The award, part of the SA Council of Shopping Centre’s Spectrum Award, recognises exceptional shopping centre design and economic successes of projects within the South African property industry of both new shopping centres and the renovation and/or expansion of existing centres. It also acknowledges excellence in store design.
The 2009 winners are:
• Category A: Shopping centres over 25000m²:
o Mooirivier Mall (Potchefstroom) which was recognised for its outstanding external architecture and the retention of a major watercourse and its associated ecology system running across the site. The judges also agreed that the centre provides an excellent tenant mix within an architectural expression which achieves a distinctive local context.
• Category B: Shopping centres under 25000m²:
o The finalists selected did not adequately meet the required criteria, so no winner was selected in this category.
• Category C: Renovation / Expansion of a shopping centre:
o Sunnypark (Pretoria), which is essentially a complete transformation of internal finishes gives an overall feel that is new, fresh, clean and spacious. Overall it was felt that this is a well conceived and socially responsive refurbishment project which is successfully contributing to the regeneration of its surroundings.
• Category D: Store or restaurant:
o Grand Central (at Melrose Arch) was recognised for projecting an attractive environment with a light, bright and clean interior, good lighting and features themed on Grand Central Station in New York with tiling, images and details referencing the famous landmark. The judges felt that the restaurant displays an exemplary standard of bespoke design throughout and delivers to a high quality of finish.
In addition, Melrose Arch in Johannesburg was awarded a commendation in Category A: Shopping centres over 25000m²: What impressed the judges in this development is that it is the first example in South Africa of the new urban agenda, being progressed internationally, which seeks to integrate retail with other uses in an urban townscape so as to deliver a strong sense of place with a combination of open and covered streets and arcades.
Overviews of all winners and finalists, judging criteria and the 2009 judges are included under Notes to Editors.
Sisa Ngebulana, President of the SA Council of Shopping Centres says, “As the heart of many of our social and economic interactions, shopping centres represent a dynamic sector of the South African economy. It is a market that has come a long way and continues to advance to meet the needs of both our retailers and consumers. The evolution of shopping centre design and development reflects changing consumer trends and the character of the people of our country. We’re delighted therefore to recognise and encourage distinction in this exceptionally significant discipline.”
Speaking on behalf of Nedbank Corporate Frank Berkeley, Managing Executive of Nedbank Corporate Property Finance says “Nedbank Corporate Property Finance’s sponsorship of the Retail Design & Development Awards demonstrates our commitment to innovative design in the retail sector and the calibre of entries has been particularly pleasing this year. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the deserving winners and applaud the high standard of design they have applied to their respective developments.”
Background on Retail Centres, Award Categories and Judging Criteria:
Category A: Large Shopping Centre:
Mooirivier Mall, Potchefstroom (WINNER)
Mooirivier Mall has quickly become the prime shopping destination in Potchefstroom, providing both comparison and convenience retailing in an attractive environment together with cinemas and restaurants accessed externally to the centre. The distinctive feature of the mall is its external architecture and the retention of a major watercourse and its ecology system running across the site. This has been responded to well to achieve a distinctive local context.
Architect: Stauch Vorster Architects (Pty) Ltd - Johannesburg
Developer: Abacus Asset Management (Pty) Ltd
Melrose Arch Shopping (COMMENDED)
Melrose Arch Shopping is the latest phase of this new suburban centre north of Johannesburg aimed at providing an upscale alternative to the established centre of Sandton. It is the first example in South Africa of the new urban agenda, being progressed internationally, which seeks to integrate retail with other uses in an urban townscape so as to deliver a strong sense of place with a combination of open and covered streets and arcades. In particular the new square surrounded by restaurants provides an exemplary standard of public space and urban scale.
Architect: dhk Architects (Pty) Ltd & Boogertman & Partners
Developer: Amdec
Tsakane Mall (FINALIST)
Tsakane Mall in the township of Tsakane, 39km outside Johannesburg, has delivered a new heart and focus to the township and community. The centre is an economic and social achievement considering its context and catchment and provides an excellent quality of well planned retail facilities and transport. This is provided in a clever combination which is convenience centre, town centre and retail park (strip centre). Attention has been paid to creating external activity and expression to the centre with restaurants, colonnades and landscape despite a constrained budget.
Architect: MDS Architects
Developer: McCormick Property Development / Heriot Properties
Category B: Medium / Small Shopping Centre:
Pan Africa Junction, Alexandra (FINALIST)
The new centre of Pan Africa Junction is located in the heart of the Alexandra township in Johannesburg amongst bustling streets and longstanding informal trading. This new centre provides fully covered shopping and access to taxis and is integrated in a new multi-level centre which provides a focus and meeting place for the community. Choices of materials, colours and finishes reflect an interesting design unique in its context.
Architect: STEFAN ANTONI OLMESDAHL TRUEN ARCHITECTS (SAOTA) / Ngwedi SAOTA / GAPP
Developer: Pan Africa Development Company
Small Shopping Centre Design:
The Village, Hartebeestpoort Dam (FINALIST)
The keen attention to detail and design results in an inviting, friendly and quality atmosphere which encapsulates the community's ethos. There is a good mix of tenants with sound planning principles in place. Design, planning and tenants all come together to result in a highly commendable retail centre.
Architect: Boogertman & Partners
Developer: Retail Africa
Category C: Renovation:
Sunnypark, Pretoria (WINNER)
The refurbishment of the Sunnypark Centre in Sunnyside, Pretoria has successfully secured the position of this long established centre at the heart of the community it serves. The planning, layout and circulation of the centre is largely unchanged, but the rejuvenated tenant mix, as well as both internal and external facelifts, have given the centre a new lease of life and renewed support from its customers. The overall feel is fresh, clean and spacious, and the introduction of restaurants adjacent to the main street entrance has activated the pavement appeal of the centre.
Overall this is a very competent and socially responsive refurbishment project.
Architect: Design Partnership
Developer: Zenprop
Sunridge Village Mall, Port Elizabeth (FINALIST)
This centre has been redeveloped to make it the focal point of the community that it serves and fulfils the bulk of their convenience shopping and entertainment needs. The design creates a wonderful “village” feel which does not in any way make shoppers feel cramped and incorporates both indoor and external areas for shopping and unwinding. A very well conceived design and tenant mix.
Architect: Studio D'Arc Architects
Developer: Schol Property & Consulting Group
Category D: Restaurant Design:
Grand Central Restaurant, Melrose Arch (WINNER)
Grand Central is one of the new group of restaurants forming and fronting the new public square at Melrose Arch. It trades on two levels with restaurants and bars spread over both levels with an upper terrace and an outside lower terrace into the square. It projects an attractive environment with a light, bright and clean interior, good lighting and features themed on Grand Central Station in New York with tiling and images referencing the famous landmark.
Architect: Design Company - dhkthinkspace
Category D: Store Design:
Clicks, Gateway Shopping Centre (FINALIST)
This project displays a great understanding of retail, the generators that drive the success of the business and the integration of the correct design cloak to assist this business model. It displays a clear understanding of the components that drives sales and a very good example of how all design considerations are based on a well researched retail core and not just design for design’s sake.
Designer: Gale McAll
Judging Criteria:
All aspects of shopping centre and store / restaurant design and development are judged including:
• Retail mix and rental income
• Development costs and returns
• Design resolution
• Overall development goals and how these were achieved
Entrants are encouraged to submit drawings and images of their entries and these are used to inform the judging process. All entries are submitted online and the first round of judging is scored online. The second round of judging follows site visits to the shortlisted buildings. The third round of judging takes the outcome of the first two rounds into account and the winners are selected.
2009 Judges:
• Chairman of Judges: Andrew Ogg (Past President BCSC and Managing Director of Leslie Jones Architects, UK)
• Paul Symondson (Partner of Stauch Vorster Architects)
• Daniela Lukovac (Design Manager, OMIGPI)
• Ken Reynolds (Divisional Director, Nedbank Corporate Property Finance)
• George Skinner (Executive Chairman, SACSC)
• Callie van der Merwe (Director of the Design Partnership)
• Lynette Ntuli (ex General Manager of The Pavilion)
• Lisa Blane (Partner, KMH Architects)
