New iconic entrances have been softened with
landscaping and feature walls covered in stainless
steel cables, which will allow the building to soften
over time. Each entrance is a different colour to
represent the four different seasons. The new
Food Lovers Market is surrounded by shipping
containers offering smaller food offerings as well
as a Seattle Coffee shop.
The new, efficient parking area is located at the
heart of the development. The large space, with
parking for over 3,200 vehicles, has been broken
up by red brick paving and lighting, serving as a
strong axial link. Tree-lined walkways and paved
entrances extending into the parking areas all
add to the pedestrian-friendly aspects of the
new building.
Following staggered openings including
phase 1 of the new community shopping centre
and the opening of Food Lover’s Market, the
remainder of the community shopping centre as
well as the restaurant and value retail node were
completed in November 2019.
Shopping Centre
Part of the existing mall attached to the waterfront/
building was incorporated into the new shopping
centre mall and has the sense of an old railway
shed or building.
Red brick has been used to provide a warm
contemporary aesthetic and the individual
buildings create a village feel. The old arches
and steel framed windows were maintained to
Ferndale on Republic
bring in natural light while new bulkheads and
shopfronts were introduced in to link the old parts
with the new.
“Shoppers walk through the existing mall
and then through into the new mall creating a
special connection between new and old. We
worked with existing structures and high-level
windows but introduced new shop fronts and
bulkheads. The retrofitting and refurbishment
create interesting interactions and spatial
connections between the two structures,”
says Pearce.
The interior features warm, natural elements
and a lot of greenery. Lighting and signage, floor
tiling and paving all contribute to a completely
different experience.
Family Retail
The co-owners made a concerted effort to promote
family retail at Ferndale on Republic and for this
reason pubs have made way for Spur, Panarottis
and other family-orientated offerings.
The architectural design of the project allows for
simple and logical movement patterns, resulting in
an easy-to-navigate shopping experience.
Pearce believes that in its new form, Ferndale
on Republic has a romantic attraction. “It is an
evolution that retains the good things associated
with the development. The design is efficient but
sensitive to the residential area adjacent to the site
while taking advantage of accessibility and visibility
from Republic Road,” he concludes.
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