By the time Africa’s highest skyscraper, The Leonardo in Sandton, is completed, the building will contain over 8.7 million kg of steel. Despite this being more metal than that in the Eiffel Tower, none of it will be seen since only the concrete and masonry structure will be exposed.
Designed by Co-Arc International Architects, The Leonardo will have 55 stories and stretch 233m above ground level- that’s five stories and 10m more than The Carlton Centre, which has been the tallest building in Africa since 1973. The monumental size of the Leonardo requires the work of 18 000 to 20 000 people, who found employment during its construction.
Thanks to The Leonardo, Sandton’s Maude Street, long-known as a financial centre, will be revamped into a sophisticated lifestyle destination. The Leonardo will house 200 apartments priced from R4.2 million to R65 million, and a penthouse spanning three floors at the very top of the building. The penthouse’s current asking price is a staggering R250 million, and if paid, will be a record for a sectional title property in South Africa, according to Financial Mail.
