Architect and Builder March/April 2016 | Page 24

PROJECT FEATURE MALL OF THE SOUTH MALL OF THE SOUTH Meyersdal CLIENT Zenprop Property Holdings ARCHITECTS VIVID Architects PROJECT MANAGERS WT McClatchey Associates QUANTITY SURVEYORS MLC Quantity Surveyors STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS Sotiralis Consulting Engineers CIVIL / MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Aurecon ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS Quad Africa FIRE ENGINEERS TWCE TRAFFIC ENGINEERS Civil Concepts PLUMBING CONSULTANT Benatar Consulting VERTICAL CIRCULATION CONSULTANT S4E Z enprop Property Holdings identified Meyersdal in southern Johannesburg as a potential location for a regional shopping centre as early as 2008. Specialist market research confirmed that this area of southern Johannesburg had the potential for a large regional retail development opportunity. One of the specifics arising from the research, was the above-average prevalence of higher income profile of shoppers in the catchment area which largely informed the overall concept design of the shopping centre. Vivid Architects was appointed at the start of the site investigation phase and assisted the development team in investigating a number of potential sites. An ideal location was secured on the corner of Swaartkoppies and Klipriver Drive. The development proposal required a full rezoning application from residential to commercial rights. The Site Located on the corner of Swaartkoppies and Klipriver Drive, the site is triangular in shape with a natural ground level fall of over 16m from north to south. The site is positioned on the lower slopes of a koppie. In order to minimise costs and impact on the natural ground levels, a layout and design was conceived that would work with the site gradients as much as possible. The final platform required some excavation in the northern corner of around 5m with a balanced cut and fill platform being a primary aim. The site is well serviced by Swartkoppies and Klipriver Drive, allowing easy access to the site from north and south. The immediate north western boundary is bordered by the protected area of the koppie, so no development will be allowed in this area in future. TOWN PLANNERS GE Town Planning TENANT CO-ORDINATORS EQF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Insite MAIN CONTRACTOR Grinaker-LTA TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy of VIVID Architects Located on the corner of Swaartkoppies and Klipriver Drive, the site is triangular in shape with a natural ground level fall of over 16m from north to south 22 Mall of the South