Bentel International Associates (BAI) is one of South Africa's foremost pioneers of outstanding commercial architecture. The company is widely respected for its innovative yet functional designs across a wide range of sectors. The company's prestigious portfolio includes major retail centres, mixed-use developments, office, hotel and apartment buildings in Southern Africa, West Africa, the Middle East and India.

Designed by BAI and currently and owned by Liberty Group, a new three-storey hotel in Pietermaritzburg is currently under construction. Hotel construction commenced in February on a 1 500 m2 site on existing Liberty Midlands Mall land, adjacent to the shopping centre. The well-located hotel site is adjacent to Sanctuary Road and is conveniently located near the N3 highway. BAI also designed the highly successful Liberty Midlands Mall, which has undergone two extensions to keep up with the demand for its facilities.

A Community-centred Approach to Shopping Centre Design

Cape Town's newest shopping centre, Gugulethu Square, is scheduled to open in October and promises to redefine the shopping experience for the residents of the greater Gugulethu area.

Construction is taking place on the site of the old strip retail facility known as the Eyona Shopping Centre in Gugulethu, a township 15 km from Cape Town. The N1 main route runs through the area and is close to the N2 bypass intersection. Gugulethu, along with Nyanga, was established in the 1960s due to the overcrowding of Langa, which was the only black residential area in Cape Town at the time. During the apartheid era, black South Africans were not permitted to live in the city of Cape Town and many people were removed to areas with poor infrastructure such as Gugulethu and Nyanga. Over time, there was growth and some infrastructural improvement but retail facilities have always been rather limited, necessitating residents to frequently shop in other areas.

The international commercial architectural firm of Bentel Associates International (BAI) were retained by the developers to design a practical yet upmarket shopping centre for Gugulethu while taking due cognisance of the local community and its culture and needs.

"This will be an exceptionally functional 25 000 m2 retail centre which will offer a diverse range of options to shoppers," says Stephen Roberts, BAI senior director and project architect. "The R350-million Gugulethu Square will be the first fully enclosed township mall in the city."

Francis Kéré, a young architect from Burkina Faso based in Germany, has been awarded a special mention in the "Most thought-provoking +X" Projects(4th Cycle) Category of the World Architecture Community Awards for his Dano School project in Burkina Faso. He was the only African architect to make a showing in the World Architecture Community's 4th Cycle Results.

Nightingale Associates SA to design New Lighthouse on Africa's southern-most tip.

The Cape Town-based practice wins a design competition to provide the 'gateway to the continent's southern-most point'.

A new R700 million premier-grade office park sporting superb highway frontage and enviable access is being developed at the Corlett Drive exit of the M1 Highway, diagonally opposite the landmark Melrose Arch mixed-use precinct.

The centrally located Waverley Office Park, with its capacity for some 35,000m2 low-bulk commercial space set along a vibrant central boulevard in a park-like environment, is being developed by New Order Investments, a joint venture between respected property developers and investors Vlaming (Pty) Limited, Devcon Projects (Pty) Limited and Top-Flite Properties (Pty) Limited.

Providing holistic design expertise to top developers

India's first high-end niche mall recently opened in Bangalore, a city which is rapidly becoming one of the most sought after destinations for global financial and retail giants. The growth in the Indian economy and the country's vast middle class with its expanding purchasing power are increasingly attracting international retail investors wanting to enter newer markets.

The mall at UB City is known as UB City: The Collection. It is a joint venture between the Prestige Group and Vijay Mallya, CEO and owner of UB Holdings, to create the country's first luxury speciality mall. The exclusive destination forms part of the prestigious UB City development that is situated in the most affluent part of Bangalore. The 193 752 sq ft GBA (60 000m2) UB City is a landmark mixed-use development consisting of commercial offices, a five-star hotel, banks, serviced apartments, food courts, exclusive high-end retail outlets, health clubs, cafes, restaurants and extensive parking facilities. On completion UB City will be one of the most dynamic, cosmopolitan and multicultural developments in India. Bangalore is an important commercial centre and the development is expected to considerably enhance the city's business and tourism infrastructure.

Woodmead Retail Park is an open retail precinct of some 44 000m2 and is situated at the point of convergence of the M1 and N1 highways in Woodmead, Gauteng. This contemporary retail centre features curved accent walls, covered walkways, steel and glass and incorporates the use of natural materials into the design.

The Michelangelo Towers design team to add further design excellence to the Sandton built environment

South Africa, Johannesburg -October 2008: Bentel Associates International (BAI), the architects responsible for the highly acclaimed Michelangelo Towers and Mall, have designed the mixed-use complex currently under construction at Legacy Corner in the heart of Sandton's business and shopping district. The property, situated at the corner of 5th Avenue and Maude Street, is the last undeveloped site in the Nelson Mandela Square Block.

The developers of this prestigious project are Legacy Hotels & Resorts International, a privately owned company with a portfolio of four and five star hotels, bush lodges and resorts across Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. The group primarily targets the luxury corporate and leisure markets and their flagship hotel, the Michelangelo, is a member of Leading Hotels of the World.

Bringing global perspectives and expertise to India's commercial built environment

South Africa, Johannesburg – October 2008: Over the last five years commercial design specialists, Bentel Associates International (BAI) has established a significant footprint in the Indian commercial built environment where the company currently has over 50 projects in various stages of design or construction.