The award seeks to recognise exceptional shopping centre design together with its economic success within the South African property industry, embodying the following attributes: Excellent design resolution; Achieving a clear overall development goal; Responding positively to its market and its surroundings; Adopting innovative design and construction solutions and embracing sustainable design and business techniques.
Matlosana Mall, which opened in October 2014, is a 65000sqm development on the N12 highway on the eastern side of Klerksdorp, owned and developed by JSE-listed SA REIT, Redefine Properties, and designed by architect Stauch Vorster International.
Mike Ruttell, Redefine Properties' Executive Director: Development, said the super-regional mall had brought world-class shopping to the Klerksdorp region. "Matlosana Mall is a significant project which has added a tailor-made quality retail asset to Redefine's property portfolio. The Mall's excellent location, easy access, ample parking, modern design, superb retailers, and great dining and entertainment choices all add up to an appealing new shopping experience for the under-retailed consumer market of Klerksdorp and beyond. It is great to have all of these factors recognised by the RDDA judges with the granting of this award," Ruttell said.
The mall has a centrally focused entertainment area consisting of a six auditorium cinema complex and restaurants clustered around a piazza with indoor and outdoor dining facilities. The predominant access is to the Piazza further emphasized by an iconic feature described as the "basket" which acts as a focal land mark for the centre. There is a strong emphasis on natural day lighting design allowing natural light to permeate the centre.
Finalists for the RDDA included Forest Hill City Mall and Newtown Junction.