CONSTRUCTION |Bentel Associates International
BENTEL ASSOCIATES I N T E R N A T I O N A L
BEN
Bringing international expertise to emerging African property markets
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NTEL ASSOCIATES INTERNA
CONSTRUCTION |Bentel Associates International
Bentel Associates International began life in 1960, making a name for itself developing the first stores associated with the Pick n Pay brand, which has since become one of the biggest supermarket chains in South Africa. Over its 57 years of trading, Bentel has remained firmly in the retail sphere across Southern Africa, but this has not stopped the architectural firm from branching out into several areas of construction all across the continent, and also beyond Africa’s borders.
Bentel’s greatest strength lies in offering expertise to emerging markets across subSaharan Africa. “The emerging market is where we have our expertise. Whether in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana or wherever else we are doing business, we understand how to deliver in these markets,” says Harlech-Jones.
Multi-disciplined approach Having played an important role in the development of a number of projects within the sector across Africa’s emerging markets, Bentel has developed a reputation as a specialist in retail architecture. But, mastering this trade has not prevented the company
In 2004, Bentel opened a second regional
from growing its business into other
office in Mumbai as part of a bold growth
pertinent sectors.
plan centred on taking advantage of architectural demand across emerging
For example, Bentel has often worked on
global markets. Today, Bentel has a total
commercial projects including office blocks,
staff compliment of around 150 across three
hospitality and mixed-use developments,
offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and
offering services that range from
Mumbai, which provides the company with a
architectural and graphic design to urban
strong engine-room in order to cope with the
planning. This multi-disciplinary approach
management of several projects of all shapes
affords clients of Bentel a holistic project
and sizes.
package and also prevents the firm from being pigeon-holed into just one area of
In the last two decades, Bentel has been
expertise.
involved in a series of mega-scale projects across South Africa, stretching back to the
“Part of our approach is very much a holistic
opening of Cape Town’s landmark Canal
approach, and it’s not just about designing
Walk and the opening of the Montecasino
a building but a ‘brand’ which the building
Entertainment Complex in the early 2000s.
will be known for. The logo, what it stands
However, according to the firm’s business
for, the signage, the graphics, the interior
development director Tim Harlech-Jones,
design are all part of the architecture which is
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incorporated and linked back to the branding
“We have spent a lot of time understanding
of that particular centre. Consequently, our
international trends, be they from the West
architecture and graphic design teams are
or the East, understanding what retail means
very inter-linked. Architecture is our core
to people, how design works with that and
business, but within that we have branched
what good design constitutes from a planning
out into these other sectors.�
perspective, but also from an aesthetic perspective.�
Bentel has also tried to maintain a flexible and studious approach to its work in the field, This willingness to absorb the latest taking note of global trends and learning
trends emerging out of architecturally
from successful architectural practises
and technologically advanced markets
observed in Europe and North America,
has allowed Bentel to position itself at the
before applying them to local environments
forefront of global developments in the
across Africa.
sector, before passing on this expertise to its clients on the continent.
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However, there is also an appreciation
Technological innovation
amongst the Bentel team that not everything
Furthermore, Bentel has become increasingly
is directly applicable to every country,
receptive towards the sophisticated
particularly in Africa, as markets often
technological approaches to architecture
differ wildly from country to country. Bentel
made by global leaders in the industry.
makes concerted efforts to adapt what it has learnt from other areas, before applying
Despite often playing catch-up with the
any external insights to a localised market in
more technically advanced countries of the
Africa.
world, Bentel has adopted a number of technological innovations to its own projects,
“Our designs are contextual and unique in all
which has allowed the firm to assume a
instances which are designed for the locale
vanguard position in terms of pioneering
and the country concerned,� says Harlech-
advances in architectural technology across
Jones.
the continent.
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In particular, Bentel is positioning itself in
From early on in the concept initiation
the Building Information Modeling (BIM)
stages, the company will often engage
environment, to document its projects for
with its clients in a 3D environment, taking
contractors and clients alike. As key members
them into a world of virtual reality in
of the industry become more accustomed to
project presentations. Clients are given the
3D technology, Bentel is using BIM from early
opportunity to ‘walk through’ or ‘fly through’ a
concept stages right through to completion.
proposed building.
Furthermore, in some instances, Bentel also
This gives the client a great opportunity to
provides opportunities for its clients to use
understand the spaces and the conceptual
the ‘model’ for its facilities management
approach at design infancy, and permits
programme, post completion.
the client to gain a previously unfathomable insight into the final stages of the project,
CONSTRUCTION |Bentel Associates International
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while providing an inclusionary approach,
people. It’s about working smart,” asserts
from design to build.
Harlech-Jones.
Technological innovations are also enabling
Retail specialists
Bentel to streamline its approach to projects,
Over the years, Bentel has played a crucial
which is increasing the overall efficiency
role in the design and construction of several
levels at which the company operates, from
high-profile retail developments in South
both time and productivity perspectives.
Africa and across the continent, which has resulted in the company gaining its
“By using technology, we are also reducing
reputation as a retail specialist.
the time and resources we require on the project, so we can get through more projects
Perhaps the standout development across
a lot quicker with the same amount of
Bentel’s current portfolio is the landmark
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155,000m2 Canal Walk Shopping Centre
Now, 17 years after construction was
in Cape Town, which opened at the turn
completed on the site, Canal Walk still
of the millenium, and at the time initiated
remains the fourth largest shopping centre
several new local trends in mall design. The
in South Africa, which is a testament to the
construction of this large-scale mall ushered
magnitude of the project at that time.
in a new era of shopping centres in South Africa, with many similar developments
Not only did the Canal Walk development
following it.
bring a large-scale retail centre to the
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immediate surrounding area of the site, but it
of offices, residential and hospitality
also brought further growth opportunities in
developments followed. Canal Walk became
different sectors.
the focus of this.�
“[Canal Walk] was the start of greater
The economic advantages felt within the
development in the surrounding area.
suburb as a direct result of the Canal Walk
Around it was Century City, which became
project have since served as a blueprint for
a new corporate destination with a lot
similar retail development across Africa, as
CONSTRUCTION |Bentel Associates International
Bentel aims to be part of a greater process
aptitude for identifying areas with growth
of socio-economic progression, beyond just
potential when it partnered with Meyer
construction of retail centres.
Pienaar Architects and Urban Designers to develop the civic space which has since
The same process of rapid economic growth
become the centre piece of Johannesburg’s
has been observed in the Sandton area
financial capital, and arguably one of the
of Johannesburg (dubbed Africa’s richest
most eminent landmark buildings in South
square mile), where Bentel was part of the
Africa.
construction of the iconic Nelson Mandela Square.
However, the last decade has seen the South African retail market reach saturation,
Like Canal Walk and the subsequent growth
particularly across the nation’s urban centres.
in Century City, Sandton’s steep economic
As a result, Bentel cast its eyes towards
rise was born out the redevelopment of
developing projects in outlying areas of the
the Sandton City mall which combines with
country.
Nelson Mandela Square to make one of the largest retail complexes in Africa.
It is in these semi-urban and rural areas where Bentel’s aim of fostering socio-
Bentel showed a flexibility of approach and
economic development takes on even greater
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importance, as projects can have an even
including a number of large-scale projects.
greater impact on the local communities. Bentel has been involved in projects in “Potential developments in these areas
markets such as Zambia, Nigeria and Ghana,
provide socio-economic opportunities and
with the 2008 opening of Accra Mall standing
access to facilities which were simply not
out as one of the company’s flagship projects
there before,” says Harlech-Jones. “This
outside of South Africa.
could be providing a formal retail centre in the style of a convenience mall, as opposed
Furthermore, with South Africa’s construction
to an internalised urban mall style. It’s a very
sector reaching maturity and development
different type of market and a different type
opportunities becoming sparser, it is in
of architecture.”
these overlooked but emerging sub-Saharan
Emerging African markets
markets that Bentel aims to sharpen its focus on in the coming years.
Despite maintaining a number of South
“I’m quite excited about the opportunities
African developments in its current portfolio,
we are involved with in new markets like the
Bentel is also heavily committed to a range
Ivory Coast, Cameroon, the DRC and Senegal.
of projects across the rest of the continent,
We are looking at various designs in these
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areas, and are hopeful they will go ahead in
the areas where we can add quite a lot of
the short to medium term.
value with our experience and expertise, particularly in retail and mixed-use
“I’m excited about them because these are
developments.”
African Business Network greater emphasis on the pedestrian. Examples of these ‘city within a city’ style developments include Eko Atlantic in Lagos, Tatu City in Nairobi and Centenary City in Abuja, which have been planned to become decentralised urban nodes. “These projects are exciting because there are always opportunities to get involved and work alongside other international architects. “You gain a lot of experience working with other international practices as we have a good local knowledge, whilst they offer a more global expertise.” Over time, Bentel has perfected its craft as a retail architecture specialist across subSaharan Africa whilst also developing its business across several other areas in the sector. From landmark, super-regional malls to smaller projects in less developed areas on the continent, Bentel brings a flexible and globalised skillset to all of its work.
Bentel is closely following an increasing
CONTACT
global trend over the last decade that has
http://www.bentel.net/
seen construction firms gravitate towards
+27 (0) 10 590 7900
mixed-use developments, which place a
bentel@bentel.net
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