Lighting in Design Q3 2022

Simple, effective lighting for rural mall Flagstaff, located in the OR Tambo district in the Eastern Cape, began its existence as a trading post and essentially still serves as a regional node for shopping. The opening of the double level Flagstaff has set a new standard for rural retail, and the lighting plays a key role in setting the mall apart. M DS Architecture has designed an 11 500 m 2 shopping centre in Flagstaff, Eastern Cape in the layout design and this element is repeated with porcelain tiles indoors on the upper f loor, revoking the retail aspect of a trading post with a modern twist.

for developers McCormick Property Development (MPD). The development has a massive catchment area and Flagstaf f is known in the region as something of a trading post, with shoppers visiting the area to buy bulk supplies. Aki Savva, a par tner at MDS Architecture, says that the L-shaped building includes both a covered open element and a closed mall design. “It was important to ensure easy access to both levels. As a result, Flagstaff Square has a street facing entrance with pedestrian entrance via a bold entrance portal into the building on one side, as well as pedestrian access from the opposite direction with the same treatment,” says Savva. Natural light was an important design aspect at Flagstaff Square. The clerestory glass windows along the mall provide soft southern light, which helps to illuminate the space, and large voids in the first-floor mall slab allow for this natural light to penetrate to the mall level below. The mall on the upper level is visually linked by double-volume spaces to the lower level. Says Savva, “This has assisted in also bringing in natural light from the upper level into the lower level, creating a lighter, more airy space.” On the lower level , several shops face the public realm with covered walkways, creating a comfortable interface with pedestrians. Paving patterns provide interest by evoking a bar-code

“The lighting brief was to maximise natural light and keep artificial lighting to a minimum and as efficient as possible. For this reason, we kept the lighting at Flagstaf f Square the mall simple but effective,” explains Savva. Artificial light was used to enhance natural light and draw attention to architectural features of the mall. “In urban environments, shopping centres are often fully enclosed, whereas rural shopping centres tend to include externally facing aspects. As a result, the internal lighting used for the centre can make a bold statement, especially at night. Instead of lights simply placed onto an external wall, interesting shapes and shadows that follow the mall come alive,” he notes. “In the main entrance, the lighting emphasises the volumes and shapes while also creating an inviting ambience for shoppers. We also wanted to create interest through the use of linear lights,” says Savva. These linears were used in the common areas of the mall. “One type of light f itting is hidden behind the signage bulkheads, which lights up the spaces above the shop, and in this way, indicates the boundaries on the mall,” he says. “The other type of lighting is very prominent and hints at the direction of flow and pause to the public. Linear

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LiD Q3 - 2022