Merino Mall
RETAIL DEVELOPMENT AWARD
The opening of Merino Mall marked the broadening of shopping , entertainment and gathering options , not only in Ermelo , but for communities within the large catchment area stretching as far as Pongola , Middelburg and Secunda .
The fully enclosed 28,600m 2 shopping centre has its own taxi rank , facilitating commuter travel to and from the mall . The mall ’ s retail mix offers an unmatched shopping experience with over 90 stores .
The design took into account the agricultural activity in the area . Merino Mall is built on the historic Ermelo showgrounds . The design pays tribute to the site ’ s heritage , a place that has always been central to community life in the area . Merino Mall ’ s design needed to provide good visibility from the main road , while considering the residential areas to the rear of the site .
The original showground barn structures were used as inspiration in the building and became a key design feature , with the barn shape becoming a distinctive visual reference . While the architecture and design features pay tribute to the site ’ s history , the centre is contemporary with clean lines softened by various elements .
A welcoming and colourful HELLO sign greets visitors from the retaining wall on the front corner of the shopping centre . At night , the sign is illuminated in several shades of green .
Merino Mall features three visible entrances which reference the barn shape using concrete , steel , timber and stone . Exposed vertical sheeting at each entrance provides greater effect . Taking the barn concept further , the architects experimented with cross sections , which resulted in exposed rib-like roof trusses in portescochères at each entrance .
Sandstone is endemic to the area and appears on several feature walls , including the façades which flank the entrances . Other natural materials such as timber and steel complement the red bricks and concrete portals .
The main malls are treated as barn structures . Internally , they feature exposed roof sheeting , concrete beams above shopfronts and exposed , lime-washed red brick walls . Clerestory windows along the malls and feature courts ensure an abundance of natural light , while the area above the shopfronts introduce exposed steel and concrete beams . Timber-clad portals , reaching 10m
at the apex , create interest and warmth at the points where the levels transition inside the building .
The long mall is broken up through the clever use of hanging chandeliers , colourful lights and installations as one moves into the different spaces in the building .
Merino Mall is taking pride of place as Ermelo ’ s newest landmark with designs that celebrate Ermelo , Mpumalanga and its residents . Already , Merino Mall is serving as an exciting and inviting gathering point for the broader community in addition to the plethora of shopping and entertainment options it offers .
Developers : Moolman Group ; Abland Architect & Principal Agent : MDS Architecture Quantity Surveyor : Matla QS Tenant Co-ordinator : Orion Project Managers Civil & Structural Engineer : DG Consulting Engineers Electrical Engineer : Watson Mattheus Mechanical Engineer : Ingplan Consulting Engineers Wet Services : Wat-Sol Design Technology Landscape Architects : Life Landscapes Main Contractor : Mike Buyskes Construction
SAPOA Awards 75