Hillbrow Tower gets a facelift
If anyone has been looking UP lately, you would have spotted the new look of the Hillbrow Tower – now known as the TELKOM tower- We’re not mad about corporate branding but it does look magic – tastefully done! There’s also a red glowing wall and roof in Braamfontein that is in the process of being finished – anyone know what that’s about? It immediately makes us think it’s CELL C who has done a… lot to buildings with their Art in the city project… ah well time will...
Urban Apartments sold out at 87 Commissioner St
I met a girl the other day that had to be one of the most pessimistic people ever – all she did was criticise everything about Joburg – vehemently assuring me that the Inner City Regeneration is all HYPE and that not much is really happening downtown – she confidently proclaimed that Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown is a complete White Elephant and that we’re living in LALA land if we thi…nk it’s going to happen downtown. I decided to refute those negative and depressing weak allegations by doing some hands on investigating into exactly what is going down – this is the first of many articles to come on Joburg City, the building developments and the real progress thats happening. We know better than her – let’s hope she reads this and gets a wake-up call. Every time I drive past the city or go downtown in the daytime, I fall deeper and deeper in love with Jozi centre. There’s something about it that catches your heart – it may be the juxtaposition of age-old grandeur mixed with neo-Afro buzz… or the sounds, silence, music, pace and energy of everyone that works and lives there… I dont know what it is but eish – Ngiyamthanda lo. Many of you may have heard of 44 Stanley in Milpark by now (NIcola Deane’s Birthday Party is on there- check the article) – it’s an awesome development that is great to just hang out in… Brian Green, one of the powerdrills behind it, decided to venture closer to the heart of the city and together with two business partners, truly put his money where his mouth is and invest in the city. They purchased a gigantic 8-story building at 87 Commissioner street, over the road from the FnB building, near the Rand Club and the CornerHouse development (we will feature this soon)… It used to be a bank building and is enormous and built in a style we just don’t see anymore. They put the word out and started looking for potential investors – people that want to buy property in the city centre and live there. Within 4 weeks all 20 apartments had been sold and deposits received. 87 Commissioner street was built in 1938, as Brian says – it’s large monolithic appearance gives it a “Voortrekker Monument” feel however there is something quaint and appealing about the interior structure which is a square shape with four sides all opening onto an inner courtyard. When complete, 87 Commissioner will have 20 apartments, ranging from 80m2 to 240m2, they will all have no more than two bedrooms and large, open-plan spaces...
Slick Visionary Hairdo for the ladies – maybe
Yes yes yes, you may think this gal wears buffaloes (see post on fashion tips for men) and comes from a rough holiday park in Margate but those pre-conceptions of yours need to change gear into reverse. This is the look right now in Europe, it’s moved from being spotted on a few brave way out sista’s here and there in South Africa to becoming the norm in the West. Not to say t…hat what is western is necessarily for you but if you like being in with what’s in here’s some inspiration. Young Manuela here is a shop assistant in Belgium and this is a tame version of the original cut where the sides were actually shaved with a full-on mohawk. Come on...
Moshito 05 – update… Muso’s tune in!
Sounds like Moshito kicked off on a positive note with the first day’s plenary session celebrating the growing musical economy in SA and looking at how to tackle segmentation and piracy within the local industry so that we can have maximum growth in the future. Moshito music conference opens to tackle growth After months of preparation, the Moshito ’05 Music Con…ference and Exhibition opened its doors yesterday to over 500 delegates representing South Africa’s music business interests. The first day of the conference was a full schedule of plenary addresses from industry experts around the globe. An enthusiastic welcome was provided by Nick Motsatse, Moshito Chairperson, who painted a broad and very holistic picture of the music industry landscape in South Africa today. He alluded to the role of both local and national government, the rise of technology and the need to adapt to thriving domestic consumer demand. Reiterating the key reasons for the formation of Moshito under the auspices of the South Africa Music Industry Cooperation Initiative (SAMICI), Motsatse said that music is has been an underperforming sector that suffers from fragmentation, there need for common vision and this is the role Moshito must play. “The South African economy is doing well, and the music industry needs to take advantage. We are at a cross-road with declining music sales of recorded music product world-wide, yet increased music consumption. The local music business has to react.” International guest Iain Grant, Worldwide Head of Enforcement for the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), gave delegates a view of music piracy and the scale at which it exists. Piracy is global problem requiring a global response, and that is the role of the IFPI, who partner with local organisations like the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA) to conduct raids and gather intelligence. He highlighted Africa’s position within a global annual piracy market of $4.5billion, where South Africa’ piracy rate of 40% is low compared to other African states. The primary problem faced is that piracy is a relatively low-risk, high profit criminal operation with a lack of legislation and effective prosecution. In addition, it has been established that dealing in counterfeit goods is a major funding mechanism of international terrorist organizations and drug cartels. **************************************************** MOSHITO PARTY – FRI 22 July The momentum behind next week’s Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition has set the industry abuzz as the South African music sector gears itself up for the year’s most important music business event. Moshito ’05 will open its doors to the public for two very exciting events to take place on Friday 22nd July, with SA’s music stars coming...
Style-studded SA Fashion Week line up announced
It’s that time again – in fact it’s the ninth time the South African Fashion Week is being held in Johannesburg – lots of favourites like Craig Native, Ma Chere and Black Coffee and lots of new flava’s too! We’re delighted to see someone is finally venturing into the spectacular Old Synagogue in town as well as the Corner House development for an event – one of the leading (and most pri…cey) inner city regeneration projects about. THE TICKETS WENT ON SALE TODAY – go to COMPUTICKET to secure your ramp-side space. Got to SAFASHIONWEEK for more info. Line-up below. The official SA Fashion Week 2005 designer line-up has been confirmed! South Africa’s leading national fashion event, SA Fashion Week (SAFW) – taking place between 28 and 31 July at the Sandton Convention Centre and selected off-site venues (including the Old Synagogue in Joburg central) – will showcase an impressive line-up of over 26 shows including acclaimed local designers such as Amanda Laird Cherry, Black Coffee, Clive Rundle, Ephymol, Marianne Fassler and Holmes Bros, as well as outstanding new & emerging designers. The South African Fashion Week 2005 – official programme 28th to 31st July – Sandton Convention Centre THURSDAY 28TH 11H00: Sandton Convention Centre Media brunch hosted by SAFW and the Sandton Central Management District 13H00: PLATFORM 2 The Lee Cooper/Elle New Talent Competition featuring: – Victoria Boucher – Tian Nagel – Ati Patra Ruga – Just Nje (Amper couture) – Hestie Roodt – Rozanne Whyte – Rozanne is… – Nomalanga Nyanda – Abantu – Patricia Carla Cabalerro – Katherine Mortner – Sifiso Mthethewa – Justine Peel and Bree Morrison …and 2004 winner Francis Andrew’s 2006 collection. 14H00: PUBLIC RUNWAY Mohair Promotions (Cape) 15H00: PLATFORM 1 The Hector Pieterson launch collection (with jeans by Black Pepper) Khutala Vanqa (with thanks to the CSIR) Getto Star …in association with L’Oreal 18H00: PLATFORM 2 Amanda Laird Cherry for Da Gama, Bongiwe Walaza (with menswear by Skiet) Ruby by Robyn Lidsky (shoes by Caryn for Turning Point and headgear by Sanchia Hayward …in association with Da Gama textiles 20H00: PLATFORM 1 David Tlale…shoes by Europa Art – Rosebank. Invited Italian designer (TBC – exchange programme with the city of Milan) Black Coffee 21H00: OFF SITE – MANDELA SQUARE The Sun International Resorts and Cosmopolitan presents “Official Language” by Craig Native. (With thanks to: Mandela Square, Liqui Cooler, and Katrine Robenhagen Graphics) (Strictly by invitation only) 22H00 The official SAFW opening night party hosted by Lee Cooper and Elle magazine. (Strictly by invitation only) FRIDAY 29TH 13H00: PLATFORM 2 Malcolm Klýk for Vlisco, (jewellery by Sandy McCormack) Palesa Mokubung Thula Sindi …in...
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