GIFA AWARD OF MERIT 2017 : DAINFERN SQUARE

This portrays a very successful solution to a neighbour shopping centre. A typical in shopping centre design, the building constantly connects to the outside with the use of large glazed facades. The outdoor courtyard space successfully connects the two wings of retails and relates nicely to human scale. The combination of destination type accommodation such as offices and medical and fitness makes the centre very efficient in attracting feet to its prime location. The design successfully offers its users a pleasant shopping, dining and leisure experience. The plan and location on the site successfully screens the centre from the busy William Nicol Drive by focusing the interest its wide open external and internal mall area. The centre boasts a fast food component separate from the upmarket dining experience on the opposite wing of the centre. This works well in spreading the circulation and not creating congestion with foot traffic. Overall it offers a pleasant, vibrant mixed use experience in an urban setting.