A Collision in Space and Time

Johannesburg is by international standards, a young city. Yet in its brief existence of just under 120 years, it has exploded from a mining camp into a metropolis - the economic capital of both South and Sub Saharan Africa (Johannesburg Development Agency, www.jda.co.za). This rapid, and in most cases, poorly planned development has resulted in the destruction of many of the city's heritage resources. Today historical buildings and historical areas exist side by side with contemporary office and residential tower blocks - juxtaposing the city's past and present in the constant struggle for space for new development and densification. Past and present exist simultaneously, if not always harmoniously - a collision in space and time.

Autorentext

Brian Kent McKechnie was born in Johannesburg in 1979. He completed his Masters degree in Architecture at the University of Pretoria in 2005.He is at present on the preservation trust of the Ansteys Building, an art deco building and historic Johannesburg landmark.