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meant more retaining walls and bigger inclines to
the southern portion of the site.
Materials
Maxi bricks, which are a locally made product, were
used in the construction. They are larger than normal
bricks and the aim in using this product was to
achieve larger volumes of façades built in less time.
Rubber copings to parapets were used, which
was a first for the continent and saved almost
50,000 tyres from reaching South African landfills.
Large glass façades were used for the anchor
boxes to create a ‘money shot’, where more
emphasis was placed on detail and volume to create
an entrance off the road which would be memorable.
Sustainability
Regional shopping centres are challenged by the
difficulty of an expansive footprint. Constructed on
a greenfield site, it was important that an approach
be taken to accommodate regeneration of the
surrounding ecology while ensuring that future
retrofit and expansion is contained. The centre is
set into the ground, reducing the visual impact of
the building in its natural setting.
The outdoor layout of the shopping centre also
afforded some unique opportunities, such as the
interlacing of greenery into public walkways through
expansive planting, as well as the preservation of the
old fig tree at the heart of the development. This is
proving to be a popular meeting point for shoppers.
The centre has also received an environmental
merit certification for its use of recycled rubber,
one of the world’s most hazardous waste streams,
in the manufacture of roof coping tiles equating to
6,250m 3 of rubber.
Since sustainability is by definition a triple bottom
line measurement of natural environment, as well
as social and economic criteria, this centre achieves
a balance of ecology, community and financial
feasibility to ensure that the development will be
of benefit to current and future generations.
Cornubia Mall
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73