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The Neighbourhood Square, a new retail centre designed by Boogertman + Partners within a broader residential development in Linksfield, Johannesburg, creates a fresh, open and accessible community hub.

The Neighbourhood Square is a village style retail centre at the heart of The Neighbourhood, a broader residential development on a portion of the old Huddle Park Golf Course in Linksfield, Johannesburg, which came about when the City of Johannesburg made a portion of it available for development.

The Neighbourhood is made up of the Neighbourhood Estate, the first phase of which is nearing completion, and the Neighbourhood Residence, a future development planned for Club Street. The residential estate flanks the existing fairway and has fantastic views to the northwest. The Neighbourhood Square is positioned to maximise exposure onto the busy Club Street and the nearby intersection with Linksfield Drive.

It was envisioned as a community gathering point and a vibrant neighbourhood resource that would also serve as a point where residents living in the development could easily connect with those from the surrounding suburbs.

Because of the site’s previous incarnation as a fairway on a golf course, it features a good number of well-established trees. Boogertman + Partners perceived them as a key design driver and an important part of the character and natural heritage of the site. They identified suitable trees to preserve from the outset of the design process.

A generous four-metre-wide walkway covered by an elegantly cantilevered roof runs along the length of the building.

The walkway roof has been raised above the restaurant seating area to create a double-volume space.

Many well established trees from the site's previous incarnation as a portion of a golf course were preserved and incorporated into the design, as they are here in the extended restaurant seating area.

The architects conceived of the shopping centre as a simple linear design on a roughly north-south axis that would recede and function as a backdrop to the landscape while creating the impression that shoppers were meandering through the trees. Not only does this approach foster a sense of connection to the existing identity of the site, but also creates an immediate sense of ‘completeness’.

A generous four-metrewide walkway covered by an elegantly cantilevered roof runs along the length of the building. This creates an engaging shopping environment with maximum exposure for the shopfronts while allowing a seamless, column-free transition from the on-grade parking area, which is dotted with large trees, through a deep zone of landscaping to the centre itself. Steel columns curve gracefully to become the supporting beams for the roof.

The main anchor on the south end of the centre is Checkers, and on the north Dischem and WestPack. Between them are a series of line shops with a mix of convenience, lifestyle and health offerings, as well as smaller convenience eateries.

The central square, an open piazza modelled on a traditional village square, creates a vibrant, interactive social space at the heart of the centre and, indeed, the whole precinct. The primary restaurants are clustered around the square. Timber decks are arranged to extend the restaurant seating into the landscaped area beyond. The walkway roof has been raised along this section to create a double-volume space, which also enhances the seating area, while the walkway meanders through the space between seating and landscaping.

Robust and warm materials have been favoured throughout the centre, such as the terrazzo pavers edged with terracotta-coloured porcelain tiles with a brass trim. The terracotta tiles flow into the restaurant seating area in a visually exciting herringbone pattern. The anchors and restaurants are flanked by face-brick walls.

The cantilevered roof creates an engaging shopping environment with maximum exposure for the shopfronts while allowing a seamless, column-free transition from the on-grade parking area.

The simple linear design allows the building to recede and function as a backdrop to the landscape, creating the impression that shoppers are meandering through the trees.

The Neighbourhood Square has been designed for convenience and ease of access, while retaining recognisable elements of its previous incarnation in its transformation. The architecture and design prioritises natural light and fresh air (which have become increasingly important in post pandemic design) and provides ample access to outdoor seating in coffee shops and restaurants, as well as easy access to retail outlets. Through its open, locally appropriate design, the Neighbourhood Square establishes a vibrant social centre at the interface of the new and established elements of the neighbourhood.

Professional team Architects: Boorgertman + Partners Client: Investec Property Principal Contractor: Trencon Construction Electrical Engineer: CKR Consulting Engineers Project Manager: SIP Project Managers Landscape Architect: Landmark Studio Quantity Surveyor: Brian Heineberg & Associates Structural and Civil Engineer: Pure Consulting Wet Services Consultant: GK Periera Consulting