Nature of project: Chancellor House is a three story building on Fox street directly opposite the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. It was built in 1941. In 1952 Mandela and Tambo opened their law offices on the 1st floor. In 1960, after the State of Emergency was declared and after Tambo went into exile, Mandela left these premises and practiced law from Ahmed Kathrada’s nearby flat – 13 Kholvad House - which became filled to the brim with clients.

The Chancellor House building has been left to deteriorate over the years and until recently was occupied by squatters. It was largely destroyed by a fire possibly in the late 1990’s. In 2010 the JDA made the decision to restore the building to its 50’s charm and preserving its legacy as the law office of Mandela & Tambo.

Trace is currently researching the history of the building and will design the exhibition in a ‘shop window’ space on street level which runs the length of the building. The office of Mandela & Tambo is of great significance as this is where South Africa’s most famous citizens shared a place of work together for the last time.

Key Responsibilities:
Primary and Secondary Research
Script Writing
Exhibition and graphic design
Production management
Installation

trace personnel involved:
Clive van den Berg – Curator and Designer
Lauren Segal – Curator and Script writing
Nhlanhla Mthethwa – Research
Jackie Downs – Research
Hans Foster - Design