Location information

The Michelangelo Towers is being constructed in Maude Street in the heart of the Sandton CBD, opposite the Sandton Convention Centre and adjacent to Nelson Mandela Square.  

The actual site is surrounded by the Nelson Mandela Square, the Forum Building to the south of the site as well as the Convention Centre to the west and CitiBank and the Holiday Inn to the north.

Michelangelo Towers will form part of the Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City, Sandton Convention Centre commercial and civic complex. The public will be able to, once the Towers have been completed, circulate through to the Nelson Mandela Square, onto Sandton City, through to the Sandton Towers Hotel, onto the Intercontinental and finally via a new bridge, to be built as part of the Michelangelo Towers development, back to the Towers itself.  

General description

 Situated in Africa’s prime business centre the Michelangelo Towers has been designed to meet the demanding expectations of the increasingly sophisticated and contemporary residential owner, traveller and business person.  The classically elegant but modern MichelangeloTowers is a unique multidimensional development offering luxurious fully serviced all-suite residential and hotel accommodation, modern retail, complete business facilities and peace of mind security.   

The mixed-use Michelangelo development comprises a prestigious 35-storey high-rise residential complex and a retail centre.  There will be four above and four below ground parking levels which sandwich two retail levels linking directly through to Nelson Mandela Square and via lifts directly off Maude street.  On top of these will be three levels of “Gallery” apartments that form the podium to the tower itself. These “Gallery” apartments encompass 50 apartment suites serviced by their own two lift lobbies off Maude street and the upper level of the retail level.  

The Tower, which starts on the eighth floor, includes thirteen levels of apartments, four levels of penthouse suites, two levels of king penthouse suites and three levels of the prestigious Observation suite which includes a total 360 degree uninterrupted view of the Joburg skyline. 

The tower block will be about 146 m above the Maude street level, offering panoramic views from the 196 apartments and luxury penthouses.  The tower block is capped by an imposing aluminium, glass and stainless steel dome.  When completed, the new Michelangelo Towers in Maude Street Sandton will be the tallest building on the imposing Sandton skyline and the third tallest building in Johannesburg after Ponte and the Carlton Centre (excluding the telecommunications towers). 

Designed by architects Bentel Associates International, the building has been designed using elegant, timeless classical lines but in all aspects is a modern building incorporating the latest building and materials technology.  

The structure is in concrete whilst the envelope includes GRP (fibreglass) mouldings, specialist plaster finish giving a sandstone finish, fold away and sliding aluminium and glass doors and windows, stainless steel handrails and glazed balustrades and marble granite and plaster cladding.

 The Manhattan-style apartment complex features intricate modern classically inspired detail on the facade using bricks and a specialised external sandstone finish with extensive aluminium and glass sliding doors and windows..

 Included in the development is the ultra modern 4 500 m² Michelangelo Towers Mall, with contemporary designer showrooms and shops linked directly to the two Nelson Mandela Square shopping mall levels, two private swimming pools (one indoor and one outdoor, both heated), a health hydro and two private gymnasiums for the exclusive use of the apartment owners and hotel room guests.  The complex is directly linked to Nelson Mandela Square offices, hotel and retail complex, the Sandton Convention Centre as well as the Sandton City complex and hotels.  The Michelangelo Towers Mall will be a showcase of ultra contemporary designer showrooms, restaurants and shops targeting the corporate and residential markets, traders and discerning consumers.

 Other features include state of the art fire protection, air-conditioning, security, emergency evacuation, sanitation and lift-technology.

 The Michelangelo Towers will be more than a building; it will be a way of life, an exclusive lifestyle.  Tenants and apartment owners alike will be able to utilise such services as medical facilities, shopping, legal services and entertainment without having to leave the Sandton precinct.

 The Michelangelo Towers heralds a completely new era of highly exclusive, secure and practical living: the ultimate luxury lifestyle.

 A highly skilled team came together to facilitate the creation of these individual homes housed within the precincts of this exclusive location.

 Main contracts and participants   

Original concept                       Bart Dorrestein (Legacy Holdings) / Bentel Associates International

Developer                                 Legacy Development Management (PTY) Ltd

Client                                                   Sandton Square Portion Eight

Architects                                Bentel Associates International - (Project Architect, Franc Brugman)

Project Management                  Bentel Associates International

Contractors                              Group 5 Construction, Stocks Building Africa

Quantity Surveyors                   De Leeuw Pretoria (Rufus De Villiers)

Structural Engineers                 Ritchie Midgley Consulting Engineers (Tony Ritchie)

Mechanical Engineers               WSP SA (Sven Arro)

Fire Consultants                        Specialised Fire Technology (Dave Pitchford)

Wet Services Engineers            S J Franklin (Steve Franklin)

Interior Designers                    Stephen Falcke, Lionel Levin (Lisa Wilsenach)

Attorneys                                 Strauss, Sher and partners

Electrical Engineers                  Claassen Auret (Tony De Oliveira)

Excavation and

Earthmoving Contractors           Protech Construction

 Unit Sales & Marketing Lynn Estates

Tennant Co-ordinator                AMA Projects (Pty) Ltd

LIST OF SUB-CONTRACTORS/SUPPLIERS

FACTS AND FIGURES  

 Basic design                             Classically inspired through the use of classical arches, sandstone finish and mouldings.  Contemporary modern details including stainless steel and glass balustrades and aluminium framed sliding, folding and stacking doors and windows.

Mixed use                                 Residential complex and retail centre

Value of the project                  R750 million

Planning period                         8 years

Construction commenced           2003

Completion date                        September 2005

Height                                      146m above ground

Height comparisons                   Tallest building in Sandton,

third tallest building in Johannesburg (excl. the communication towers)
fifth tallest commercial structure in South Africa. 

Height of  Potain tower crane on site                             160m

Size of the site             3 500 sq m

 Soil and rock removed from the site                             49 000 m3

 Portion of solid rock removed from the site               30 000 m3

 Number of truckloads to remove the soil and rock       8 500   

Estimated number of people on-site during  peak activity periods                 1000

Levels/storeys:                         35 (above street level, 4 below)

                                                Underground

                                                Level P1, P2, P3, P4       (parking above ground)

                                                Levels P5, P6, P7, P8     (below ground)

                                                Levels 3,4                     Retail

                                                Levels 5, 6, 7                Gallery apartments (50 units)

                                                Levels 8 – 24                Tower apartments

                                                Levels 25 – 28              Penthouse suites

                                                Levels 29, 30                King Penthouse suites

                                                Levels 32, 33, 34          Observation Suite

NOTE:                         An interesting fact: There is no 13^th Floor

Observation Suite:     

Concept and full design detail          Bentel Associates International 

Interior Design Stephen Falcke 

Multi-purpose unit         Residential and business ultra-luxury suite 

Views                           360^o 

Levels:                          Three 

First floor        3 luxury bedrooms, all en-suite 

Second floor    Reception area, lounge, dining area, pub, kitchen  and hi-tech boardroom 

Third floor       Pool deck with swimming pool, gym, sauna, changeroom area and outdoor dining area 

Size                                         950 sq metres 

Dome – weight                           13.6t 

Dome – height                           15m 

Dome  - elements                       Three stainless steel elements:             

a lower centre section incorporating a pressure ring,

12 arches spanning over 20m, and

a 7.2m wide inverted dome. 

Dome – stainless steel               Dome ribs/arches are made of Austenitic 304 stainless steel (a chromium and nickel-containing alloy with molybdenum additions).  Properties - non-magnetic, excellent corrosion resistance, good formability, good weldability, and excellent mechanical properties over a wide range of temperatures.  The low maintenance factor makes it ideal for this type of project. 

Dome – fabrication                   Fabricated by Betterect over three months 

Dome erection                           Two weeks 

Lifts                                         9 high-rise, high-speed lifts, travelling at 3,5 m/s

Staircases                                138 flights, comprising nine different units, varying in width and structure to suit the different floor heights, each weighing between 1 500 kg and 2 600 kg. Purpose-made with high-strength reinforced precast concrete of 45 MPa crushing strength.

 Parking                                     8 levels (4 below ground and 4 above ground)

 Parking Bays                             6 000

 Number of apartments              196

 Size of apartments                   From 76 m² to 800 m²

 Michelangelo Towers Mall         4 500 sq m (two levels of contemporary and   designer showrooms, restaurants and shops)

 Linked through the Nelson Mandela Square on both levels 

Swimming pools                         3  (one indoor and two outdoor, all heated – two public and one private) 

Health Hydro                            1 

Gymnasiums                              2 ( one on level 08 and one on level 12 )

 Prices                                       R1.5-million to R28-million

(the lower level units start at about R15 500/m² and the King Suites are being sold at R28 500/m²).

 Comparative prices                R15 500/m² for a flat in Michelangelo,

R70 000/m² in New York's West Side

or R180 000/m² for the equivalent property in Chelsea, London.

Rentals                                     The R1.7m units are expected to rent for R20 000/month whilst the Observation Suite will offer visitors the chance of staying in a R30 000 a night suite of utmost opulence and luxury 

Rental pool                               Owners have the option of purchasing a fully furnished apartment and placing it in a Hotel Pool, thereby optimising their investment. This arrangement is of particular interest to foreign business people, visitors and tourists who desire an exclusive address in Sandton for limited periods.  Participants in this scheme will be able to rent out their homes on a short, medium or long-term basis under the auspices of the Legacy Hotel Group that will operate and manage this component of the Towers.   

Expected appreciation              Michelangelo will have great scarcity value.  The Towers are unique, up there with the best in the world, and with no immediate competition now or in the future, the Michelangelo Towers is expected to appreciate rapidly and substantially. 

Concierge Desks                       located on main entrance foyer off Maude Street and upper level retail level 

Sales                                        90% of the sectional title units sold to date 

 DESCRIPTION OF APARTMENTS

Each unit includes air conditioning, reverse cycle heating, fittings and two to three parking bays.  The approximately 196 apartments will range from units starting at 76 sq m to the to about 800 sq m or more.  There are between six to eight apartments per floor.  In addition, there is provision for eight lavish penthouses.  The luxurious one or two-bedroom Michelangelo Apartments are open-plan designs that incorporate en suite bathrooms, gourmet kitchens and a high standard of fixtures and fittings.  There will also be several three-bedroom configurations. 

The eight two levelled penthouses will offer discerning owners enchanting 300 sq m of balcony with plunge pools or Jacuzzis.  Since the top suites are more elaborate some will include informal and formal lounges, snooker rooms and gyms, among other features.  Entry lobbies will lead to upper and lower level designs that incorporate dressing rooms, butlers quarters and a sense of space commensurate with the overall grandeur of classical buildings. 

The Michelangelo Towers is more than a building; it is a whole new way of living, an exclusive lifestyle.  Apartment layouts offer configurations that allow for a wide range of personal inclinations, tastes and family routines.  Some apartments include studies, some are duplex, while others feature fold back windows that allow unrestricted vistas reaching to the Magaliesberg Hills and beyond.  Because of the open-plan designs, the views promise to be spectacular from just about any of the rooms and to ensure this bathrooms and kitchens have been positioned closest to the core of the building with living and bedrooms on the outer periphery. On a clear day even the Voortrekker Monument is visible from the top floors 

PRICES  

Prices range from R1,2 million to R28 million.  The top penthouse is the most expensive apartment in South Africa and was recently sold off plan for a record R28 million or $3.1 million.

 The R1.7m units are expected to rent for R20 000/month whilst the Observation Suite at the top of the building will offer visitors to Joburg the chance of staying in a R30 000 a night suite of utmost opulence and luxury.

 The Towers is achieving record prices – the lower level units start at about R15 500/m² and the King Suites are being sold at R28 500/m².