Constantia Emporium , Constantia , Cape Town
RETAIL REFURBISHMENT CATEGORY , SMALL BOUTIQUE
Constantia Emporium is a boutique convenience centre , located in the leafy suburb of Constantia , Cape Town . The centre is located on a land restitution site , Lot 10 and 11 of a Constantia farm known as Sillery . It is envisaged that the new retail centre will act as a catalyst for further development on the remaining restitution sites . The completed project has been noted as a positive example of the development potential of other restitution sites . The reunification of the original family , however , is regarded as their ultimate achievement through the entire restitution process . The heritage of the site and the journey of the land owners has been remembered in the public spaces of the centre . A solid brass memorial strip imbeds the location of the old site , dividing boundary within the parking lot surface and the feature staircase contains a permanent historical photographic exhibit .
The contemporary convenience centre is inspired by rural homestead architecture and celebrates familiar homestead forms using exposed portal steel frames , timber beams , slatted timber and profiled steel cladding .
The development aims to be what it could have been if allowed to develop naturally , by creating what is perceived to be a grouping of individual buildings connected by a double volume mall . The massing and set backs were key to creating an appropriately sensitive response to the farm-land context . The result is powerful geometries which break up the mass of the Checkers shed , puncturing the strong diagonal back wall of the store facing the highway . Conversely , a finer grain of massing and generous setbacks are incorporated on the Spaanschemat River Road and Ladies Mile Road edges facing into the residential Constantia neighbourhood beyond .
The centre is predominantly single level retail with an upper level dedicated to offices . The mall that threads itself through the buildings is filled with natural light and is detailed and finished with simple elegance . The material palette is toned down and light concrete greys are offset by raw timber features , accented charcoal surfaces and hidden cove lighting .
Anchored by a flagship Checkers Fresh X , the landlord ’ s main focus on the remaining tenant mix was to bring excitement to the community and not to duplicate tenancies already present in the area , which was largely achieved .
Owner / Developer : Shoprite Checkers Properties Architect : SVA International Quantity Surveyor : AECOM Structural Engineer : DVP Consulting Engineers Civil Engineer : Ekcon Electrical & Mechanical Engineer : Solution Station Fire Consultant : Solution Station Landscaping : GBI Landscape Consultants Main Contractor : WBHO Other Consultants : WSP Group Africa
SAPOA Awards 87