Architect and Builder June 2016 | Page 47

retailers on the overall premises. The inclusion of these guarantees a well-rounded retail offering for all visitors. The nearby residential population has been extremely welcoming of the centre and its proximity to local provincial road arteries has expanded its influence to the far reaches of the local context. A high demand for retail space by tenants has been beneficial to local and national franchises and to shoppers, offering a wide variety of choice and strong validation for repeat visits. Regarding overall planning, a decision was taken to face the centre to the interior of the site, as opposed to orienting the centre towards the highlyused adjacent provincial road. This was undertaken as strength of the design and diverse retail offering would knowingly encourage exploration of the stand’s interior, setting the stage for the development of a Newmarket precinct with the centre at its heart. Mall at Newmarket Shopping Centre represents a balance of experienced and effective retail design, a memorable experience for shoppers, and a highly successful endeavour by the developers. This high standard for holistic design process in overall master planning principles as well as finer architectural detail ensured that no design challenge was too big or small. Aspects of graphic design, also included in the architectural service, demonstrated careful attention to equine-themed signage, the racecourse motif’s circling overhead in the mall, to the Mall at Newmarket logo. Mall at Newmarket Shopping Centre represents a catalyst for renewed commercial success to the Alberton precinct. Its impact is widely-received, serving to stimulate increasing commercial interest in the area and representing a new era of architecture and consumer experience for its context. Mall at Newmarket 45