Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa July/August 2014 | Page 69

RETAIL DEVELOPMENT WINNER
Cradlestone Mall

Cradlestone Mall is located west of Johannesburg.
It enjoys a unique location near the world-renowned
heritage site, the Cradle of Humankind. Designed
by Bentel Associates International, Cradlestone Mall
offers shoppers a wide range of retail, restaurant and
leisure variety under one roof.
The location was the starting point for the
underlying philosophy that underpins the
design concept.
Design
The identity of the shopping centre is derived
from the evolutionary finds in the area and is subtly
incorporated in the contemporary design elements
that make up the façade, floors and roof-scapes
of the visual portion of the design. The geological
column has been used to generate an architectural
motif and is a source of colour, finish and texture.
Architectural elements such as entrances and courts
were given priority in expressing this concept. The
stratum of the primordial layering is mimicked in
the floors, ceilings and façade elements. Promptly
dubbed the ‘armadillo’, the central feature of the
external façade - and covering the internal food court
and entertainment zones - is the strata and layer

SAPOA Awards

shaped central roof-scape. Porous, both visually and
physically from the external parking deck, this area
spills out onto a public square and garden area. The
landscaping here harks back to the primordial forest
whilst the rest around the centre is more in keeping
with the current Highveld landscape.

Developers: Sasol Pension Fund;
Pivotal Property Fund; Retail Africa
Architects: Bentel Associates International
Project Co-ordinator: Sedgeley Developments
Quantity Surveyors: SVR SA
Civil Engineers: ILIFA Africa Engineers
Structural Engineers: Sutherland
Electrical Engineers: ESE Consulting Engineers
Mechanical Engineers: Wingrove
Wet Services: Watsol Design Technology
Fire Consultants: Specialised Fire Technology
Traffic Consultant: Techworld Consulting Engineers
Landscape Architects: JJ Coetsee
Town Planner: Insite Landscape Architects
Green Consultants: LEAP
Health & Safety: Cairnmead Industrial Consultants
Main Contractor: Aveng Grinaker-LTA

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