We undertook the architectural design of this regional mall in 1997, in a style that captured our interest at that time, which could be perceived as being Pro-Roman (or pro-Piranesian) Neo-Classicism in an attempt to re-create a Venetian ambiance of buildings submerged in water.

Our MD also headed up the professional team of all the relevant consultants such as traffic engineers, demographic and land surveyors and quantity surveyors.

Having drafted design concepts, we then established contact with Mr Mike de Smidt (RIP), well known at the time for his involvement with the West Gate Mall.

We invited potential anchor tenants to view the site by means of a helicopter aerial over flight, from this site to three of the regional malls closest in proximity and back to the site, in order to demonstrate the demographic viability.

With Mike de Smidt in charge of tenant co-ordination and lease agreements, we concentrated on the planning aspects and submitted an offer, on behalf of the development consortium, to purchase the vacant lot, in extent of 29,93 hectares.

A part of this design included for a 4 star hotel and exhibition centre with conference facilities and offices. Our MD promptly flew to Holland and met with a management representative of an international hotel group as well as a Dutch Banking group for investment financing. A Milan based group with offices in SA, came to know of our plans and offered to finance the project via the Bank of Milan. Our MD then flew to Italy to meet with the representatives of the bank of Milan.

Unfortunately in the interim, bank interest rates in SA reached 25.5% p.a. in 1998 and rendered the development unviable at the time.

The project lay dormant for another 3 years before it was resurrected by a pension fund.