Our Art Deco tour focuses on outstanding examples of “moderne” architecture in Cape Town’s centre, including Greenmarket Square, Darling Street and St George’s Mall.

Led by heritage architect and former CPUT lecturer, Dr André van Graan. André has lectured on Cape Town’s Art Deco including giving an online talk for the UCT Summer School in 2021. André collects Art Deco and wrote his PhD on how modern architecture developed in Cape Town from 1918 to 1948. André was key to the Art Deco International Congress held in Cape Town which had its gala in the Banking Hall (guests dressed in Art Deco style!).

Our walking tour starts at the pink apartment block Holyrood, 80 Queen Victoria St.

A highlight is the impressive former headquarters of Old Mutual, now called Mutual Heights (14 Darling St). It was the tallest building in Africa when it was built in 1939. Its banking hall remains largely untouched – it is closed to the  public but we generally get special access. Another delight is Mullers. It is still an optometrist, its original purpose, and has all its Art Deco fittings and furnishings (design writer, Paul Duncan, says in his book, Hidden Cape Town, such an interior would be in a museum in other countries).

• Wednesday 19 January 2021 5:30pm to 7:30pm
• R250 early bird payment at least 10 days in advance, then R300 each.
• Afterwards we recommend a drink/meal at Gorgeous George. Their roof top restaurant has outside space with views to Greenmarket Square so you can see Art Deco from above.
• This is available as a private tour led by me, Kate Crane Briggs, R1 000 for two hours.
• Email Kate to book - kate@cultureconnectsa.com