THE CHALLENGE IN GIVING NEW LIFE TO OLD CENTRES
As SVA International nears the completion of the mammoth two-year, R420-million upgrade of one of South Africa’ s iconic retail nodes, Greenacres Shopping Centre, the project team has outlined the immense architectural and logistical challenges they have managed to overcome. The massive transformation of Port Elizabeth’ s 46,500m 2 retail icon is set to wrap up in mid-2017.
The upgrade is one of the many transformations undertaken by the architectural firm, which has had a long relationship with Greenacres, having been at the helm since the design of the original building for OK Bazaars( now Shoprite / Checkers), which opened in October 1981.
According to Jannie Wagenaar, one of the SVA architects heading the project, the revamp has taken Greenacres from an eighties icon and transformed it into a contemporary attraction with floating cantilevered roofs, an abundance of natural light and an airy atmosphere.
“ When Greenacres opened its doors, the in-vogue shopping centre design was very much a heavy geometric-patterned style, with low ceilings and narrow passages,” said Wagenaar.“ Over the years, shopping centres have developed into very social spaces – the equivalent of the new main shopping streets for communities with wide, flowing walkways, high ceilings and lots of natural light.”
A 35-year-old centre came with many logistical and architectural challenges, including raising the low ceiling – itself a maze of wires and disused equipment – as well as connecting various buildings, which were added on over the years, into one seamless, flowing design. Another aspect was incorporating the needs of modern retail, with increased equipment and machinery needs – all of which is stored on the roof or between the ceiling and the roof.
During the night shift, new ceilings, services and shopfronts were installed – among other major redesign aspects. Come early morning, teams of cleaners would move in to tidy, and working spaces would be boarded up and cordoned off, to ensure shopper safety during that day’ s trade. This would be taken down again that night as renovation work resumed. The removal or re-positioning of various supporting columns was also a logistical challenge, explained SVA associate Greta Teltschik, who is also on the project team.
“ In the middle of the centre there is the Greenacres office tower – and those columns need to come to ground somewhere [ for structural support ]. So when such columns are removed, it’ s a type of structural gymnastics which is performed using major reinforcement beams to ensure the structure remains supported,” she said.
Bringing an earthy and modern feel to the centre was also important, explained SVA associate and lead architect on the project, Shadley Ravat. Details include natural timber strip ceilings celebrating the high entrances, with the timber theme carrying through into the centre’ s furniture. Multi-glass panelling and green walls at the new entrances – elevated from 4m in the old centre to a striking 12m high with the new design – further enhance the earthy, real feel which is continued with spring-shaped bicycle stands. Now stores spill onto walkways with much less of a divide between them and the general public areas, giving the effect of walking down a main shopping street, Ravat said. www. sva-architects. com
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