Victoria Yards – A Jo’burg Gem
Garden as though you will live forever.
– William Kent
Located in the tiny suburb of Lorentzville Victoria Yards join other creative spaces like Maboneng and the Newtown Precinct in reviving neglected parts of Jo’burg’s inner city. These previous no-go zones are becoming gathering places for artists, artisans, and art lovers, while boosting the local economy.
What struck me most was the lush urban garden that flourishes amongst the collection of 20th century warehouses and industrial buildings, which covers 30,000 square metres. The organic waste produced by the tenants are used in the compost that is made on site, while the vegetables that are grown are sold during their First Sundays market. To further encourage a symbiotic relationship between man and nature, owl boxes were installed to encourage natural pest control.
Developer Brian Green, who is also responsible for creating 44 Stanley in Milpark, teamed up with a couple of partners to breathe new life in a derelict space that was originally built and used as a laundry in the early 1900s. There is a strong focus on community engagement, which includes providing jobs and training for members of the immediate community.
The walls of the buildings were not plastered or painted over, but was left in a raw state, not only adding to the character of the space, but also preserving a visible history. The green of the garden softens the stark industrial look, and together they exist in what appears to be a perfect harmony.
Artists and various other creatives, who have their work spaces here are not just surrounded by an environment that is inspirational, but other like-minded people. The list of tenants include a gallery, fine artists, furniture makers, photographers, clothing manufacturers, ceramicists, a carpenter, a copper artist, glass blowers, and even book binders. And to satisfy the stomach there is a fish & chips shop, coffee roastery and bakery, a craft brewery which also serves woodfired pizzas, and gin distillery.
Notes:
# Opening hours: 9h00 – 17h00 on Weekdays
10h00 – 17h00 on Saturdays
1st Sunday of the month
# During their First Sundays campaign all the studios are open, while fresh produce from the property and other artisanal products are also sold.
# Victoria Yards have a couple of Event Spaces they rent out, so if you are looking for somewhere different to host an event, this is definitely a funky place to consider.
Visited: January 2019
## Read our latest post to see what we’ve been doing on our land in Portugal during our June visit.
Jolandi !!! Definitely need to get to visit – I keep meaning to and life happens.
I know exactly what you are talking about, Jenny. Would love to catch up, especially as the plan is to move briefly through Jo’burg again in November. Am going to send you an email right now!
What an amazing place! I would have never heard of it otherwise, so thanks for sharing.
I will read your latest “Portugal” post later this week – looking forward to it as always 🙂
Your support and enthusiasm for our Portugal project really warms my heart, Takami. Thank you.
I adore places like Victoria Yards, as it shows how the human spirit and creativity can take something that seems hopeless and transform it into a special place where a community can thrive.
I am always heartened by nature’s resilience, Jolandi. It will re-establish itself if we only give it a chance!
I agree, Tanja.
Love it. There’s a concrete space that is where the markets set up, but I wish, oh how I wish, they would clean it up and make it green during the times when the market isn’t open. And how nice it would be for the market goers if it was pleasant. Sigh. I really should have been a city planner.
Well, I guess its never too late for a career change, Lani. 😉 If only more people were visionaries. Sigh. I think urban gardens make a lot of sense on so many different levels.
I love to see industrial areas that are abandoned and falling apart turned into a creative space. They are so much fun to explore. It is inspiring and fun to support local artists. Looks like such a fun visit.
I agree, Terri. It was indeed a fun outing. A pity I wasn’t in town for their First Sunday market, but the quietness of the space on a weekday morning, held its own charm.
I can only imagine. It looks spectacular.
I love this idea! This should be done in all cities where former industrial zones lay abandoned and unused. The areas would not only be great places to showcase art, but also great places to live. Your posts also make me want to visit Johannesburg and South Africa. I knew they were beautiful places, but in the US so little is known about them. Thank you!
I completely agree. These places not only get a new lease on life, but the community also benefits. Interestingly enough, when I lived in Johannesburg I didn’t nearly had the amount of fun exploring than I do now when I go back as a visitor. Thank goodness I have a very good friend living there who loves to explore these places too, so we always have heaps of fun doing so. Unlike your recent travel buddy. 😉