The Campanile (Italian for “bell tower”) is a prominent 53.5-meter-high brick memorial situated at the entrance to the railway station and harbor in Gqeberha, South Africa. It is widely considered the architectural gateway to the city’s historic center and marks the starting point of Route 67, a public art meander dedicated to Nelson Mandela.
The tower was erected to commemorate the centenary of the landing of the 1820 Settlers.
Designed by local architect W.J. McWilliams (of the firm Jones & McWilliams), the structure was inspired by the St Mark’s Campanile in Venice.
On 9 April 1921 the foundation stone was laid by Prince Arthur of Connaught.
In 1923 the construction was completed at a cost of approximately £6,150.
During the period 1932 to1936 the carillon, consisting of 23 bronze bells, was installed and first played in September 1936.
In March 2016, the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) initiated a major R20-million restoration project. The goal was to transform the tower from a colonial monument into an inclusive heritage site for all citizens.
Key Actors in the Upgrade
- Client: Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA).
- Lead Architects: The Matrix… Urban Designers and Architects (specifically Professor Albrecht Herholdt and Gianni Geminiani).
- Technical Specialists: Building Automation Systems (BA Systems), responsible for the modernized bell and lighting control.
The team employed a “conservation of contrast” approach – restoring original brickwork while using identifiable modern materials like stainless steel for new interventions.
The 2017 reopening introduced several high-tech and interactive features:
- The Carillon Upgrade: Two new bells were added to the original 23, creating a full 25-note carillon (two octaves). It is now computer-controlled and can play programmed melodies via MIDI.
- Ghost Bells: Located on Level 5, these are visual proxies for the actual bells. They light up with LEDs when the bells above chime, or when visitors play them via an interactive console.
- The Harbor Window: A stainless-steel observation “capsule” was inserted near the top, allowing a full-height view of the harbor—a perspective previously impossible.
- New Lift: A self-supporting glass-and-steel lift was installed inside the tower to provide universal access to the observation deck (204 steps up).
- Symbolic Steps: A silver plaque was placed on the 67th step of the spiral staircase to acknowledge Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of service to democracy.
Architecture & Technical Stats
- Height: 53.5 meters (roughly 9 floors).
- Base: 23 feet square (approx. 7 meters), resting on sea-worn rock.
- Materials: Load-bearing brickwork, with some stone taken from the city’s oldest demolished buildings.
- The Bells: The largest bell weighs between 3 and 4 tons and is 6 feet in diameter.
The Campanile is now a Grade II heritage asset and serves as a cultural hub, with various floors acting as galleries for the city’s creative communities.
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