retail design . Edgars , for example , has a 6m high shopfront . The Mr Price Weekend and Mr Price Home shopfronts were specifically designed by MDS Architecture . The added height of the shopfronts provide a dramatic framework to display the merchandise , as well as providing an exciting backdrop to the Promotions Court . The use of tactile materials like stone , timber and stainless steel emphasise the homeware and clothing styles of this brand .
The floor treatment is a strong feature and was used to create perspective and movement . Graphic tile layouts entice the shoppers to continue their journey through the mall . The floor pattern of the Fashion Court , which is inspired by the famous Copacabana beach boulevard in Rio de Janeiro , makes provision for a type of catwalk for parading and provides the perfect backdrop for fashion watching . The floor pattern of the Promotions Court is designed to create the optical illusion of a sphere . Depending on how one views it , it appears to either rise or dip as one approaches the centre of the court , allowing for a very dynamic experience of the space . When promotions are held , and objects placed in the centre of the court , they appear to sit on a mound or hover above the dip in the floor .
To achieve the best lighting option within the specified budget , contemporary chandeliers were created for the Fashion Court by modifying standard light towers by fixing them upside down and threading them with twisting opaque perspex sheets . The tree-like columns have wing light deflectors mid ‘ trunk ’ which provide strong diffused light . Circular patterns , with recessed cove lighting in the cross over ceilings between the various malls and courts , continue the organic theme .
The food court , with its expanse of tree-like columns supporting the winged roof canopy , is a completion of the forest theme , spilling outwards to link the interior and exterior . Natural trees and the abundance of natural light add to this experience .
The placement of the trees provided an interesting dilemma . Whilst the trees provide a natural canopy for the restaurant seating , they need to be carefully trimmed so as not to obscure tenant signage . The placement of the seating along the edges of the court as one enters allows the opportunity for people-watching . At the end of the internal section of the Food Court , Mugg & Bean ’ s raised deck seating surrounds the trees located towards the centre of the court and provides ‘ bookends ’ to the space .
Marketing signage and opportunities were integrated into the overall space . The branchlike struts on the columns provide space for promotional posters and avoid the need for retailers to clutter the mall with separate signage . Instead , they create the impression of a market .
Challenges The greatest challenge experienced on the construction of this mall was the timing . With the mall scheduled to open in October near the end of the rainy season , delays due to rain were a constant worry in terms of meeting the deadline . The contractor , Wilson Bailey Holmes , rose to the challenge and factored the weather into their planning . The construction of the external works was commenced earlier than scheduled to allow for unpredictable weather conditions . Strong team integration , with the ability to design out of sequence to account for the local conditions , allowed this obstacle to be overcome .
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