Thatchfield Mall, Gauteng, South Africa
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Thatchfield retail park gets dressed for “eva-lasting” successThe newly built Thatchfield Retail Centre in Centurion is dressed for everlasting success with a striking ‘tri-colour’ patterned façade to give it a distinct and dramatic identity. The obvious need was to differentiate the 5,211 m2 convenience centre with high footfall anchor tenants Checkers, Woolworths and Dischem from its neighbouring competitors with an eye-catching, yet functional design that would stand the test of time.
PROJECT DETAILS
- Project Name: Thatchfield Retail Park
- Project Type: Commercial Shopping Centre
- Description: Cladding, screening, and architectural beams
- Product used: Eva-tech Decorative Balusters & Lifespan Beams
- Date of Installation: April 2023
- Project Location: Thatchfield, Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
- Architect: Frans de Klerk, Theunissen Jankowitz Architects
- General Contractor: Ryan Bradley, Lemay Construction (Pty)
PROJECT MATERIAL SELECTION
The sun never sets on tradersThatchfield’s sun-drenched western orientation demanded UV-resistant and durable materials. Design lead Thomas Kriel of TJA Architects opted to juxtapose hard louvred “Terrazzo’’ tiles against soft, shady wood-look cladding for an appealing contrast of textures and tones.
Louvred quartz crystal and concrete tiles in patterned shades of greys, browns, and rustic reds – reminiscent of the sun – were installed vertically against the perimeter walls, while the earthy tones of Eva-tech’s decorative balusters in Rusteak, dark blonde Savannah and silvery Xavia were used for the canopies and screening. The mix-‘n-match, complimentary colours create a patterned ‘rhythm’ that mimic or emulate movement and activity evident in a “buzzing” centre, while the fashionableyet- functional striped screening provides much-needed shade from the sun and heat. Lifespan architectural beams echoed the funky, striped tri-colour cladding and canopy scheme on the exterior walls outside FNB’s ATM, while fast-food outlet KFC features vertical natural wood-look Lifespan screens in the Savanna colour for decorative detail outside the store.
EVA-LAST FOR THE LONG RUN
Aside from the colourfast and weather-resistant kaleidoscope of Eva-tech’s bamboo composite balusters and Lifespan beams, their outstanding durability and easy-care characteristics delivered the low-maintenance longevity sought by the landlords. Light and easy to install overhead with sturdy Hulk fasteners, Lifespan’s hollow aluminiumcore profiles create a decorative, convenient architectural detail in themselves. The protective outer coating is made from recycled plastic mixed with resilient bamboo fibres treated with UV-stabilizers. Not only does this ensure Thatchfield’s shady walkway canopies won’t fade or discolour when exposed to extreme elements, but they won’t be subject to degradation either. In addition, their textured wood-look surface is scratch and splinter-proof and requires minimal cleaning – an occasional wipe will do – promising years of unsurpassed customer satisfaction to every visitor or tenant.KEY INFLUENCER QUOTE
“There’s no easier way to give a building a gorgeous, durable skin than with Eva-Last’s creative bamboo composites. Not only do they make designing and installation a dream, but they deliver outstanding performance too,” says Kriel.
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