Leopards Hill commercial centre design

Modern shopping centre design

Situated along Leopard's Hill Road in Lusaka, the plot has direct frontage onto the main road, while the land slopes quite steeply away in both directions. Our shopping centre design aimed to create a light, airy architecture that contrasted with the heavy rustic face-brick volume of the anchor tenant. This contrast would further bring out the two different themes and materially separate the functions as well.

The commercial centre design develops parallel to the main road, with the parking behind the building, presenting the shortest facade to the west. The supermarket building is opposed on the other end by a similarly large covered market for stall vendors, creating a balance to the whole building. The central entrance to the shops has a light tensile structure formally emphasising its location. At the lower end of the building is the restaurant/ coffee shop with brightly coloured entrance portals.

All walkways and shop entrances are covered by a large veranda, shading the shops from direct sunlight and rain. Similarly, the central corridor has a raised roof allowing hot air to escape naturally and minimising mechanical cooling requirements.