The entrances on the three corners of the building draw visitors by their sheer size and the contrast of their crisp white finishes against the strong dark colours of the surrounding façades . The entrances are brightly illuminated at night , creating a dramatic focus from a distance . A plastered finish was used on all the external walls – alternative smooth , rough and bagged plastered areas were utilised to create variety and texture on the large façades .
To overcome the challenge posed by the extreme weather conditions of the Vaal Triangle , revolving doors were installed at all entrances , effectively wind-proofing the malls . Although the installation was an expensive exercise , they have the added benefit of maintaining a controlled climate inside the mall ideal for restaurants and coffee shops with seating located in the malls . The roof of the building is a simple steel KLIPLOK sheet laid at 3 º.
Emphasising the Curves The curved mall runs the full length of the centre giving the shopper a completely new experience and focus on each shop as they move along its length . For the tenants , this translates into direct exposure in the mall . It also created new opportunities for signage and shopfront design to exploit maximum exposure and MDS Architecture worked closely with tenants to ensure that their designs made the most of the curve . Shopfronts are crystal clear full height ( 3.3m ) glazing with signage generally focused onto the mall .
The decision was taken to vault the mall ceiling and this has resulted in a radically different experience for shoppers . To accommodate the curve , the ceiling had to be made up in segments joined by recessed wedges allowing for movement and ease of construction . These segments were then emphasised with subtle colour changes to draw the eye to the detail . Suspended pendant light fittings have also been installed to emphasise the curves .
Natural light is a key feature and is provided by conical skylights all along the length of the mall . At night , the role is reversed , with artificial lighting becoming a dramatic external feature and the wave-like placement of the cones along the length of the roof illuminating the night sky with individual beams of light .
Vaal Mall 155