BALLITO JUNCTION REFURBISHMENT
Nestled along KwaZulu-Natal ’ s North Coast lies the new Ballito Junction . The original building was a Mediterraneaninspired shopping centre that is now being reconfigured and refurbished to offer a diverse range of amenities and experiences .
The refurbishment was conceptualised by MDS Architecture for owners Menlyn Maine and Flanagan & Gerard . Pierre Lahaye , a partner at MDS Architecture , says that the design is a contemporary update , while maintaining a focus on community and functionality . “ The reimagined development brings a lifestyle element to the broader precinct by offering an outdoor dining node . The aesthetic has been updated to complement the triplestorey , 80,000m 2 regional mall to which it is connected .”
Workspace Synergy Ballito Junction will house Workshop17 ’ s inaugural venture into KwaZulu-Natal and aligns with the rising demand for mixed-use properties and remote working options . Workshop17 is a leading provider of flexible workspaces .
Says Lahaye , “ The concept offers flexibility for businesses and workers , while bringing higher foot traffic to the centre during the week . Restaurants benefit from daytime visitors , and those using Workshop17 overlook the piazza or mall area while enjoying a wide array of convenient options available for meetings and meals .”
New lifts and a lobby link up the new mall and provide access-controlled lifts for Workshop17 . From above , a screen has been used to demarcate the space and shield services from view .
Paul Gerard , Managing Director of Flanagan & Gerard Group , notes that large volumes of people in higher income brackets , including families semigrating from Gauteng , are relocating to the north coast of KZN . They are attracted by the quality of life it offers , its world-class secure estate living and its easy access regionally , nationally and internationally .
“ It is this growing movement that inspired the decision to introduce bespoke workspace solutions to the region . We felt the timing was perfect . Many professionals will now be able to have a quality work environment within the North Coast ’ s premier shopping destination – Ballito Junction ,” says Gerard .
Piazza Area Redevelopment Outdoor dining has always been an attraction at Ballito Junction , so one of the significant alterations is the demolition and reconfiguration of the existing restaurant area and the creation of a new restaurant node . This space has been redesigned around a piazza which entices guests to enjoy the outdoors .
A landscaped garden area that criss-crosses between the shops offers an enclosed pause area complete with indigenous landscaping . Several Workshop 17 office suites overlook the piazza , while others look into the mall area . The courtyard area ’ s fast food and restaurant dining options open out from the main shopping centre and integrate into the garden area . Certain suites have sea views .
This transformation redefines Ballito Junction as a vibrant , multifaceted hub where work , leisure , and community coalesce to shape a promising future .
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