New iconic entrances have been softened with landscaping and feature walls covered in stainless steel cables , which will allow the building to soften over time . Each entrance is a different colour to represent the four different seasons . The new Food Lovers Market is surrounded by shipping containers offering smaller food offerings as well as a Seattle Coffee shop .
The new , efficient parking area is located at the heart of the development . The large space , with parking for over 3,200 vehicles , has been broken up by red brick paving and lighting , serving as a strong axial link . Tree-lined walkways and paved entrances extending into the parking areas all add to the pedestrian-friendly aspects of the new building .
Following staggered openings including phase 1 of the new community shopping centre and the opening of Food Lover ’ s Market , the remainder of the community shopping centre as well as the restaurant and value retail node were completed in November 2019 .
Shopping Centre Part of the existing mall attached to the waterfront / building was incorporated into the new shopping centre mall and has the sense of an old railway shed or building .
Red brick has been used to provide a warm contemporary aesthetic and the individual buildings create a village feel . The old arches and steel framed windows were maintained to bring in natural light while new bulkheads and shopfronts were introduced in to link the old parts with the new .
“ Shoppers walk through the existing mall and then through into the new mall creating a special connection between new and old . We worked with existing structures and high-level windows but introduced new shop fronts and bulkheads . The retrofitting and refurbishment create interesting interactions and spatial connections between the two structures ,” says Pearce .
The interior features warm , natural elements and a lot of greenery . Lighting and signage , floor tiling and paving all contribute to a completely different experience .
Family Retail The co-owners made a concerted effort to promote family retail at Ferndale on Republic and for this reason pubs have made way for Spur , Panarottis and other family-orientated offerings .
The architectural design of the project allows for simple and logical movement patterns , resulting in an easy-to-navigate shopping experience .
Pearce believes that in its new form , Ferndale on Republic has a romantic attraction . “ It is an evolution that retains the good things associated with the development . The design is efficient but sensitive to the residential area adjacent to the site while taking advantage of accessibility and visibility from Republic Road ,” he concludes .
Ferndale on Republic 643