The future of South Africa’s commercial giants
Vibrant, multi-use spaces are currently dominating commercial building practices in South Africa. A shift which is a beautiful reflection of South Africa’s rich culture of community, this trend is loaded with potential. These physical spaces embody the community-orientated local reality and create a sense of belonging and ownership. They drive foot traffic and benefit businesses and consumers alike. They are the future of our country’s skyline.
The nature of mixed-use
This mixed-space approach to developments is being seen in both new builds and in the reimagining of existing structures across the country. A key aspect of these types of builds is that they are user-oriented spaces. Developers understand that the needs of the people who will use the building have to inform a project from the beginning. Building occupants and visitors also respond to how well a space is designed to enhance their quality of life. This means incorporating natural elements like daylight, vegetation, colour, and nature-inspired forms to benefit physical and mental health. Across the world, nature is being brought into spaces in unexpected ways, which enhances well-being and could even reduce energy costs.
In South Africa, our climate gives us a significant advantage in terms of how we think about outside spaces. ‘South African design of outdoor spaces, both public and private, is something that we do a lot better than many other countries. With smart design, incorporating relevant materials and vegetation, a functional outdoor space can work well as part of a multi-purpose development,’ agrees Philip du Toit, Project Architect at BPAS Architects.
International inspiration
There are also international trends that South African design can benefit from. One of these is thinking about how a building interacts with passers-by from the street level. Some spaces in South Africa only offer up their charm once you’re inside the premises, but buildings also need to participate in the public domain. This is done very well in certain regions in Europe, where most buildings have social and commercial spaces extending into the streets.
Another trend that South African mixed-use spaces can benefit from is applying creative thinking to the liminal spaces between buildings. Buildings don’t have to extend to their maximum limit; the ‘in-between’ spaces can be used to create rest areas, courtyards, community spaces, and play sections.
Old buildings, new life
‘Understanding the market and the social context by thoroughly investigating what people in the area need, and providing just that, is part of what makes mixed-use spaces so successful,’ adds Du Toit. In South Africa, there are existing structures in key geographical areas (such as the Johannesburg CBD) that can be redeveloped to create new multi-purpose spaces. Reinvigorating outdated and abandoned buildings as mixed-use properties can transform them into hubs of activity that contribute to economic growth and community rejuvenation.
As developers and designers explore this multi-purpose trend, it’s important for commercial spaces to prioritise sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation while staying true to the local context, embracing and nurturing community. After all, that is the foundation of the South African way of living.
This article is an extract from our May Issue. Read the full issue here.
