Sandton has no shortage of glass towers… but this one looks like a black-and-gold egg and somehow still works.
The name (The Marc) is an acronym for Maude and Rivonia Corner, which is where the development is located in Sandton CBD.
Also known as “The Jewel”, the edgy black-and-gold egg with a façade of 5,620 alternating gold-and-black triangular mesh panels, and “The Jewellery Box”, the ENS tower.
Development details:
• Completed: 2018
• Development value: R3 billion
• Total lettable area: 83 000m2
• Developed by: Eris Property Group
• Architect: Boogertman + Partners
• Parking: 6.5 levels of basement parking with 3 462 parking bays
Before this mixed-use development, the site was home to the Village Walk Shopping Centre. Today, there are two office towers and retail on the site.
🏙️ Tower one has 17 floors with 27 000m2 of GLA (Gross Lettable Area). It’s home to multiple tenants, with ENS as the anchor tenant occupying 12 floors.
🥚✨Tower two has 12 floors with 35 000m2 of GLA and is owned by Momentum Metropolitan Life.
Commercial rental rates range from R260 to R306/m2 ex VAT.
Lastly, there is retail on the ground floor with restaurants like SAINT, Tashas, Wok n Roll, coffee shops like Seattle and grocery stores like Pick ’n Pay and Food Lovers.
This is, honestly, still one of the most striking commercial developments in South Africa, in my opinion. It feels futuristic, but not in a way that dates quickly. It still holds up years later.
And what I like most is that it doesn’t try to blend in.
From the bold “egg” design to the high-end retail, everything about this development leans into being different. And that’s exactly why it stands out in Sandton.
Some people say Sandton’s skyline feels messy and inconsistent. But if you think about it, that’s actually part of its story.
It reflects an exodus. A moment in time when businesses moved out of the Johannesburg CBD in search of something newer, shinier, and more modern.
So instead of uniformity, you get character with a slight bit of design chaos. And The Marc fits perfectly into that narrative.
Sasol built a R2 billion HQ in Jozi inspired by its own logo… and nearly a decade later, it still turns my head in Sandton🤩✨
Development details:
• Storeys: 11
• Height: 47m
• Parking levels: 7
• Name: Sasol Place
• Lettable Area: 68 000m2
• Construction started: 2013
• Construction completed: 2017
• Architect: Paragon Architects
• Location: 50 Katherine Street, Wierda Valley, Sandton
• Amenities: restaurant, coffee shop, wellness centre, convenience store, fitness centre, gallery and sculpture garden
The reason for this colossal build was to amalgamate the 14 separate offices that Sasol inhabited, scattered around Rosebank.
As for the design, the idea was conceptualised by the Sasol logo.
Still one of my favourite commercial builds in Jozi. Have you ever been inside Sasol’s HQ to see the interior for yourself? I will attach some pics to the thread. I would love to hear what you think of it in the comments below.
After 46 years, Sun City has been receiving a much-needed renovation valued at R400 million👏
Quick refurbishment details:
• Refurbished rooms with golf course views
• A completely reworked lobby experience
• A redesigned Sun Terrace with live cooking theatre
• Poolside entertainment area with DJs, cabanas and family zones
The biggest renovation will be the refurbishment of The Palace of the Lost City and the Sun City Hotel.
Sol Kerzner initially opened the iconic gambling resort in 1979 with Frank Sinatra headlining the launch party.
The Palace of the Lost City was built in 1992 and took 28 months to build at a cost of R830 million. The hotel’s gardens cost R25 million and are home to more than 1.6 million plants.
This Vegas-esque hotel was looking tired, so the renovation is warmly welcomed. The real question is whether South Africa still sees Sun City the same way… or if this is how it wins back relevance in a very different tourism market.
Have you ever visited Sun City? I would love to hear what you think of the property in the comment section.
I was suicidal in 2020 during lockdown, I went to a friend’s place to talk about it, he played Impilo and Feza while we were playing FIFA and talking. I had no idea whose songs they were, went home played those song the whole night. Long story short I’m still alive🙏🏾
The first THREE words you find can show you the types of BLESSINGS, themes, or experiences you might have during Scorpio season! ♏️✨
Which 3 words did you find?! 👀✨