Baywest Mall was developed in a joint venture by Abacus Asset Management and Billion Group on the urban edge of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. The brief was to design a 90 000m² super regional mall that would cater for various needs. It was envisaged as a catalyst for the Baywest City precinct development and the expansion of the city of Gqeberha. The centre is the largest retail development in the Eastern Cape, with over 250 shops over two levels catering for an estimated 800 000 visitors a month.
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The success of the design lies in its simple plan: a crossed ring mall with retail anchors in each corner. The clearly defined vehicle and pedestrian entrances are on axis with the parking zones conveniently situated close to entrances. This allows for fast direct access and emphasises the arrival experience for shoppers. The parking cells are also interconnected for ease of access to any entrance. Back-of-house servicing is accessed either directly from the four anchor corners or from below ground via a basement tunnel and centrally located service lifts that feed both levels of retail.

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Wieland Gleich - Photographer