SPECIAL REPORTCLEARWATER MALL

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TOP: Photos © Clearwater Mall (www.clearwatermall.co.za)

COVER IMAGES: Photos © BAI

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The award-winning Clearwater Mall,

one of the preferred shopping desti-

nations in the northwestern suburbs

of Johannesburg, has expanded to

accommodate the growing demand

for further retail space at this popu-

lar shopping centre. With the first

earthworks starting late last year,

the project has now been completed

with the extension seeing the foot-

print size of the property increase

from its current size of 70 000 m2 to

95 000 m2 – by converting existing

parking area into mall space.

By Stacey Rowan

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Developed by Attfund Property Investment Ltd,

Clearwater Mall’s success bears testimony to the

design expertise of Bentel Associates International

(BAI), the architects responsible firstly for the orig-

inal architecture of the building and secondly for

the new expansion. BAI’s holistic design expertise;

sustainable approach to architectural design and

the company’s visionary and innovative approach

enables them to produce functional aesthetic plans

that ensure the long-term success and commercial

viability of the buildings they design. The company

continues to maintain an innovative approach to

aesthetic but functional visual design solutions that

are flexible and which respect the environment and

context within which a building is sited. Clearwater

Mall, having been no exception to this, follows in

line with BAI’s architectural language.

Built in 2004 on a 17.3 hectare site at the junction

of Christiaan de Wet and Hendrik Potgieter Roads,

in a rapidly expanding residential node, Clearwater

Mall is a tribute to Johannesburg’s highveld weath-

er. Boasting a highly innovative and bold design,

together with a large retractable sliding roof, Clear-

water incorporates an indoor/outdoor theme that

for the first time pays proper attention to the fact

that Johannesburg has one of the best climates in

the world. In keeping with the tribute to outdoors,

the park-like center is complete with trees, grass

and even the occasional bull-bull. A strong use of

stone and natural materials throughout the mall en-

hance this out-door theme, together with 6-meter

high ceilings, higher than normal, and 4-meter shop

fronts made of glass, which act as receptors for

light and airiness.

VARIED RANGE Of TENANTS

Clearwater Mall boasts a diverse selection of

prime tenants, with the major anchors including

Pick ‘n Pay, Woolworths and Edgars being aug-

mented by a variety of main street boutiques and

specialty shops. An entertainment court has a full

cinema Nu Metro complex and several restaurants,

fast food tenants and coffee shops. With direct

shopping access down through the atrium from

the entertainment area, this allows for shortened

access distances and provides unusual traffic flows

in through the middle of the complex.

The mall is configured in a three-legged triangular

format with an anchor tenant at each point of the

triangle. The court is central to the triangle with

access to each of the three major tenants. The

configuration of the mall allows parking surround-

ing the building on all sides with convenient access

TOP:

Diners can enjoy eating outside

on the restaurants’ patios.

Rendering © BAI

BOTTOM:

A selection of the restaurants

Photos © Clearwater Mall

(www.clearwatermall.co.za)

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to all shops. One of the six entrances has direct

access to the entertainment court and includes a

drop-off zone.

“The 23 000 m2 expansion enables some of the an-

chor tenants to meet their expansion requirements

– double storey, and will also introduce an addition-

al anchor tenant – Game – with 5 300 m2 of space. A

selection of fashion and electronic brands have

been included in the extension,” says lead architect

on the project and BAI director, Pieter Jooste.

Some of the new stores include: Bellagio, Bellissima,

Big Blue, Bogart, Café Rousee, Canterbury, Charn-

Lee’s, Cuppuchino’s, Dischem, DME, X-Plosion @ Ca-

jees, fantasea, fCUK, forever New, Gillani, Ginger

Lili, Halaal Delhi, Hi-fi Corporation, H&T, Juicy

Lucy, KfC, Le Creuset, Maneki, Marcels, Migato,

Mirabella Lifestyle Boutique, Musica, Nashua Mo-

bile, Nihon, Nine West, Ola Milky Lane, Old Khaki,

Pandora, Reebok, Regalo, Reggies, Roman’s Pizza,

Skecher’s, Sxy, Tekkie Town, The Space, Timber-

land, Tsonga and Unique Lingerie, amongst others.

A variety of shops, banks, cinemas, restaurants,

fast food outlets and other services ensure that

Clearwater Mall is a convenient mall catering to a

diverse range of shopping, service and entertain-

ment requirements.

MORE PARKING CARS, MORE SHOPPERS

It is known that the amount of shoppers within a

mall is dependent on the amount of parking bays

available. Increase the parking bays and therefore

increase the shoppers. This is exactly what BAI did,

having added an additional 1500 extra parking

bays in a new parking garage on the front portion

of the mall.

The front of the centre currently has on-grade

parking. Another new deck on top of that was built

and now provides on-grade parking to the first

floor level. BASF Construction Chemicals was able

to contribute in strengthening the concrete deck-

ing at Clearwater Mall. Explains Sue Posthumus of

BASf Construction Chemicals: “Changes to the

structure saw one end of the concrete deck at

parking level removed. This meant the post ten-

sioning cables would be lost and so, also the sup-

port they provided. As an air conditioning unit was

to be mounted on the deck, its load bearing capac-

ity needed to be increased. We proposed our

MBrace® Laminate system.”

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MBraceLaminate is a ready-to-use pultruded car-

bon fibre laminate that provides a high tensile

strength and is excellent for supplemental flex-

ural reinforcement of concrete with the MBrace®

fRP Laminate System. It makes use of extremely

light materials to replace the traditional technique

of plating with steel plates, increases load-bearing

capacity, reduces deformation to working loads

(increase in rigidity); increases fatigue strength

and limits or covers cracking states (providing in-

creased durability).

“The MBrace® fRP Laminate enables the amount

of reinforcement to be calculated and placed in

relation to the performance required, or the stress

flow. It also ensures less and faster maintenance,

thereby reducing costs. furthermore, it increases

the durability of the structure by protecting it

LEfT:

Clearwater, with its open air

design receives maximum light.

RIGHT:

A strong use of stone and natural

materials enhance the out-door theme

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Clearwater Mall’s oval atrium and

retractable sliding roof

Photos © BAI

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against the aggressive action of chlorides, and

freezing and thawing cycles.”

MBrace® met engineering specifications and Mn-

deni Structural Services, a trusted BASf applica-

tion partner, did the implementation. Says Posthu-

mus: “BASf’s Carbon fibre systems are employed

around the globe in high-profile applications. We

are pleased to have been able to contribute to se-

curing the structure of this prestigious mall in

South Africa in conjunction with Mndeni.”

Apart from the new deck, the design of Clearwa-

ter Mall also now includes space for a link to the

future rapid transit system and a taxi rank with 45

parking bays.

A UNIqUE fEATURE

At the center of the triangular design is an oval

atrium some 60 m across, covered by a retractable

sliding roof, one of the unique features of Clear-

water mall. In inclement weather this can be

closed to cover the entire central piazza area but

expectation is that it will remain open most of the

time, allowing shoppers to feel as if they are in an

open-air retail space. At least 30 percent of the

overhead structure is static glass, so even when the

roof is closed, light is not an issue. In addition to

this roofing feature, which is situated in the old

building, the new extension roofing also received

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attention. “We coated the roof, in the new exten-

sion and some of the old building, with thermal in-

sulator coating. This coating helps keep the build-

ing cool, without the need for air conditioning,”

says Robert Crick, proprietor, Cosmo-Dec.

The procedure involved preparing the roof first by

cleaning it and repairing minor roof problems. A

bonding liquid was then applied to the galvanised

iron of the roof, thereafter applying one coat of

the ‘Snow-Coat’ paint. This coating, a paint in its

composition and form, is white coloured and was

applied on the exterior façade of the roofing.

“Applying the coating on the exterior side of the

roof stops the roof sheets from heating up. It also

protects the roofing, ensuring longevity. The coat-

ing keeps the roof at an even temperature, decreas-

ing ‘excessive breathing’ – when roof sheets shrink

and expand in accordance to the temperature.”

Besides cooling, Cosmodec’s thermal insulator Sno-

Cote also has added benefits, making it the perfect

product for the Clearwater Mall roof. “Not only is

it aesthetically pleasing, but it is also rust resistant

TOP: Another new parking deck

was built in the front of the centre.

MIDDLE: An additional 1500 extra

parking bays were added to the mall,

surrounding the mall.

BOTTOM: Clearwater mall is

configured in a three-legged

triangular format.

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and has waterproofing properties. Without having

the need to spend excessively on electricity for air

conditioning, this product also saves the client

money.”

In line with the open-air feel, particularly in the

food court area, the new portion of the wall en-

compasses skylight features and wide walk ways.

CHALLENGES TACKLED

The architectural team found the design of the ex-

tension challenging, particularly in terms of the

fact that the project was on a very tight budget

and there were power usage restrictions. It was

not possible to obtain extra electricity permis-

sions for the added space at Clearwater Mall. This

necessitated innovative design plans which incor-

porated several sustainable options, especially in

terms of increasing the amount of natural light in

the extension.

Another challenge that was tackled head on was

that the current mall had to remain operational to

shoppers whilst the mall was undergoing major

construction.

LEfT: The park-like centre is

complete with trees, grass and

even the occasional bull-bull.

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