Tall buildings are a work of magnificent architecture. They reach into the sky, and one cannot help but marvel at how beautiful they are. Africa’s tallest buildings are no exception. Scattered within African countries, they gather attention and are a sight to behold. Here is a list of the ten tallest buildings in Africa:
1. The Iconic Tower | Egypt
The Iconic Tower is a magnificent work of architecture, a skyscraper, that stands in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. It is 1,266ft tall, making it the tallest building in Africa at this point.
It has an area of about 76,000,000 sq ft. When officially opened on Jan 13, 2022, the Iconic Tower of Egypt will be an administrative hub. There will be offices in it and many businesses.
The tower will be around 80 stories tall and will be one building to pull attention from across Africa and the rest of the world.
Construction of this massive building began around May 2018, but the President of Egypt officially visited the site around 2019.
Dar al-Handasah Shair & Partners is the architect in charge of constructing this tower. The building of the Iconic Tower of Egypt cost about three billion dollars. Totally worth it.
2. Mohammed VI Tower | Morocco
Although the Mohammed VI tower has not been completed yet, it will definitely be one of the tallest buildings in Africa upon completion. It stands in a city called Sale and reaches a height of up to 820 ft.
Rafael de la Hoz is the team of architects in charge of this project. At a press conference recently, they described the building to be a symbol of the new Morocco.
The building of the Mohammed V Tower kick-started around 2016, at about the time that King Mohammed VI laid a stone on its foundation. The building looks a lot like the ones in pictures in African Science fiction movies and books.
3. The Leonardo | South Africa
In South Africa’s magnificent city, Johannesburg, The Leonardo stands, reaching a height of up to 768 ft.
Fifty-five stories tall, this building stands on a street called Maude Street and is not far away from South Africa’s stock exchange.
The building of The Leonardo began in 2015 and was completed in 2019. The cost of the building is around R2 Billion.
It is owned by an agency. Co-Arc International Architects designed and supervised the construction of this building.
Within The Leonardo, you will find businesses, restaurants, a bar, etc. This tall building in Africa is one building to pull your gaze when you come face to face with it.
4. Carlton Center | Johannesburg
Like the Leonardo, Carlton Center, one of Africa’s tallest buildings, also stands in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Carlton center stands at about 732 ft.
It is used as a business complex. The construction of this amazing building began around 1967 and ended around 1974.
It is a 50 storey building. Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill were the architects of this project. And Concor were the main contractors.
The 50th floor of Carlton Center was once called The Top of Africa.
5. Hassan II Mosque | Morocco
In Casablanca, Morocco, the Hassan II Mosque, a religious building, stands in all its architectural glory.
This mosque is the second biggest mosque in Africa and is about the seventh-largest in the world.
The minaret of this mosque is roughly about 60 stories tall, making it amongst the tallest minarets in the world.
Hassan II Mosque overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, and the roof of this Africa’s tall building can be retracted. Its walls are made of marble.
This mosque can contain up to 105,000 people. The budget for constructing this mosque was around $400 – $700 million.
6. Britam Tower | Kenya
The Britam Tower is the tallest building in Kenya, located in the country’s capital, Nairobi.
Having 32 stories, it stands at 640 ft tall. The building mirrors the shape of a prism.
Construction of the Britam Tower kick-started in 2013 and ended in 2017. The Britam Tower is The British-American Investment Company ( Britam ), making it a commercial building.
When passing Hospital Road, Kenya, you will catch a view of this massive prism-like building in the heart of Kenya. The floor area of the Britam Tower is roughly about 339,000 sq ft. [4.]
7. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia | Ethiopia
The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia is located in the Ethiopian city of Addis Ababa. It is the country’s biggest bank. It stands at the height of 198 meters, containing 43 stories.
The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia was completed in 2019, four years after construction commenced.
8. Ponte City Apartments | South Africa
Another South African building, Ponte City Apartments, is amongst the tallest in Africa. It is located in Johannesburg and stands up to 567.6 ft above ground.
It is a residential building, the tallest one in Africa, having 55 stories. The building of Ponte City Apartments was completed in 1975, and the view from the top of this building is astonishing.
9. The Nairobi Global Trade Center | Kenya
The Nairobi global trade center is about 604 ft tall, having 43 storeys. It is a commercial building in the heart of Kenya.
Construction of this massive building began in 2016 and was completed around 2021.
10. UAP Tower | KENYA
Kenya’s UAP tower is an administrative building in Kenya, containing many offices and business spaces.
As of 2015, the UAP tower was the tallest building in Kenya. It was completed around 2015 and was opened in 2016.
The UAP Tower is a 33-floor storey building.
Photo by Sorasak on Unsplash
