

I enjoyed the view from the top floor, so I give it 5. The Hotel section was very ritzy.

8

I like this kind of 'bland' 1970's Architecture. For that same reason I really like the Singapore Land Tower.

5/10

Dull beyond belief. The only interesting thing is its height.

I think a 4 is quite high

7.0 for the tallest building of Africa. But why is it a Box :'(

Unfortunately it's as boring as hell.

5/10.

Us South Africans seem to be extremely conservative when it comes to building design. The current trend is anti-skyscraper (there are only two in Johannesburg currently under construction), and all embracing of squat, cliched and boring office blocks. It's an eye sore! :(

It's a little dull...6...it's a shame that the tallest couldn't be something more original.

Pretty average for a skyscraper, but it's still important to the city's economy and character considering how poor the country is. Better than nothing I guess. 6/10

4/10

3.0/10

Africa really deserves a better highest building!

5/10.

4/10 looks like an eyesore, oh wait it is an eyesore.

Africa deserves better. Still, an okay building. I give it a 7/10.

How dull and boring, looks dirty, with 1oo% room for improvement. 3.5/10. :down:

It's really UGLY, 3!

I like it...maybe after a reclad...it would look awesome
8/10

very plain and boring, I don't like the facade that much
6/10

Way to flat.Maybe acceptable in the time it was build but now ...

3/10

BTW:Is it Johannesburg tallest tower?

There are 2 standalone observation / comms towers that are taller, but it is the tallest office building

A 223m high tire-fire would be more appealing than this totem of trash.

It does make you wonder how bad all the designs that this one beat were!

I like boxes, but this one is rather average ;) 6/10

6/10 for its size

Very dull and bland. A boring box
4/10

5/10
Must be such an eyesore

ewwwwwww 3/10

4/10

Pathetic, however it seems to fit for Africa's tallest building.

^How smug and arrogant.

I have always liked this building. One of the striking features of this building is the way the outer facade is disconnected from the windows, almost forming a skeletal structure hanging the rest of the building from it. A cool effect.

7.5

7/10

5/10

It needs to be redesigned.

7.5/10 Materials could be better.

For that time, I think it was very creative >>>>>>> 5.5 :P

Boring. 4.

:puke: 0!!!

It was to Johannesburg what the Trade Centre was to New York... a big, brash, tall tower that still got loved by just about everybody... Its not pretty, but linear, simple, and timeless you could say.

0/10

MAKE IT GO AWAY!

6/10

It looks likr it has been abandoned for a long time, 4.5/10

6/10

3/10 it´s big box.

I like boxes, but this one is rather average

7/10

blagh! ill give it 4.5 only cause it was in johannesburg during the 70's. other than that - "make it go away"

9/10

3,5 Nothing to say

4/10 :puke:

4.5/10

6/10

look like a multi-storey car park

3/10

5/10

3.5/10

International-style, concrete, way too big, this one has everything to please !
Africa deserves a better tallest (the sooner the better).
0.5 (for holding a record).

4/10

the facade looks dirty 5/10

5.5/10

I love it because I love anything South African

5/10

Looks skeletal. 5/10 solely for being the tallest building on the entire continent

What is it? Prison? Barracks? Largest multi-storey parking in the world?

3.0 or less

I would like it if the walls on the front were made from other material. It sucks. 5/10

And some of you write that the Palace of Culture (Warsaw) is ugly :)

5/10

unimaginative apartheid-era architecture, eventhough it was once one of the best hotels in the world.

horrible, but maybe it can use some more pics.

6.5/10.

4/10.

4/10

3/10

4/10

it's ok 8/10

U.G.L.Y 4/10.

7.

3/10

5/10

5/10

4/10

i dunno if it's just me, but i don't see anything.

4/10

Common. 6/10.

Can't see any pictures:(

I threw up blood when I saw it :puke: It's TOO UGLY. 1/10

:redx: :redx: :redx: :redx:

5.5/10

6/10 -eww.

http://amethyst.co.za/JhbLandmarks/Skyscrapers/CarltonCentre.jpg

7/10

4/10 Dont care for it.

Doesn't look as tall as it is...oh and it is dull 5/10

5....

ugly box 3/10

4/10

4/10

4/10

4/10

I will be nice to this one. Ill give it a 7.5

5/10...

Not exactly the most beautiful building ever constructed, but not the worst... 6/10 is the most fair rating I can give it.

4/10

uglyyyy!

2/10

ew 3

3/10

4/10

5/10

What a box!!!

3/10

not bad 7/10

6/10

5/

7/10

4/10

3/10

No pics anymore.

6/10
too plain

5/10

4/10

5/10

Boring...

5.0/10

7. Regards.

4/10

This ones going to get the sympathy vote since its called the Carlton Center not the Charlton Center.

Plus this is MNU headquarters in the movie District 9 :D

9/10

7/10

7/10

5.5

voted 6.5/10

5/10

9/10

Good old 70's box. 6.5/10

4/10

5/10

8/10

7/10 :)

Fail! 2/10

oh my 5/10

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6875/193431.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/151/193431.jpg/)

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/4944/carltoncentre.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/830/carltoncentre.jpg/)

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/2108/jhbcarltonmineheadgears.gif (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/839/jhbcarltonmineheadgears.gif/)

4/10

8/10

6.5/10

Very old but impressive for a place like Africa!

7/10

3/10

4..soooo 70's.Reclad,renew or knock it down.

6/10

6/10

This tower is a bit old, SA needs another one to replace these old ones!

bring it down already!!!!!

8
In my opinion, nice building ;)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/CarltonCentreExterior.jpg/200px-CarltonCentreExterior.jpg

Looks like it would belong in NYC. 7.5/10

10/10

7/10

Ehh...4.5/10.

7/10

Definitely Carlton Center needs an update. I have been here a few times now, and it is a really vibrant place! needs some love and could be really nice again.

The observation deck on the 50th floor is in terrible shape unfortunately :(

They really should reinvest soon, as it will be the tallest in the CBD for some time...

Still, I like the size and scale, and I have an odd affinity for brutalism. 7/10

7.5/10

5/10

6/10

10/10