CATEGORY WINNER: RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS Mall of the South
Zenprop Property Holdings identified Meyersdal in southern Johannesburg as a potential location for a regional shopping centre as early as 2008.
Having identified the Mall of the South as a retail development opportunity, Zenprop commissioned specialist market research that confirmed the need for a regional shopping centre within the catchment area of southern Johannesburg.
One of the specifics arising from the research was the above average prevalence of higher income profile shoppers in the catchment area, which largely informed the overall concept design of the centre.
Vivid Architects was appointed at the start of the site investigation phase and assisted the development team in investigating a number of potential sites. An ideal location was secured on the corner of Swaartkoppies and Klipriver Drive. The development proposal required a full rezoning application from residential to commercial rights.
Given the optimal location selected by Zenprop for a development of this nature, design constraints dictated a double level shopping centre and structured parking( over three levels) which resulted in value engineering strategies to achieve feasibility.
Such value engineering strategies include maximisation of rentable area to building area, simplified roof design, rationalisation of circulation cores and a focus on increasing natural light, thereby reducing the need for illumination.
The Mall of the South design brief was conceptualised as double level, enclosed regional mall of circa 65,000m 2( GLA) with structured customer parking( 4,200 parking bays), with particular attention to detail in the following areas:
An abundance of natural light filters through a continuous sky light along the entire roof scape of the building. Main entrances to the mall are emphasised through increased scale, large volumes of glass and finishes. There is an active edge onto the structured parking area with outward facing shops along the full length of the building’ s façade. Vertical connectivity within the building between the two retail levels is achieved by sight lines to retailers shop fronts. There is simplicity of access and egress to and from the site and circulation within the structured parking for customers. Finishes within the building are hard wearing yet at luxurious and classic at the same time.
The architecture is aesthetically stimulating whilst not compromising on efficiency and convenience. This has culminated in the most exciting and luxurious shopping centre Zenprop has developed to date.
Developer: Zenprop Property Holdings Architects: Vivid Architects Project Managers: WT McClatchey Quantity Surveyors: MLC Civil, Structural & Mechanical Engineers: Aurecon Structural Engineers: Sotiralis Consulting Electrical Engineers: Quad Africa Fire Consultants: TWCE Traffic Engineers: Civil Concepts Plumbing Consultant: Benatar Consulting Vertical Circulation Consultants: Solutions for Elevating Town Planners: GE Town Planning Landscape Architects: Insite Tenant Co-ordinator: EQF Main Contractor: Aveng Grinaker-LTA
SAPOA Awards 11