Barbican restored: Joburg Art Deco landmark reopens after years of decay

According to The Citizen, Johannesburg’s Art Deco Barbican building built in 1931 on the corner of Rissik and President streets has been restored after years of deterioration and has reopened to the public.

From broken windows to renewed presence in the inner city

For decades the Barbican stood with stripped floors and broken windows opposite the historic old city hall and Rissik Street post office, a visible sign of urban decline. According to The Citizen, the landmark has now been masterfully restored and reopened its doors to welcome visitors to the inner city.

Who led the rescue of the Barbican

According to The Citizen, architect Brian McKechnie and Italian property developer Michael Ciani led the restoration. McKechnie recognised the building’s potential and encouraged Ciani to take a closer look. Ciani told The Citizen the building drew him immediately.

“The Barbican is a unique piece of architecture; I fell in love with it immediately,”

Preserving history while adapting for new use

According to The Citizen, rather than stripping the building of its historic fabric, Ciani and his team documented the interiors and reclaimed original materials to retain the Barbican’s character while adapting it for contemporary use. Ciani said:

“The original wooden floors were stripped, and windows were shattered.”

According to The Citizen, he added:

“We took pictures of the interior beforehand, so we are trying to recreate as much as possible.”

According to The Citizen, old flooring and furniture were reclaimed as part of the restoration.

“I had a wonderful experience with everyone working on this project,”

New life inside the Barbican

According to The Citizen, the restored building now houses a variety of uses: the ground floor contains Bridge Books, an independent bookstore and coffee shop; fashion designer David Tlale has established his fashion academy and corporate offices there; and a restored penthouse at the top offers views across Johannesburg.

According to The Citizen, Ciani described the interior intentions:

“We wanted Brooklyn style on the ground floor, African style in the middle and a mix of Joburg, New York and a touch of African at the top.”

Opening the Barbican to the public

According to The Citizen, members of the public will be invited to experience the Barbican during the next Main Street Sundays, an initiative by Jozi My Jozi. Ciani said he wanted broad public access to the building and pointed to Jozi My Jozi’s support for the project.

“I want everyone to have access to this building, so I thought, why not do that through Jozi My Jozi, which has been very supportive of this project.”

What the project means to its developer

According to The Citizen, Ciani reflected on the personal impact of restoring the Barbican:

“This project changed my life. I am contributing to the reimagining of Joburg, and that’s awesome.”

The restored Barbican now stands as a visible example of heritage preservation paired with urban renewal in Johannesburg’s city centre.