Construction World December 2022

ARCHITECTS

BUSHBUCKRIDGE SHOPPING CENTRE L ocated in the vibrant town of Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga on the corner of the R40 and R533, the refurbi shment of the Bushbuckridge Shopping Centre commenced early in August 2020 and had i ts opening on 18 November 2021. The previous centre was approximately

high level openings which maintained the beauty of natural l ight as wel l as el iminated the requi rement for a sprinkler instal lat ion. Al l publ ic ablut ions and interior mal l faÇades have been upl i f ted. The mal l areas have received new shopf ronts wi th intricate cladding detai ls above and new tenant s ignage. External façades also include far improved opportuni ty for tenant s ignage providing them wi th greater exposure. There are two new entrance tower features where seat ing has been integrated into planters . These main archi tectural features and new branded mal l s ignage to entrance 5 stands proudly above the new roof l ine and pool of parking below providing excel lent vi s ibi l i ty and immediately di splays the new vibey edge that the refurbi shment of the mal l has brought about . In an attempt to be cons i stent wi th exi st ing facebrick , but to introduce a new energy into the aesthet ic, a pos i t ive and negat ive detai l was developed wi thin the brickwork which i s also transferred into the patchwork of paint colour appl icat ion to brick detai ls at planters and entrances . 

18 800 m 2 and has undergone a complete revi tal i sat ion of leas ing providing a much improved envi ronment for both the tenants to trade and shoppers to enjoy a pleasurable retai l experience that ser vices thei r needs . An addi t ional 5 000 m 2 of GLA now includes a new Pick n Pay supermarket and l iquor store of 2 500 m 2 , Sheet Street , Ident i ty, Mr Price Clothing and Style, to name a few. Prior, the shopping centre had poor aesthet ic qual i ty canopies , paving, plant ing, shopf ront , columns and balustrades . Shopf ronts looked worn out and old fashioned, s ignages were inef fect ive and outdated and the majori ty of the plants and planter boxes acted as barriers for pedestrian flow and vi s ibi l i ty. Al l these contributed no aesthet ic value to the centre. However, the s i te has cons iderable changes in level that had to be included in the des ign and al low for ease of access for al l shoppers . Thi s proved qui te a chal lenge and these level changes were deal t wi th by a series of ramps and stai rs which double up as seat ing areas which ser ve the many shoppers who arrive on foot and make use of the post of fice faci l i ty for grant col lect ion once a month. Al l walkway canopies were resheeted and the extent of canopies was extended to provide adequate shaded areas to improve comfort to the open retai l envi ronment for shoppers where a port ion of the exi st ing mal l received a new roof, a Nutec appl icat ion was used to clad the extended mal l façade which also received a water jet cut des ign into the boards . Careful cons iderat ion was given to the des ign of the new covered port ion of the mal l which included for

PROJECT INFORMATION

• Client: Nthoese Developments and Sampada Private Equity • Start date: August 2020 • End date: 18 November 2021

• Main Contractor: Belo & Kies Construction • Architect: Bentel Associates International

• Project Manager: PROLEAD Professional Consulting • Quantity Surveyor : Ilungile Consulting Services

80 21 st Best Project Awards 2022