World Architecture Day is on 6 October, and Sandton Central is a pretty good place to celebrate it. The city is full of glass towers, striking façades, and cultural landmarks that most of us rush past without a second glance. If you take a moment to look up though, you’ll see that Sandton has some of the most impressive and interesting architecture in Joburg. From sleek skyscrapers to stylish public spaces, the design is all around you.
To make it fun, we’ve plotted out a design lover’s walking tour of Sandton. It comes with pit stops for coffee, cocktails, and people-watching to keep things light and remind you that architecture isn’t homework. It’s part of what makes this city tick!
Start Big: The Leonardo and Alice Lane Precinct
Kick things off at The Leonardo, South Africa’s tallest building at 234 metres. Its glass-and-steel exterior mirrors the ambition of the city it towers over, but the real magic comes when you step inside. On the first floor, Leo’s Lounge & Deli offers a perfect pit stop where design and hospitality blur into one. Sleek finishes, wall-to-wall glass, and an elevated buzz make even a quick espresso feel part of the experience.
Just a short stroll away, the Alice Lane Precinct shows off how modern office towers can be more than boxes of business. Linked by elevated walkways and softened with landscaped squares, the precinct invites you to wander rather than rush. Pause at the Sanlam Art Lounge, where rotating exhibitions bring creativity into a space that could otherwise feel purely corporate. It’s proof that design has a ripple effect beyond its architecture.
Sustainability in Style: Discovery Building
Make your way down Rivonia Road and Discovery Place will stop you in your tracks. Its wavy glass façade shifts with the light, but this is no empty showpiece. It’s a 6-Star Green Star-rated structure designed to minimise energy consumption while maximising daylight. Grab a coffee from Doppio Zero across the street, and take a moment to watch how the building reflects the movement of the city back at itself. Sustainability here looks sharp and ambitious.
The Cultural Core: Nelson Mandela Square and Sandton City
Next stop: Nelson Mandela Square, with its surrounding building, fountains, and that towering Madiba statue anchoring the piazza. It’s one of the most recognisable spaces in South Africa, but it’s also a fascinating piece of urban design. The square blends European piazza sensibilities with the dynamism of an African business hub. Sit down at Tashas for a light lunch, or book a table at TANG if you want to pair the experience with interiors dripping in pan-Asian glamour.
From here, step into Sandton City, where architecture and retail meet. The mall’s soaring atriums and sprawling layout are impressive in their own right, but the real gem is the Protea Court. Stand underneath it and look up, and you’ll see how the dome floods the interior with natural light while giving a sense of space that’s rare in shopping centres. It’s not just about window shopping. The design turns an everyday errand into a moment of awe. Once you’ve admired the dome, wander past Artyli Gallery, just off Nelson Mandela Square, for another example of how art and architecture intertwine in Sandton.
Culture and Creativity: Artistry JHB
For a very different kind of architectural stop, cross over to Artistry JHB, a multi-level cultural space that has fast become one of Sandton’s most talked-about venues. Spread across several floors, it houses a rooftop bar, a live performance stage, and a restaurant where every design detail feels intentional. Concrete, steel, warm lighting, and urban greenery create a space that’s as cool as it is functional. You can start with cocktails on the rooftop, drift down to watch a live gig, and end the evening over dinner—all without leaving the building. Artistry proves that architecture isn’t only about glass towers. It’s about creating experiences that bring people together.
Convention and Connection: Sandton Convention Centre
Back on Maude Street, the Sandton Convention Centre continues the story of scale and purpose. With its bold façade and cavernous interiors, it’s built for connection. International summits, exhibitions, and business gatherings play out against a backdrop of soaring atriums and adaptable spaces. Walk a few minutes further to Solo at 24 Central, where interiors are plush and refined, echoing the grandeur of the building it calls home. It’s the perfect spot to pause and digest both lunch and architecture.
Rooftops and Revelry: Elevated Design
When you’re ready for a higher perspective, Saint Restaurant in The Marc brings unapologetic theatre to the table. Its interiors are a riot of marble, murals, and chandeliers, making the restaurant itself a work of art. Time your visit for sundowners, and the surrounding towers turn into a golden-hued skyline show.
For the ultimate rooftop, there’s Alto234 on top of The Leonardo. The views stretch across Joburg’s green suburbs and all the way to the Magaliesberg on a clear day. Standing here with a cocktail in hand, you’re reminded that Sandton’s architectural story is not just about individual buildings. It’s about how they sit in the wider landscape of the city.
A City Still Rising
The best part of Sandton is that its story is always unfolding. Cranes mark new beginnings, older buildings are reimagined, and fresh spaces like keep the cultural momentum alive. Architecture here is never static. It’s alive, ambitious, and constantly evolving.
This World Architecture Day, pause as you move through the city. Notice the shimmer of glass against the sky, the rhythm of plazas, the creativity inside cultural venues, and the way a dome or rooftop reframes your perspective. Sandton Central is not just a backdrop to your daily routine. It’s a living exhibition of design waiting to be explored.
