Leaping Frog, Fourways
RETAIL DEVELOPMENT( SMALL BOUTIQUE) AWARD
Leaping Frog Retail Centre in Fourways has been transformed from a weary neighbourhood centre into a lively, convenience-focused retail destination. Its centrepiece is a new open-air piazza, designed as the social hub of the centre, fostering community engagement and encouraging longer visits. The redevelopment includes a FreshX format Checkers, improved pedestrian and vehicle circulation, enhanced façades and upgraded infrastructure such as 24 / 7 security and modern backup power. With 40 shops and a curated selection of national and local tenants, the centre strikes the balance between efficiency, lifestyle and place making.
The revitalisation shapes a contemporary retail environment that prioritises accessibility, walkability and natural ventilation, supporting a sustainable and inclusive experience. Delivered on schedule and within budget, the project generated over a thousand jobs and now serves as a vital hub for the growing community.
A unified architectural language links the different precincts through the repeated use of timber-look profiles across cladding, gables and porticoes. These elements soften façades, unify transitional spaces and establish a natural rhythm guiding visitors through the centre. Key entrances were reconfigured with elevated rooflines and refined detailing to create brighter, more welcoming thresholds.
Decorative treatments add movement and visual interest, while lightweight screening frames shopfronts and dining terraces, enhancing the outdoor hospitality areas. Curved, free-form seating and complementary balustrades create a secondary piazza, forming a casual gathering space. Integrated lighting, including weatherproof bollards, supports safe circulation and extends usability into the evening.
Improved navigation, upgraded parking, and thoughtful landscaping combine with sustainable infrastructure to create a resilient retail environment. Outdoor dining terraces and the central piazza encourage social interaction, providing spaces for relaxation, leisure and community events.
The transformation demonstrates how careful refurbishment can reinvigorate an urban asset while supporting local economic growth. By combining functional efficiency with aesthetic cohesion, the renewed Leaping Frog Retail Centre offers a modern, welcoming destination where shopping, dining and social engagement come together seamlessly.
Development Managers: Dorpstraat Project Managers: Abcon Architects: BAR Quantity Surveyors: Quanticost Civil Engineers & Structural Engineers: L & S Consulting Mechanical & Electrical Engineers: Ingplan Main Contractor: Probest Projects
SAPOA Awards 119