Currently under construction at the junction of Solomon Mahlangu and Bronkhorstspruit Road, the centre is designed to connect affluent eastern suburbs with Mamelodi through an accessible, inclusive shopping destination.
Developed and owned by Moolman Group and designed by MDS Architecture, its crescent-shaped layout integrates diverse retail offerings with public transport access, including a dedicated taxi rank. With landscaped outdoor spaces and vibrant gathering areas, Kings Walk aims to redefine the shopping centre as a place to connect and unwind.
"The design philosophy here was about creating a sophisticated, contemporary environment that feels genuinely connected to its context: the landscape, the community, the street," says Pierre Lahaye, partner at MDS Architecture.
That connection to the outdoors is one of Kings Walk's most distinctive qualities. The building has been designed to embrace its natural surrounds. An outdoor precinct to the north-east (the best orientation for morning sun with natural afternoon shade) features an amphitheatre, LED screens, a water feature for children, an outdoor play area, a stage, and expansive landscaped lawns where visitors can bring their own chairs to watch events on a big screen.
Indigenous trees and green walls soften the edges, while the potential development of the adjacent floodline into a curated parkland is under investigation. If realised, the project would further integrate the centre into a greenbelt setting.
"The outside space has been doubled up to cater for more people," notes Lahaye. "Spur and Panarottis will have exterior seating areas, mounds will screen the parking, and it will genuinely feel like a park environment. It brings the bushveld closer to your front door, which resonates strongly in this part of Pretoria."
Internally, the centre's curved mall is anchored at either ends by Boxer and Pick ‘n Pay, The design balances various market segments - Shoprite is at the junction of the malls and anchors the main food court, with restaurant seating that spills outward. A dedicated pedestrianised mall entrance off the main road provides a waiting and connectivity area with WiFi and charging facilities: a valuable convenience for the public transport users arriving daily.
The interior language is warm and contemporary, with pendant lighting that draws volumes down, timber accents, clerestory windows that maximise natural light, and bespoke furniture throughout. A central tree anchors the main court, creating a canopy-like atmosphere above a dedicated hangout space. Ablutions are finished to a boutique standard, with earthy tones and water-saving, energy-efficient fittings.
The exterior carries the same considered detailing: dark black-brick referencing site and air conditions, earthy tones, tenant signage that creates a proper street façade rather than a back-of-house aesthetic, and Cashbuild integrated directly into the scheme rather than treated as an afterthought. Local artwork from the surrounding area is being commissioned as part of the design, reinforcing a strong sense of place.
With its mix of outdoor activation, integrated public transport, aspirational retail and community-scale design, Kings Walk signals a thoughtful evolution in how South African shopping centres can serve diverse, mixed-income catchment areas.
Kings Walk is set to open in October 2027.
