City Deep
House and Leisure|December 2018

The team behind the fiercely collectable Wake Up, This is Joburg series reveals more about Johannesburg’s other side

Garreth Van Niekerk
City Deep
Even if you call Johannesburg home, it remains an elusive beast – a city of secrets. But for those interested in its parts unknown, there’s a whole lot to discover in Fourthwall Books’ 10-part series called Wake Up, This is Joburg. The wildly successful collection of titles tells the stories of the golden metropolis in thoroughly readable essays by urban planner and researcher Dr Tanya Zack, accompanied by extraordinary images taken by photographer Mark Lewis.

The ‘dark concrete cavern’ of Kazerne taxi rank’s highway-underpass butchery in the first book – S’Kop (2014) – is where, according to Zack, you’ll find the city’s best-fed rat colony. The second instalment, Tony Dreams in Yellow and Blue (2014), relates the story of central character Tony, and his living museum of a house in the working-class suburb of Turffontein. In the third volume, Inside Out (2014), the explosive colours and personalities of the Rockey Street Market in Yeoville are explored, and Master Mansions (book 8; 2017) tells the epic tale of how an Indian migrant family built a millinery empire in the now-defunct Mabro Mansions. The entire series is a tribute to everything that makes Joburg such an exciting place to live in.

As a city trader in book 9, Johannesburg. Made In China (2017), says to Zack, ‘Joburg is a great place. It’s a half-London. Whatever you need, you can find it here. You can never say “I couldn’t find it in Joburg.”’

We sat down with Zack, Lewis and Fourthwall Books’ Bronwyn Law-Viljoen, who edited the series, ahead of their launch of Undercity – the 10th and final book in the series – to learn more about their discoveries.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2018 de House and Leisure.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2018 de House and Leisure.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE HOUSE AND LEISUREVer todo
At The Breakfast Table With Jonty Rhodes And Family
House and Leisure

At The Breakfast Table With Jonty Rhodes And Family

Recently renovated, the historic Cape Town home of Jonty and Melanie Rhodes is an adaptable base for an active, clean-eating clan of six

time-read
4 minutos  |
April - May 2020
LUNCH IN THE GARDEN with siblings Bronwyn and Jonathan Cane
House and Leisure

LUNCH IN THE GARDEN with siblings Bronwyn and Jonathan Cane

Alfresco gatherings are the order of the day at this updated century-old semi – the home of a design-centric sister and brother in Brixton, Joburg

time-read
5 minutos  |
April - May 2020
IN THE KITCHEN with Karen Dudley and family
House and Leisure

IN THE KITCHEN with Karen Dudley and family

For Karen Dudley, food informs the family dynamic and her home is as multilayered and as delicious a delight as her colourful personality and cooking style

time-read
4 minutos  |
April - May 2020
THE TRADITIONAL KITCHEN
House and Leisure

THE TRADITIONAL KITCHEN

The perfect piece to pull together a country-style kitchen is a beautiful wooden table that will age with time and hold its place in the memories made around it.

time-read
1 min  |
April - May 2020
IN THE FRAME
House and Leisure

IN THE FRAME

'The history of architecture is the history of the struggle for light.’

time-read
1 min  |
April - May 2020
DRINKS AT THE TABLE with David Cope and Donné Bullivant
House and Leisure

DRINKS AT THE TABLE with David Cope and Donné Bullivant

A dream kitchen renovation meant wine lovers Dave Cope and Donné Bullivant could finally settle down in their wondrously moody City Bowl apartment

time-read
4 minutos  |
April - May 2020
THE MODULAR KITCHEN
House and Leisure

THE MODULAR KITCHEN

DECOR TIP Modular elements like these USM Haller systems are a great way to create interesting, non-permanent storage that can be customised to your needs.

time-read
1 min  |
April - May 2020
SUPPER IN THE BARN with the Thatenhorst family
House and Leisure

SUPPER IN THE BARN with the Thatenhorst family

Munich-based interior designer Stephanie Thatenhorst transformed the barn at her parents’ farm in Bavaria into an eclectic family retreat

time-read
4 minutos  |
April - May 2020
BREAKING BREAD
House and Leisure

BREAKING BREAD

The pendulum has swung back for this nutritious, crusty staple of flour, yeast, water and time – the much-beloved artisanal loaf

time-read
2 minutos  |
April -May 2020
SNACKS ON THE TERRACE with sisters Vicky Crease and Maira Koutsoudakis
House and Leisure

SNACKS ON THE TERRACE with sisters Vicky Crease and Maira Koutsoudakis

The traditional Cycladic home of dynamic sisters Vicky Crease and Maira Koutsoudakis on the island of Serifos is a reminder of what it means to be a part of a close-knit family

time-read
5 minutos  |
April - May 2020