The 57-meter elevator, built in 1921, will house the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art (Zeitz MOCAA). The main part of the collection will be the collection of Jochen Zeitz, the former CEO of Puma. The works of art belonging to him constitute the most representative body of works by African artists working both at home and in exile today. Zeitz will also provide funds for the functioning of the museum and for the purchase of new exhibits.
The elevator, which will only open as a museum at the end of 2016, is located on the V&A Waterfront commercial development complex, which emerged during the renovation of Cape Town's historic harbor. It is visited by 24 million people annually, and its owners, who have partnered with Zeitz, hope to put this popularity at the service of African culture.
The main part of the elevator consists of 42 silo buildings 33 m high and 5.5 m in diameter each. Eight central pipes will be cut in an oval section: this will create an atrium illuminated through glazed ceilings, interpreting the industrial past of the building. Very large works of art will be exhibited there.
But most of the 9,500 m2 area will be occupied by conventional exhibition halls (a total of 80 rooms with a total size of 6,000 m2), 18 educational zones, a storehouse, restoration workshops, centers for performance, cinema, curatorial affairs and education. There will also be a rooftop sculpture garden (you can walk on thick glass), bookstores, cafes and restaurants.
Outside, the concrete walls of the elevator will be cleaned of plaster and paint, and the upper part of the rectangular working body is wrapped in a glass envelope with cushion windows. The project budget is 500 million rand (33.5 million euros).
