Architect and Builder Magazine South Africa September/October 2013 | Page 24

Mall of Africa, Waterfall
Atterbury has announced it is
developing the 120,000m2 Mall of Africa,
for R3.5 billion – South Africa’s largest
single-phase shopping mall development
to date – financed by Nedbank Corporate
Property Finance.
The new super-regional Mall of Africa
will be the heart of Waterfall, a city
situated between Johannesburg and
Pretoria, and developed on a scale beyond
anything South Africa has known. With
its development, leading SA property
developer and investor, Atterbury, is raising
the bar for retail centres on the continent.
Atterbury Property Developments MD,
James Ehlers, says: “Developing a mall
in the heart of the fastest growing urban
node in Africa created the prospect for an
exciting modern landmark. Mall of Africa’s
sheer scale, distinctive design, exceptional
location and top-notch retail mix puts it at
the forefront of retail developments”.
With the first free-flow intersection of its
size in Africa at the nearby Allandale Road
exit from the N1 Highway, getting to Mall of
Africa is easy. Massive road upgrades also
ensure easy access. Besides road transport,
it is minutes away from the Gautrain

24

Midrand Station and enjoys superb
proximity to OR Tambo International
Airport, Midrand’s Grand Central Airport
and
Lanseria
International
Airport.
Earthworks for Mall of Africa began in
October 2012. It is due to commence
trading in the first half of 2016.
The 2-level mall forms the hub of Waterfall
Business Estate, a staggering 1.6mn sqm
mixed-use
commercial
development
undertaken by Atterbury, and the most
ambitious
commercial
development
yet undertaken in southern Africa.
The highlight of Atterbury’s development
is the exciting 800,000m2 mixed-use
Waterfall City at the heart of Waterfall and,
at its nucleus, is the Mall of Africa. The mall
holds prime position in the tailor-made
330ha new city that embraces integrated
living in its fullest live-work-shop-eat-play
scope, with retail, offices, homes, hotels, a
hospital, light industry and the all-important
lifestyle and leisure components.
“Mall of Africa will be a visual, social and
economic anchor within Waterfall City,”
says Ehlers. Over 300 shops, with seven
anchor tenants and a carefully considered
retail mix, will create a unique retail

experience at Mall of Africa.It will provide
a well-balanced variety of local and
international brands, services, speciality
shopping, entertainment and eateries.
Flagship stores for all major South African
retailers will be part of its attraction.
According to Cobus van Heerden, retail
director, Atterbury Property Developments,
international retailers are targeted, many
of whom are not yet represented in South
Africa. These range from luxury brands
to the more mainstream. The response
from them has been phenomenal and
this will further differentiate this mall
from current South African malls. Its two
levels of exceptional shopping will be
matched by a two-level basement parkade.
“Besides striking dimensions and a wide
array of retail, Mall of Africa’s bespoke
amenities set it apart,” says Ehlers.
The
centre
will
feature
valet
parking, VIP lounge, spa, baby nursery
and children’s park and play area.
Ehlers explains a mall of this scope suits
the large, growing community living and
working in and around Waterfall.
“An estimated 6.7 million people alrea B