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PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
Jabi Lake Mall will offer 27 000m2 GLA on
completion. Designed by South African
architectural practice MDS Architecture
for London-based developer Actis, the design
is a contemporary take on the concept of a
gathering place.
Donald McGillivray, the partner heading up
the project, says that the shopping centre is one
component of an overall master development for
the lake which includes a hotel, office buildings
and residential apartments.
”The shopping centre is the catalyst for the
initiation of the rest of the development. For this
reason, a lakeside boardwalk has been incor-
porated in the shopping centre design. All the
restaurants, cafés and children’s play area face
the public boardwalk,” he says.
Construction started in January 2014 and the
shopping centre is due to be opened to the public
in October 2016.
The entrance into Jabi Lake Mall is a double
volume space, with the tree extending through
both levels. A leaf floor patterns has been
incorporated into the floor at the ground floor
entrance, as if the tree has shed its leaves.
The building is two-fronted onto the main
road as well as onto the lake.The interior features
floor patterns which evoke typical West African
patterns. The muted colour palette has been
achieved with water tones and natural materials
for serenity.
The entrance court is also the main promo-
tional court. It echoes the lake through a chan-
delier which features bubble-like spheres. Yet, the
entrance court offers quite a departure through
vibrant colours, in contrast with the muted colour
palette elsewhere in the shopping centre.
Leaf patterned lighting has been used, as well
as bulkhead lighting, recessed lighting and natural
light through clerestorey windows.
ABUJA’S JABI LAKE MALL
Jabi Lake Mall is a two-level shopping centre in Abuja, Nigeria on
a spectacular site at the edge of a lake. The main entrance features
a striking triple volume metaphor for a tree as a focal point and
traditional gathering point.
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Professional team
• Client: Actis (London)
• Development manager: Laurus Development
Partners (Nigeria)
• Architect: MDS Architecture (SA)
• Structural engineer: L&S Consulting (SA)
• Mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, plumbing &
lighting consultant: Chapman BDSP (London)
• Main contractor: Bouygues Construction (Nigeria)
Jabi Lake Mall will feature
water harvesting facilities
and insulated walls and roofs.
Glazing is properly shaded for
greater energy efficiency. Water
and sewer treatment plants are
part of the design. In addition,
recycled, sustainable and locally
available materials are being
used on the building.