Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa

The building was a grain silo complex built in 1921 by the Grain Elevator Company, which for decades was the tallest building in sub-Saharan Africa. At its peak it stored 100,000 tonnes of grain and was a working industrial facility. It was decommissioned in 1990 and stood derelict for over 20 years on Cape Town's waterfront. British designer Thomas Heatherwick (Studio Heatherwick) won the commission to transform it into a museum, carving out the spectacular central atrium from the existing 42 cylindrical concrete silo tubes — an extraordinary feat of adaptive reuse.

Thomas Heatherwick of Studio Heatherwick (London) designed the conversion of the historic grain silo into Zeitz MOCAA, which opened in 2017. Heatherwick's approach preserved the existing concrete silo tubes — 42 cylindrical columns — and carved out an interconnected labyrinth of galleries and a soaring central atrium by cutting into and between the cylinders. The cathedrallike atrium, which rises the full height of the building, was created by extrapolating a grain of corn mathematically and cutting its shape through the silo. It is considered one of the great adaptive reuse projects in contemporary architecture.

Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) focuses exclusively on contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora created after the year 2000. Across nine floors and 100 galleries, the museum shows paintings, sculpture, photography, video, film, performance, costume, and installation by leading African artists including William Kentridge, Zanele Muholi, Kudzanai Chiurai, Athi-Patra Ruga, and Nicholas Hlobo. The museum has dedicated centres for Photography, the Moving Image, Performative Practice, Costume Institute, and Art Education.

Yes — African passport holders and South African residents enter free on the first Friday of each month. Children under 18 enter free at all times. Standard international adult admission is R250. The rooftop sculpture garden and views over Table Bay are included in admission. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Yes — Zeitz MOCAA is considered one of the most architecturally significant and culturally important new museums opened in the 21st century. It is the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world and occupies a unique position as the primary institutional home for contemporary African creativity. The building itself — Thomas Heatherwick's silo conversion — is as compelling as the art inside, and the rooftop sculpture garden with views of Table Mountain and the harbour is exceptional. Plan 2–3 hours for the galleries.

Plan 2 hours for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.