Their articulation also works well in the evening as the glazed sections are illuminated by the internal lighting . Smaller ‘ lanterns ’ are located above the main cross mall , again articulating the roofscape .
Two additional nodes are positioned over the parking circulation roadway forming portecochère , providing weather protection to the entrances , as well as creating a dramatic focus to the elevation and , of course , clearly signifying the public entrances to the building from the parking lot .
There is considerable volume and height in the centre , varying from 8.5m in the malls to 13m in the node skylight structures . The initial inspiration for the mall architecture was taken from the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul with its vaulted ceilings , clerestory windows and decorative steelwork and rhythmic decorative articulation . At Vangate Mall , the architects have used a vaulted ceiling with a central skylight , allowing considerable natural daylight into the centre . Detailed steelwork at 10m modules articulate the volume and provide locations for contemporary ‘ Moroccan ’ inspired lanterns ( light fittings ).
Shopfronts are 3.2m in height . The vertical zone between the shopfront bulkheads and the ceiling incorporates decorative lattice screens , derived from the Moroccan aesthetic . Considerable emphasis and control was placed on the standardisation of shopfronts where possible . This prevented a stylistic variation in tenant shopfronts to detract from the overall theme of the mall . Demising panels between shopfronts were seen as an opportunity to reinforce the theme .
Extensive use of Travertine tiles , with a recessed panel of glass mosaics , were emphasised by a downlighter placed in the base of tenant ‘ flag signs ’ positioned perpendicular to the shopfronts . Demising panels were also used as locations for hydrants and hose-reels , and in these instances , a detailed joinery element concealed them from public view .
At each of the five nodes , the overall mall width increased to 14m , with a centralised skylight positioned at the apex of a cross vaulted ceiling . There are four arches at each of the node faces , defining the volume . Again detailed joinery and lattice screens above the shopfront bulkhead level accentuate the theme , with a centrally positioned ‘ lantern ’ being suspended from the skylight ’ s steelwork .
The articulation and emphasis on the creation of spaces throughout the mall is amplified by the extensive floor patterning , again inspired by traditional Middle Eastern tiling patterns . The malls have a diagonal motif on a 10m module with extensive areas of mosaic work while , at the nodes , the floor pattern is more intricate , incorporating the positions of large feature pots with 8m high palm trees . The flooring materials are Travertine mosaics , polished black and white porcelain , Maron Emprador marble and stonecoloured porcelain full bodied tiles .
Souk Design The ‘ souk ’ design is the most themed in the centre , which , together with its product offerings , provide yet another experience in the overall mall design . The scale of the souk is reduced to a more intimate experience . Individual kiosks are approximately 3x3m with an arched opening without a shopfront . Traders are encouraged to display their products in a concession zone beyond their kiosk entrance . Skylights are positioned over the walkway areas of the souk and this allows natural light to filter through the reeded ceiling to the textured ‘ cobble-like ’ porcelain floor tiles . Textured paint effects are used on the walls of the walkway areas and each of the souk kiosk openings has extensive glass mosaic tiles . The artificial light level here is kept quite low besides the natural light from the skylights .
Lighting Design
The overall mall lighting design was used to accentuate the primary design features . A bulkhead over the shopfronts allows for direct illumination via downlighters at the shopfronts . Decorative pendants every 10m , fixed to the detailed steelwork , provide a light source to the centre of the mall . Secondary illumination of high level joinery features , that are backlit
150 Vangate Mall