The Mall of Engomi is the result of three successive implementation phases, which span the entire 21st century. Remarkably, the Project was initiated at the end of the 20th century in half the plot. By the time the Project’s permitting was resolved, the other half asset was acquired. In turn, and curiously, in 2004 the Project in its full asset was originally conceived as two adjacent Automobile Showrooms with strong visibility along Engomi’s primary commercial spine – namely, 28th October Avenue, which were to be supplemented ‘back-to-back’ with Two Major Retail Activities – specifically, a DIY Store and a Supermarket (accessible from the plot’s opposite street).
In the first implementation phase, the Two Major Retail Activities were retained, but the rest was transformed into two more conventional retail facilities: a double-storey Debenhams Department Store and a Ground-Floor Sequence of assorted Clothing Brands. This first phase was inaugurated in 2007. Subsequently, between 2012-15 Phase 2 was initiated, which concerned a slight expansion Project and that retained the Department Store but extended the other retail offering into a double-storey facility that was joined to Debenhams.
With the acquisition of the asset by Atterbury Europe, a third Re-Development Phase was pursued between 2018-2022, which managed to flesh out a ‘proper mall’ mostly from within the existing structure. This transformation was facilitated by the slight expansion of the building towards the Avenue – thereby creating a strong entrance with heightened legibility, in tandem with substantial covered balconies serving both the Common Food-Court and special tenants.
Architecturally speaking, The Mall of Engomi is interesting in that it presents itself more as a Conventional Retail-Front Facility upon the Commercial Avenue, while it operates as a more Conventional ‘Retail Centre’ on its other side. This duality dovetails nicely with its urban context – in that the Mall is more engaging and active on the commercial road, while it becomes more distant and insignificant for the surrounding residential area at its back.