Up Up: Stories of Johannesburg's Highrises

Up Up presents a selection of buildings in the inner city of Johannesburg, focusing on the tall modernist towers that stood out at the time they were constructed. Witnesses to profound shifts in the political history of the metropolis, the buildings have gone through immense changes. They are documented in two distinct sections: the architecture is presented with facts, floor plans, archival discoveries and contemporary images of the interior and the exterior; additionally, each building is accompanied by a reportage or subjective essay on the inner workings of the building. Interviews with residents, research-based texts on contemporary issues and independent contributions from commissioned writers, artists and photographers allow brief insights into the old and new lives of these towers.