The Market Theatre has been at heart our City’s cultural life since it was founded in 1976. We are all familiar with the magnificent Edwardian market building that first housed the Theatre and later Museum Africa, but over the last few years a number of new developments have expanded the capacity and reach of the Theatre.

KMH Architects have been responsible for a new building housing a photographic school, theatre laboratory and the Market Theatre Foundation administration. Its design is uncompromisingly contemporary, but skilfully references the materials and forms of the surrounding historic fabric, and incorporates one of the few remaining native eating houses that were once an integral part of the segregated city.

Mashabane Rose was commissioned to design a new theatre to replace the old Laager Theatre. The building sits in a wedge between two historic buildings, and connects them in the manner of a bridge, and provides a very direct engagement with the Potato Sheds retail development next door.

We are privileged to be shown these and other exciting developments by Wayne Mansfield of KMH.

The tour will include a viewing of the JHF’s historic architectural drawings project on exhibition at Museum Africa. They reveal not only the art of the architect, but the fine craftsmanship of the draughtsmen who have since been replaced by computers. Our earliest find is a cottage in Braamfontein dating back to 1890, and the most spectacular Sir Julius Jeppe’s home Friedenheim. Pen-y-brynn in Parktown, affectionately as Turnip Towers, by Jones and Draiby is a close second.

Contact Eira to book - mail@joburgheritage.co.za

GUIDES:  Wayne Mansfield, Brett McDougall and Flo Bird

PARK: Newtown Junction parking – enter from Miriam Makeba Street

MEET: At the entrance of the Market Theatre

TIME: 14h00

DURATION: 3 hours

COST:  R90.00 for members and R150.00 for non-members

MAXIMUM No:  40