underground parking levels into the slope beneath the building so they were not visible on entering the complex .
The western façade of the building faces onto the greenbelt . This area of the site had , for many years , been completely unmanaged and become totally overgrown . A critical part of the developers ’ original winning tender submission was to ensure the complete rehabilitation of the river and its banks and the requirement that this greenbelt environment would be integrated into the envisaged development plans . It is the intention , over time , that this greenbelt and sculpted landscape will be fully enjoyed for picnicking , evening concerts , special events or just to enjoy a stroll within a safe environment . The Willowbridge layout has taken full advantage of its elevated views , especially from the restaurant nodes whose concession areas now overlook the greenbelt , river and terraced slopes on the opposite bank .
The ground floor retail is entered from the surface parking via two covered open-ended malls that are presented by large portal structures . These portals are designed to highlight entry and provide signage opportunities for the centre in a controlled and aesthetic manner , as well as to define the ends to the covered verandah walkways that skirt the front façade of the building . It is this typical Cape verandah element that helps to break the scale of the building mass , whilst providing cover in inclement weather and shade for the customer .
This façade is then further articulated by retail opportunities along this walkway and by largescale display showcases that give the shopper a taste of what awaits inside . Designing a retail centre that is completely open to the weather has its design challenges . Covered walkways of adequate depth were carefully designed to allow protection whilst affording an opportunity to bring in warm finishes such as natural dark stained timber support columns and rafters with stained T & G ceilings . Dropped bulkheads with lighting troughs allowed for a combination of hidden reflected artificial lighting and planned low voltage highlighting .
The aesthetic influences in the design of Willowbridge came in the need for the architecture to have a comfortable human scale to its proportion and the desire to respond , in a contemporary manner , to the traditional Cape vernacular of the area . This was achieved through the detail design elements such as the “ klompie ” brick detailing , timber pergolas and material selections . Combinations of stone-coloured and textured ceramic tiles are used in the high traffic areas of the undercover walkways , whilst varied sized flagstone pavers are used to define the open street and its more relaxed outdoor feel .
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