Shoppertainment is a new term coined by project managers Safland to describe their latest, and by the sounds of it, greatest project to date. A 54 000m², two level shopping mall with three parking levels in the Kleine Kuppe area in Windhoek, Namibia's capital. The mall, named The Grove, was conceived after a retail study by Fernridge concluded that Windhoek had a massive shortage of retail space,
servicing not only residents from Windhoek, but all surrounding areas. The vision of owners, the Frontier Property Trust, Atterburyand Demushua, was to create the largest shopping experience in Namibia - a truly world-class mall where shopping mixes readily with entertainment - shoppertainment. As part of the the Hilltop Estate, comprising of offices, residential, hotel, gym, value centre and a hospital, The Grovewill add to the variety through various national and international retailers, service operators, restaurants and entertainment areas. Architects Boogertman & Partners, together with Howard and Chamberlain, have developed the architecture to reflect scenes from the natural environment typically found in Namibia. Therefore, the wavy dunes manifests itself as meandering lines from shop to shop, instead of the conventional straight lines, as well as through the shape of the walkways and the exterior cladding to the façade. Natural light will be introduced to the main vertical circulation areas through focused roofs, supported by 15m high columns resembling an indigenous tree with a flat canopy. The Grovewill feature the first real food court in Namibia, with restaurants and fast-food outlets spilling over to outside seating, where the large open court will entice children of all ages with an unique water feature. Bathrooms will be fitted to an extremely high standard, complete with baby change rooms and disabled facilities. Provision will also be made for disabled parking as well as special Mummy-assistparking bays, for parents with children. With the mall opening its doors in September 2014, a host of various national anchor retailers have already signed up, while numerous new retailers, chains and individuals, both local and from South Africa have reserved their space. In 2011 the bulk earthworks for the mall as well as construction of a new irrigation reservoir for the City of Windhoek took place, with actual construction, headed up by Murray & Roberts Namibia, that started on 1 November 2012. The biggest challenge for multi-disciplinary engineers SCE, as well as Safland, being the project managers, is the sheer size of the development, with a predicted total cost of N$922 million. As far as structural engineering and coordination are concerned, finishing this project will be a huge challenge for the construction industry, suppliers, sub-contractors and related services like tiling, glazing and paving. It is, however, a project that is hugely satisfying, and through the concerted efforts of all parties involved, one that will add so much to the retailing and entertainment landscape of Namibia.
