Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa May/June 2014 | Page 16

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proposed, current and future projects from Southern Africa and abroad

Bay West Mall, Port Elizabeth

T

he innovative Bay West City
development in Port Elizabeth
has commenced construction on
the first phase of the Bay West Mall. The
initial phase which covers some 87,500m2
has been designed by dhk Architects
and jointly developed by Abacus Asset
Management and the Billion Group.
The Mall is the first development in the
Bay West City Precinct and will include
other developments such as commercial
office blocks, private schools, a residential,
leisure and lifestyle components as well as
a modern hospital and healthcare facility.
The option exists for future expansion of
the shopping precinct providing for a total
of some 110,000m2 of retail space under
one roof.

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According to Derick Henstra, Chairman
of dhk Architects, “The layout of the mall
itself takes the typical cross mall shape,
featuring a large central food court in
the middle of the shopping hub with a
secondary ‘ring-mall’ linking the anchor
tenants situated on the four corners of the
building. Mall entrances are provided at
each quadrant with an inter-connecting
parking podium on two levels.”
“There is an entertainment hub which
includes an ice rink, cinema complex, game
arcade as well as fast food outlets and
restaurants. The ‘external’ design places
emphasis on the arrival experience, the
approach and the provision of sufficient
parking – close to clearly defined mall
entrances. Whilst the ‘internal’ aspects of

the mall focus on the shopping experience;
the use of natural daylight, visual / spatial
connectivity, large double volume spaces
with roof-lights and unobstructed freeflowing mall layouts. Vertical connectivity
is integral to the pedestrian flow and
provisions have been made for adequate
trolley lifts and escalators, linking the two
retail levels,” said Henstra.
The energy requirements of this scale
of development are significant, thus
considerable emphasis has been placed
on the incorporation of ‘green design
principles’ to achieve natural lighting,
cooling, ventilation and recycling, thus
reducing the building’s energy demand,
improving efficiencies and minimizing the
negative impact on the environment.

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