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."

Zimbabwe: ZAS to Build Shopping Complex - THE Zimbabwe Agricultural Society is set to embark on a construction of a shopping complex in the Exhibition Park which houses one of the country's prime exhibition every year -- the Harare Agricultural Show. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Suleja NIPOST Becomes Shopping Plaza - The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) has signed an agreement with a Kaduna-based properties developer, Calf Presentation Nig. Ltd. to rebuild the Suleja Post Office destroyed in 1993 as a plaza at a cost of N80 million. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Govt to Build N9.9 Billion Int'l Market - Ebonyi State government has said plans are underway for the construction of an ultra-modern international market expected to gulp about N9.9 billion in Abakaliki, the state capital before the end of the year. [AA Construction]

Uganda: Multi-Billion Shopping Center Opens in Feb - A multi-billion Oasis Shopping Mall under construction on Yusuf Lule Road is set to be open in February, a top official disclosed over the weekend. [AA Construction]

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.

Nigeria: Between Uyo Entertainment Centre And Abuja Waterparks - The proposed Entertainment Centre by Governor Akpabio on about 6-hectres of land would when completed host the tallest building in Akwa Ibom of a 250-room Hotel, 10,000-seater Dome, a Water Fall and Shopping Mall. While the Abuja Waterparks Island being proposed by private investors would be on a 10-hectres of land beside the only Lake in the heart of FCT within Cadastral Zone 1, Kado District.

Nigeria: Between Uyo Entertainment Centre And Abuja Waterparks - The proposed Entertainment Centre by Governor Akpabio on about 6-hectres of land would when completed host the tallest building in Akwa Ibom of a 250-room Hotel, 10,000-seater Dome, a Water Fall and Shopping Mall. While the Abuja Waterparks Island being proposed by private investors would be on a 10-hectres of land beside the only Lake in the heart of FCT within Cadastral Zone 1, Kado District.

Uganda: Tirupati to Set Up $10 Million Mall - Tirupati Development (U) Limited, one of the construction companies in Uganda is to set up a US$10m shopping mall along Nsambya-Ggaba Road. [AA Construction]

Namibia: Ongwediva Gets Shopping Mall - A 10 000-square-metre shopping mall is being built at Ongwediva by Makalani Real Estate in conjunction with Tuhumeko Property Developers and M.R. Scmidt Construction at a cost of N$54 million. [AA Construction]

Zambia: Napsa Secures Land to Build Shopping Complex - THE National Pensions Scheme Authority (Napsa) has finally taken over the Engineering Services Corporation (Esco) premises to build an ultra-modern shopping complex starting in early January 2009. [AA Construction]

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.