To spot the Ansteys Building, look up for a striking, zigzag-shaped high-rise with elegant curves and bands of windows set above a tall greenish podium right at the busy street corner in front of you.
Welcome to the Ansteys Building, where Johannesburg’s jazz-age dreams still cling to the skyline! Picture yourself standing here in the heart of the city in the 1930s, just as the building first rose up, its dramatic ziggurat steps and sleek Art Deco curves making every passerby stop and stare. You can almost hear the echo of polished shoes clicking on the tiled pavement, the excited chatter of shoppers looking for the latest fashions behind those wide, gleaming plate-glass windows at street level. Imagine the dazzling displays-bright and bold-to lure everyone inside Norman Anstey’s famous department store, right underneath your feet. Norman Anstey wasn’t just some businessman; he was a local legend, the founder of one of the city’s most beloved shops and even mayor of Johannesburg for a while. His name was stamped right onto the building-it was a sign you’d made it if you shopped or worked here!
Now, don’t get confused. Across the road stands the “other” Anstey’s, the second building to bear the mighty name. But the one you’re looking at now, with its two dramatic wings jutting out at right angles, is the third and most iconic. The architects Emley & Williamson pulled out all the stops: look up at those stepped terraces and the bay window balconies on the corners. If you squint, the whole place almost looks like a giant tiered cake, and believe me, every slice has a view. The cylindrical glass tower at the center, shimmering in the sun, was the talk of the town-people wondered if daring superheroes might leap from terrace to terrace.
But this building’s life wasn’t all glitz and glamour. In 1989, disaster almost struck-plans were drawn to tear it down! Luckily, a brave architect stood firm and said, “Nope, not on my watch!” Anstey’s survived, and thanks to the efforts of a dedicated Preservation Trust and some very determined city residents, it got a second chance at stardom. Over time, stylish renovations have brought young artists, doctors, and even kids to play in its crèche. Nowadays, its grey-painted exterior and restored Art Deco lobby greet a new crowd chasing their dreams, mixing old Johannesburg grandeur with fresh energy. With every step, you’re touching a building that has more comeback stories than your favorite TV drama-Anstey’s refuses to let go of its place in the city’s heart. Now, shall we go hunt for those legendary window displays, or is that just a trick of the light?
