A R220 million single-level shopping centre recently opened at Elim, in the Limpopo Province. Situated close to the main access roads to Giyani, Louis Trichardt and Levubu the centre is close to all commercial activities and opposite the 400-bed Elim Hospital.

This first phase of the Elim Shopping Centre is 18,676 square meters, with a 61 bay taxi rank and 414 shopper parking bays.  Leon Jacobs Architects were contracted to design the project. Leon Jacobs said “This project posed one or two challenges due to the site being located on a hilltop. The collapsible soil conditions required it to be a ramped-down Mall, with a floor slab 300 mm thick for support. Although the budget for the centre was not large, we were creative enough in the design, to ensure that it is a naturally ventilated centre through the use of a polycarb finish on the apex of the Mall. It is a simple but appealing shopping centre”.

“Local employment was created during the construction of the mall and local sub-contractors were used wherever possible. They are expecting over 110 taxis to utilise the taxi bays and anticipating consumer patronage to increase on an annual basis. The local hawkers have not disappeared, they have retained their customer-base, so the two sectors of retail are thriving alongside each other” said Jacobs.

Technicrete used 33,000 Florawall blocks on the retaining walls at the centre, about which sub-contractor Rassie Erasmus from Interlock Paving commented “The Florawall is an extremely cost-effective option. It was well suited for the Elim Mall with its mountainous location and layered design”.

Erasmus continued “The Florawall has been stacked in layers of four high as well as single layers giving the development an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Plants, small trees and flowers can be placed inside the Florawall garden blocks, as they have an uninhibited root and water penetration design and an aesthetic fluted face finish. The Florawall is particularly suited to deep root plants, and Technicrete offered us a colour choice of autumn blend or grey”.

“The vast parking area was paved with interlocking pavers from Technicrete, with 26,500 square meters of Double Zig-Zag 60’s and 5,400 square meters of Double Zig-Zag 80’s. Kerbing used was 5,400 280x180x140 semi-mountable kerbs and 1,500 300x200x100 mountable kerbs. All of the Technicrete product was delivered timeously, and backed-up with excellent technical advice” said Erasmus.

The Elim Mall project commenced in June 2012 and was completed in April 2013.

Further information is available from: Malebusa Sebatane, Marketing Manager, Technicrete Tel: 011 674 6957 Cell: 078 803 9863 email: malebusa.sebatane@murrob.com

Issued on behalf of Technicrete by: SJC Creative, Contact Sue Charlton Tel: 011 781 6178 Cell: 082 579 4263 email: sjc@worldonline.co.za

Rocla