Molapo Plaza comes to life
Ulla Setswalo | Monday October 27, 2014 16:56
In an interview, Sphinx Associates brands and events manager Kgosi Goodwill said the company had identified a unique niche for itself.
“As a mall, we saw a need to dare to be different and reposition our mall by making it more conducive for recreation and leisure,” he said. He added that the mall had expanded to bring consumers something new and exciting. Goodwill further noted that the piazza is a first in Botswana and aims to entertain as well as cater for other needs such as health.
FNB Botswana funded the project to a tune of P50 million.
The piazza developments are the brainchild of Sphinx CEO Luc Vandecasteele who wanted to bring a mall that was different from the rest. In this unique approach they have introduced amenities such as a food court, private hospital, gym, spa, pharmacy, stage and VIP room.
Vandecasteele, who is of Belgian origin, has been living in Botswana for the past 30 years. His penthouse is situated within the new building near the rooftop restaurant and bar.
“I was inspired by the zoning of the land and the way the new developments would compliment the mall altogether,” he said.
Vandescasteele further revealed that he wanted to uplift the local community by giving them an exciting recreation facility.
He noted that although the City council had made them wait for seven years, it was all worth it in the end.
When quizzed about the restricted access along the Western By Pass, as motorists drive from the Botswana Television circle, Vandecasteele said the matter was still with the court and a hearing will be held in May 2015.
He expressed hope that he would reach a compromise with government in order to create a proposal that would benefit consumers and give them easy access to the mall.
The piazza is not only the first of its kind, but also the only one to have built in sound and acoustics. Jafta Serero of Press24 revealed that they were responsible for branding the new extensions of Molapo Crossing.
“The Molapo piazza is all about integrating cultural diversity hence the multi-coloured logo. The piazza is expected to offer a great ambience and be the heart beat of the city.
“It is leading in innovation and might eventually become the people’s choice of mall. It also caters for popular culture where people would be able to enjoy various meals from cafeterias and hang out with friends and family,” he said.
Promoters can now book for their events or shows as the arena can accommodate about 4,000 individuals.