A Cape Town University of Cape Town tagged image from photographer – mallix as published on Flickr.
Werdmuller Center – Ramp
Image by mallix
Looking out from a ramp that leads over the entrance to the parking lot. This was my daily route to school from 1983 to 1986. Note the pink and black strip stuck onto the building. Seriously doubt if this was part of Uytenbogaardts plans…
A tribute to the Werdmuller Center on Main Road, Claremont, designed by Roelof Uytenbogaardt and completed in 1974. Uytenbogaardt was an award-winning architect and professor of urban and regional planning based at the University of Cape Town in the 1970s. Another incredible building he designed is the Sports Complex that stands at the entrance of UCT, completed in 1981. My dad worked at this center in the 1980’s and I spent a lot of time exploring the building as a child. The center (owned by Old Mutual) is due to be demolished as the land that it occupies (erf 54472, in the middle of Claremont) is worth more than its current letting value. DHK Architects have been appointed to the project. Many deem the center as a national heritage site and have planned proposals to save the building. The site is still accessible and we managed to shoot some pics after negotiations with security guards. The abandoned upper levels have been fenced off and can only be accessed with permission from Old Mutual. We found the building squalid and neglected, although people still use the ramps and passages to access the Main Road, as was originally intended. Some popular long-term residents at the center are Paul Bothner Music, the Cafda Bookshop and Radio CCFM.
More information can be found here and here. A PDF file of the proposed re-development.
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Fun Western Cape Fact: Back in the days the Castle of Good Hope used to be on the coast line, hence the name ‘Strand Street’ (‘strand’ means ‘beach’ in Dutch and Afrikaans). Land reclamation to create Foreshore and the current harbor caused the coastline to move to the west.
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