When Jay-Z and Alicia Keys released Empire State of Mind, they immortalized New York as a city of resilience, ambition, and endless opportunity. They reminded the world that if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. It’s a celebration of how a place can become a symbol of dreams realized and obstacles overcome—a sentiment we hold close at Mash.T Design Studio.
While we’re not songwriters, we use product design to communicate and capture a similar sentiment. The Jozi Skyline Pendant is our way of honouring Johannesburg, the City of Lights. Much like New York, Joburg is a beacon for dreamers and doers, where ambition meets grit, and potential meets opportunity.
The Johannesburg skyline is more than a collection of buildings; it’s a testament to the city’s history, resilience, and progress. Iconic landmarks like the Carlton Centre, once the tallest building in Africa, and the Hillbrow Tower, a masterpiece of modernist architecture, stand as symbols of the city’s dynamic spirit. Ponte City, one of the most iconic structures on the skyline, is a cylindrical skyscraper located in the Berea district of Johannesburg, adjacent to Hillbrow. Built in 1975, it rises to a height of 173 meters (567.6 feet), making it the tallest residential skyscraper in Africa for 48 years. This title was held until 2023, when it was surpassed by Building D01 in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. Ponte City remains a striking feature of the Joburg skyline, with its unique design and its rich, complex history reflecting the city’s layers of transformation.
Another jewel of the skyline is the Hillbrow Tower, Africa’s tallest tower and a dominating presence in Johannesburg. Cape Town has its low, flat Table Mountain, while Joburg boasts the long, thin Hillbrow Tower, visible to visitors long before they reach the city itself. Its iconic stature has made it a central feature of the city’s official logo.
Originally named the JG Strijdom Tower after a former South African prime minister, the Hillbrow Tower was constructed between June 1968 and April 1971 by telecommunications parastatal Telkom. At the time, Johannesburg was entering its 1960s skyscraper era, and the new telephone tower was designed to surpass the height of the tallest buildings. This height was necessary for its role as a microwave tower, as microwaves travel in straight lines over short distances (40–50 kilometers), ensuring superb reception clarity. In the 1960s, microwave technology was cutting-edge, and Telkom’s adoption of it represented a leap into modern telecommunications, avoiding the costly alternative of laying additional underground cables.
For decades, Joburg has been known as the city of dreams—a place where dreamers flock to chase and realize their grandest goals. It doesn’t promise an easy road, but it rewards persistence, creativity, and resilience.
As we approach the end of the year and navigate the inevitable year-end fatigue, we pause to reflect on the role this city has played in shaping our journey. Johannesburg, with its energy and endless opportunities, has brought us this far.
Johannesburg is more than its skyline—it’s a story of perseverance, a hub of creativity, and a symbol of potential. At Mash.T Design Studio, we’re proud to honor this incredible city through our Jozi Skyline Pendant.
