Zeitz MOCAA
In September 2017, South Africa’s largest contemporary art museum was unveiled ahead of its public opening later in the month.
By hollowing out the interior of an historic grain silo building, British architect Thomas Heatherwick has designed what he calls ‘the world’s tubiest building’.
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, or Zeitz MOCAA, will serve as an exhibition space for African art on Cape Town’s waterfront. The Grain Silo Complex dates back to the 1920s when it was the city’s tallest building, but it has been disused since 1990.
The centre of the 6,000 sq. m museum is built around a huge atrium, based on the shape of a single grain. This was then scaled up to span the full 27 m-height of the structure. Enormous sections were carved out of the building’s dense structure of 42 tubes to create a complex network of 80 gallery spaces. Heatherwick has described the space as being ‘like a vaulted cathedral’.
Where they have been cut back, the edges of the tubes have been polished, creating a visible contrast with the rough aesthetic of the older concrete. A mirrored finish was added by laminated glass.
Positioned within the existing concrete frame, bulging windows formed of faceted glass panels draw natural light down into the atrium, acting as Heatherwick has said, ‘like mirror balls’.
The museum is one of several facilities that Heatherwick Studio is creating within the grain silo building, which forms part of the V&A Waterfront, a harbour-side complex filled with bars and restaurants, which attracts around 180,000 visitors every day in peak season.
Content and images courtesy of Studio Heatherwick.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.
The story of this knowledge quarter building.
In ecology, in hydrology, in biology and in architecture.
Creating environments that promote physical, mental, and social well-being.
UK cases of neutral current diversion
Research project looks for example contributions.
Overstocking and macro-economics cause a decline.
The 2024 update of the Common Assessment Standard
Demonstrating organisational capability’ to fulfil roles under the Building Safety Act.
56 recommendations for a better built environment
Published by the CIC ahead of the King’s Speech.
SkillELECTRIC Top 8 Competitors Named
in annual search for the UK’s best student electrician.
CIOB Diversity and Inclusion technical information sheet
Step-by-step guide on implementing D and I practices.
Conservation and the Indian City. Book review.
Reversibility in conservation ethics
Learning from painting conservation.
Where It's AT Podcast launched!
New CIAT Architectural Technology Podcast goes live.