Morning Glen Mall’s Fresh New Look

The refurbishment was designed by MDS Architecture for SA Corporate Real Estate and completed in two phases.

Site

Well located on the corner of Bowling and Kelvin Roads in the upmarket Johannesburg neighbourhood of Gallo Manor, the site is on primary access routes and public transport nodes. Situated at the top of a hill, Morning Glen boasts expansive 360° views with a strong focus towards the North.

Brief

The first phase was completed to accommodate Food Lovers Market moving into the shopping centre as well as the creation of appropriate retail space for hardware specialist Mica in 2017. Food Lovers Market and the relocated MICA are anchor tenants on the eastern side of the building and served as the catalyst for further development.

The second phase of the project involved a reconfigured mall and entrance off a new parkade, an entertainment node with a viewing deck facing north, new sports and recreation activities and led to much-improved vehicular entrance and exit flow from Bowling and Kelvin Roads. Vertical circulation for shoppers was improved by the addition for 2 new scenic lifts traversing from the padel courts and parking in the basement of the new parkade to the new restaurants above.

Pierre Lahaye, MDS Architecture’s partner heading the project, says that the shopping centre has been repositioned to create a lifestyle destination. The tenant mix and locations aim to increase traffic flow and provide a better energy for strategic tenants. The entrances have been reconfigured to make them more inviting to shoppers. The external facades have been upgraded to create a sense of place on a very prominent intersection. 

Evolution and a family gathering space

“From a design point of view, the centre’s fresh lease of life was achieved by eliminating any crossover between service and public entrances, reconfiguring the parking and ensuring better views to develop a contemporary shopping centre with energy and vibrancy,” he says.

The parking garage was added to provide ample convenient parking facilities for over  600 cars, as well as improved lighting and convenience for shoppers who now have direct access to restaurants and lifestyle offerings. With Mica moving from its previous location and another tenant vacating the west wing of the centre, the developers managed to secure several restaurants upstairs such as Blueberry Beacon, a children-friendly restaurant with a play area and covered seating deck and  South Africa’s indoor golf entertainment venue, Golden Tee, , which has culminated in the creation of a unique offering which buzzes on weekends, replete with an adventure area, health and fitness offerings, padel courts and a culinary market called Foodies Feast.

Exterior presence

Crisp white translucent cladding and clean lines draw patrons in towards the two covered entrances at Morning Glen, which provide a sense of arrival and welcoming greenery. The signature curve of the building at the entrance to Food Lovers Market is emphasised by the signage which wraps around the corner using individual letters in the name Morning Glen.

Interior

With the first phase in need of some maintenance, MDS Architecture took the sophistication of the building up a notch. Says Lahaye, “High quality design was an important consideration as were convenience and flow.  The spaces were softened through the use of clerestorey windows allowing natural light to flow into the interior as well as the introduction of a contemporary mall floor tiling pattern The classic monotone colour combination of white with black and grey accents in the interior provides interest and brings together Morning Glen’s visual elements. Bulkheads in organic shapes as well as lighting and colourful pendants hanging from the ceiling provide vertical interest, while polished porcelain tiles laid in patterns create interest on the floor. New shopfronts and bulkheads at various levels provide a much more enticing interior space, which is complemented by new mobiles and furniture for a more tactile experience. 

“Natural light from clerestorey windows complements artificial lighting on the shopfront and ceiling bulkheads. Lighting has been given a lot of attention – inaccessible lights were removed and additional lighting was added in coves and parking areas to avoid any dark patches,” explains Lahaye.

New escalators were introduced, ensuring both ends of the building are vertically linked for better connectivity and circulation. The escalator opens up views down the mall.

The repositioned Morning Glen Shopping Centre offers a contemporary shopping experience with a new energy and vibrancy. “With a focus on quality finishes and experiences, Morning Glen is an asset in the area,” concludes Lahaye.