Ponte City Building, Johannesburg

Ponte City is the tallest residential building in Johannesburg. It was designed by Rodney Grosskopff, Manfred Hermer and Mannie Feldman and completed in 1975. At the time the apartments were prized for city views and serviced by stores on the lower levels. During the 1980s the building fell victim to the decay sweeping the inner city and was taken over by gangs, becoming a criminal hotspot. During the worst parts, the garbage in the central core rose up to five storeys. From 2007 the building was renovated by the new owners who were determined to make sure it became a safe space again. The building has figured in numerous films. The cult classic District 9 features Ponte in the closing scenes, Chappie, a sci-fi movie by the same South African director had a few scenes set there and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter has a battle scene shot inside the tower.