energy combined with environmental benefits
results in ecologically benign building envelopes.
ETFE is recycled and the recycled material is
used to manufacture valves and small components
for new ETFE systems. The Novofoil ETFE system
has been awarded an Environmental Product
Declaration (EPD).
The external façade was constructed with
a lightweight polystyrene wall system called
Etics. This wall system facilitates a reduction in
thermal transition which facilitates the mechanical
environmental control requirements for the building
and limits structural support weight requirements,
whilst allowing for faster installation methods than
conventional structural masonry wall systems.
A Unique Shopping and Design Experience
The Mall of Africa is the first shopping experience
in the country that has the sophistication of some
of the most prominent malls in Europe, England
and the USA. Amid some initial dissent about the
size of this development in a country that some
feel has an oversupply of shopping centres, tenants
continue to report trading results that surpass
their projected expectations. “Most importantly,
beyond the initial interest that literally caused traffic
jams in the vicinity, the Mall of Africa continues to
generate much interest from visitors to the centre,”
concludes Kanakakis.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT’S REPORT
The landscape design of the Waterfall Precinct
integrates the surrounding urban street fabric with
the Mall of Africa as well as the newly constructed
central park. The Town Square can be accessed
from the food court on level 5. The space is lined
with hand-picked restaurants with a majestic
zero level water feature being the central focus.
Sculpted wooden benches with Plane trees, not
only frame the water feature, but also the view
towards the central park, and in the distance, the
Sandton City skyline.
Designed by Danie Rebel Landscape Architects,
the 1.3 ha central park forms an integral part of the
Mall of Africa development and is the ‘green’ and
social hub of Waterfall City and is central to the
open space system. Access to the park is from
the Mall of Africa Town Square and spans across
Jukskei Drive to link the park and the Mall of Africa
to the future mix-use development to the south of
the park, a High rise mix-use and office towers will
form the eastern and western edges to the park.
The park was constructed on top of a super
basement consisting of 5 levels of parking and will
provide well-designed recreation amenities and
soft spaces needed in the heart of a modern city
and will provide for the needs of city dwellers,
office workers and visitors alike.
From the town square, the park slopes down
to create an intimate scale amphitheatre with
Mall of Africa
LANDSCAPING DETAIL
an interactive fountain and a performance stage
area. A larger terraced lawn space provides
seating space for concerts and events hosting up
to 5,000 spectators. Specialised market facilities
and ablution facilities are provided to ensure all
year round activities and attractions to the park.
Picnicking, relaxation, jogging, cycling and dog
walking in a safe and well secured environment
will be among the major attractions to the park.
The design of the park is based on the proven
principle that responsive and meaningful open
spaces do improve quality of life and add value to
the adjoining property values.
The design aims to provide pleasant, inviting
valuable and sustainable spaces for human use and
the enjoyment as an added experience in visiting
the Mall of Africa. The design not only provides
nature in an urban ecology, but it represents the
indigenous Highveld Ecosystem.
LANDSCAPING PLAN
37