The South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) has announced the winners of its 2026 Retail Design & Development Awards, recognising shopping centre developments and retail spaces that combine design quality with customer experience and commercial performance.
Category A winner. (Image supplied)
New developments and mall revamps
Garden Walk Mall in the Western Cape won the new developments category. Designed by Bar Architects and developed and owned by Moolman Group, Dorpstraat Properties and Organic Coral Investments, the 20,000m² centre was recognised for its curated tenant mix, practical planning and selective use of creative design features.
The judges highlighted the project’s balance of design and trading performance, which helped create an accessible shopping experience.
Lowveld Mall in Mpumalanga took the renovation and expansion category. The 61,858m² centre was designed by MDS Architecture, with Twin City Development acting as developer and owner.
The judges recognised the redevelopment’s oversized pergola features at the entrance, imaginative ceiling and floor finishes, and the contribution these elements made to transforming the existing mall. The centre’s performance also helped distinguish it from the other finalists.
Restaurant and store design recognised
Doppio Bistrot at Nine Yards in Parktown North, Gauteng, won the restaurant design category. The 376m² venue was designed by Sketch Interior Architects and is owned by Spur Corporation.
The project stood out for its creative reuse of existing buildings to create a distinctive restaurant environment.
In the store design category, the awards named two joint winners: Chris and Alley at Ballito Lifestyle Centre in KwaZulu-Natal, and Dis-Chem at Melrose Arch in Gauteng.
The 127m² Chris and Alley store, designed by Sketch Interior Architects, was recognised for its experiential approach, warm environment and quality of finishes. Dis-Chem’s 842m² store, designed by TDC & Co, was commended for integrating customer service with innovative systems, clean lines and considered store fixtures and fittings.
Lowveld Mall takes the Spectrum Award
Lowveld Mall also received the 2026 SACSC Spectrum Award for Shopping Centre Development, the programme’s overall accolade.
The judges unanimously selected the project, highlighting how design excellence and collaboration between the development, architectural and leasing teams could deliver a strong customer experience and healthy returns, even within tight budget constraints.
The awards recognise design and development across the retail property sector, with judging criteria including design quality, response to market and surroundings, innovation, sustainability and commercial success.
All the 2026 retail design award winners
- Category A – New developments: Garden Walk Mall, Western Cape
- Category B – Renovation/expansion: Lowveld Mall, Mpumalanga
- Category C – Restaurant design: Doppio Bistrot, Nine Yards, Parktown North, Gauteng
- Category C – Store design (joint winner): Chris and Alley, Ballito Lifestyle Centre, KwaZulu-Natal
- Category C – Store design (joint winner): Dis-Chem, Melrose Arch, Gauteng
- Spectrum Award 2026: Lowveld Mall, with MDS Architecture as architect and Twin City Development as developer and shopping centre owner
