My tribute to the Werdmuller Center on Main Road, Claremont, designed by Roelof Uytenbogaardt and completed in 1974.
Uytenbogaardt was an award-winning architect and professor of urban and regional planning based at the University of Cape Town in the 1970s.
Another incredible building he designed is the Sports Complex that stands at the entrance of UCT, completed in 1981. My dad worked at this centre in the 1980s and I spent a lot of time exploring the building as a child. The centre (owned by Old Mutual) is due to be demolished as the land that it occupies (erf 54472, in the middle of Claremont) is worth more than its current letting value. DHK Architects have been appointed to the project.
Many deem the centre as a national heritage site and have planned proposals to save the building. The site is still accessible and we managed to shoot some pics after negotiations with security guards. The abandoned upper levels have been fenced off and can only be accessed with permission. We found the building squalid and neglected, although people still use the ramps and passages to access the Main Road, as was originally intended. Some popular long-term residents at the centre are Paul Bothner Music, the Cafda Bookshop and Radio CCFM.
More links to photographs and information can be found on the Werdmuller Center discussion thread at the INSIDE Cape Town group on Flickr.
More information can be found here. A PDF file of the proposed re-development. The building also features on the 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die list by Matt Makins.
Another interesting article here www.mahala.co.za/culture/demolishing-aspirations/.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mallix/albums/72157605973780153
UPDATE: Sept 2025. I see most of these links are now dead, hence the need for me to archive content as I go… I will follow up and update.