Bridge City Urban Renewal Project is a dynamic mixed-use development situated about 20km north west of Durban . The node covers an area of 48ha and will ultimately provide about 240,000m 2 of commercial and retail space and 4,000 residential units .
Architects ’ Comment MDS Architecture , in association with ADA & DGIT Architects , has designed the double level regional retail centre in Bridge City , which is adjacent to an intermodal transport facility . The retail centre opened in November 2009 and offers over 150 shops , as well as parking for over 900 cars and taxis . The second phase is expected to add a further 13,000m 2 of retail space and is expected to start on site in mid 2011 .
The development caters to the needs of residents in Phoenix , KwaMashu , Ntuzuma and Inanda . People living in these areas previously had to travel to Gateway or further for similar facilities , yet the four areas combined are home to a third of Durban ’ s population .
Exciting New Trend In South Africa “ This is the first integrated mixed use development of its scale which spans the divide between townships and suburbs in South Africa ,” says John Williamson , partner at MDS Architecture .
The eThekwini Municipality committed more than R90 million to building a regional bus and taxi rank adjacent to the mall which was completed in mid 2010 but which has yet to become fully operational . A railway link to the major metropolitan areas of KZN is currently being constructed with a terminus situated on a level below the shopping centre by Passenger Rail Association of South Africa ( PRASA ) at a cost of R550 million . It is expected that this will be complete by the middle of 2012 bringing substantially more foot traffic to the retail node .
Shopping Centre Design The design is atypical of retail layouts with supermarkets anchoring the lower level ( SuperSpar and Shoprite ) and an upper level occupied mainly by national fashion retailers
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