Property developers and investors seek to understand the drivers of prices for office and retail space. Through literature, we learn that size and age, locational attributes, physical features of the properties, and economic variables are significant determinants of commercial property prices. However, previous work has narrowly focused on aspects akin to formal structures and ignored the role of institutions, especially conventions and social norms incredibly, and what influences the behaviour of the property developers and investors while making the pricing decision. Therefore, the goal of this study was to understand how prices for commercial properties are determined in Uganda. The objectives of the study were to understand the role of conventions and social norms found in the property market environment on price determination and to explore the behaviour tendencies/heuristics exhibited by the players during the pricing decision-making process. The study was qualitative in nature. The researcher interviewed property owners, developers, institutional investors, and key informants to understand the conventions and social norms that exist in the property market and how they ultimately influence the pricing decision of commercial buildings. This study reveals that conventions exist in the Ugandan property markets. The conventions signal a price to the players in the property environment. However, due to information asymmetry and irrationality, each player interprets the price signals differently, using heuristics to develop the final price. This study helps researchers understand the role of individual behaviour/heuristics in advancing our understanding of institutions and the effects of the two on commercial property pricing, the economy at large and its consequences on economic policy.

The project set out to develop a non-typological approach to public space in a poly-centric city. The principle of third space was used to conceptualise an interface for public life that would potentiate both public and private realms, and mitigate the issues currently related to contemporary public space. The notion of third space was also considered for the projects programmatic response in order to achieve an authentic urban experience. In essence a bridge between industrial typology and retail space was proposed to remedy the state of the unconscious consumer as well as establish the cross-fertilisation that occurs when a larger demographic of users are present. / Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / Unrestricted

Issu de la rencontre entre les disciplines de l’architecture intérieure et de la stratégie de marque et développé en réponse au raffinement de l’offre et des nouveaux modes de consommation, le design expérientiel présente un champ de pratique émergent qui tend vers la communication d’une expérience client marquante et immersive à travers l’environnement commercial. Bien que le sujet soit richement documenté par le domaine du marketing, il est apparu qu’il l’est moins par celui de l’aménagement. En effet, peu d’études démontrent concrètement la façon d’aménager l’espace marchand dans le contexte de la pratique du design expérientiel ou cherchent à mettre en lumière son empreinte physique sur l’environnement commercial. Cette recherche vise simultanément l’amélioration de la compréhension de la pratique émergente qu’est le design expérientiel ainsi que l’identification des caractéristiques environnementales propres aux espaces marchands qui en découlent. Dans la volonté de sonder le phénomène du design expérientiel tant dans la dimension conceptuelle de sa pratique que dans celle de son résultat bâti, la stratégie méthodologique de cette recherche repose sur la tenue d’entretiens semi-dirigés avec des professionnels basant leur pratique sur le design expérientiel et l’observation directe de trois projets commerciaux expérientiels reconnus. L’issue de cette recherche et les résultats extraits du terrain mèneront plutôt à relever l’existence d’un processus de conception caractéristique à la pratique ainsi que celle de concepts fondateurs qu’à identifier des éléments de l’aménagement intérieur propres aux environnements commerciaux en découlant. Nettement apparus au cours de l’étude, ce processus et la volonté de mettre sur pied une stratégie de communication solide semblent occuper une place plus importante dans la définition et la compréhension de la pratique du design expérientiel que les attributs de l’espace marchand comme tel. / As a result of the merging of two disciplines, interior design and branding, experiential design was developed in response to the refinement of the offer and of the new consumption patterns. An emerging field of practice, it tends to communicate a memorable and an immersive experience to the client through the retail environment. A rich litterature already exists in the marketing field on experiential design, but it is less documented in the interior design field. Indeed, few studies show, in a concrete manner, how the retail space is designed in a context where experiential design is used or try to explain its physical imprint on the commercial environment. The objective of this study is twofold: to contribute to a better understanding of experiential design as an emergent practice and to the identification of environmental attributes that are specific to retail spaces that are thus created. With the intention to study the phenomenon of experiential design through the conceptual dimension behind its practice as well as its final result, the methodological strategy adopted in this research rely on semi-structured interviews conducted with professionals, whose practice is based on experiential design, and on the direct observation of three known experiential commercial projects. The outcome of this research and the results obtained from the field study will clarify the existence of a design process that is specific to this practice and the presence of founding concepts, instead of identifying elements of interior design that are specific to the creation of commercial environments. It appeared clearly during the study that this process and the desire to implement a strong communication strategy seem to be more important when comes the time to define and understand experiential design and its practice than the attributes of the retail space as such.

Issu de la rencontre entre les disciplines de l’architecture intérieure et de la stratégie de marque et développé en réponse au raffinement de l’offre et des nouveaux modes de consommation, le design expérientiel présente un champ de pratique émergent qui tend vers la communication d’une expérience client marquante et immersive à travers l’environnement commercial. Bien que le sujet soit richement documenté par le domaine du marketing, il est apparu qu’il l’est moins par celui de l’aménagement. En effet, peu d’études démontrent concrètement la façon d’aménager l’espace marchand dans le contexte de la pratique du design expérientiel ou cherchent à mettre en lumière son empreinte physique sur l’environnement commercial. Cette recherche vise simultanément l’amélioration de la compréhension de la pratique émergente qu’est le design expérientiel ainsi que l’identification des caractéristiques environnementales propres aux espaces marchands qui en découlent. Dans la volonté de sonder le phénomène du design expérientiel tant dans la dimension conceptuelle de sa pratique que dans celle de son résultat bâti, la stratégie méthodologique de cette recherche repose sur la tenue d’entretiens semi-dirigés avec des professionnels basant leur pratique sur le design expérientiel et l’observation directe de trois projets commerciaux expérientiels reconnus. L’issue de cette recherche et les résultats extraits du terrain mèneront plutôt à relever l’existence d’un processus de conception caractéristique à la pratique ainsi que celle de concepts fondateurs qu’à identifier des éléments de l’aménagement intérieur propres aux environnements commerciaux en découlant. Nettement apparus au cours de l’étude, ce processus et la volonté de mettre sur pied une stratégie de communication solide semblent occuper une place plus importante dans la définition et la compréhension de la pratique du design expérientiel que les attributs de l’espace marchand comme tel. / As a result of the merging of two disciplines, interior design and branding, experiential design was developed in response to the refinement of the offer and of the new consumption patterns. An emerging field of practice, it tends to communicate a memorable and an immersive experience to the client through the retail environment. A rich litterature already exists in the marketing field on experiential design, but it is less documented in the interior design field. Indeed, few studies show, in a concrete manner, how the retail space is designed in a context where experiential design is used or try to explain its physical imprint on the commercial environment. The objective of this study is twofold: to contribute to a better understanding of experiential design as an emergent practice and to the identification of environmental attributes that are specific to retail spaces that are thus created. With the intention to study the phenomenon of experiential design through the conceptual dimension behind its practice as well as its final result, the methodological strategy adopted in this research rely on semi-structured interviews conducted with professionals, whose practice is based on experiential design, and on the direct observation of three known experiential commercial projects. The outcome of this research and the results obtained from the field study will clarify the existence of a design process that is specific to this practice and the presence of founding concepts, instead of identifying elements of interior design that are specific to the creation of commercial environments. It appeared clearly during the study that this process and the desire to implement a strong communication strategy seem to be more important when comes the time to define and understand experiential design and its practice than the attributes of the retail space as such.

The general body of academic knowledge on the commercial development of smaller towns is in its infancy. Yet its inherent potential is well perceived from a development and market perspective. Shopping centre development could have an important function in getting products and services to the marketplace in an economical way. Furthermore, it could have a very significant socio-economic impact in the central business district (CBD). Although such a shopping centre will surely create new businesses, employment and production opportunities for local businesses it is of importance to first determine the financial viability and impact of the new development on existing businesses. Developers and researchers often approach the subject of shopping centre development from different perspectives. The research output is often of limited impact as the critical link between demographical analysis and financial viability is not made. Researchers are usually excluded from the physical establishment, rental structures, tenant mix, design, cost of construction, return on investment, funding and future management of the proposed new shopping centre project. Linking demographic assessment and financial viability is a critical output of this study. Bethlehem and its district are quite unique in a number of ways, especially regarding the presence of a large farming community. Bethlehem provides goods and services to residents of Bethlehem, Clarens, Kestell, Harrismith, Heilbron, Paul Roux, Petrus Steyn, Reitz, Senekal and Warden. The main shopping activity occurs in the CBD of Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. Bethlehem only has one major shopping centre (the Metropolitan Centre) that provides goods and services for the people in the surrounding area. This causes an over concentration in the CBD and too much traffic in an already limited space. There is a high need for Bethlehem to provide a bigger shopping centre for the citizens of the town, as well as the surrounding areas. This study investigates the need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and will determine whether a new shopping centre will be viable within the area The empirical study revealed that approximately half of the respondents are not satisfied with the current shopping centres in Bethlehem. A greater amount of respondents felt that the shopping centres do not offer enough parking. The study revealed that, from a consumer point of view, there is definitely a need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and that there is a gap of approximately 12 892m² GLA (Gross leasable area). However, this was determined before the opening of the new Dihlabeng Mall. The Dihlabeng Mall occupies 24 142m², therefore an oversupply is already taken place. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The general body of academic knowledge on the commercial development of smaller towns is in its infancy. Yet its inherent potential is well perceived from a development and market perspective. Shopping centre development could have an important function in getting products and services to the marketplace in an economical way. Furthermore, it could have a very significant socio-economic impact in the central business district (CBD). Although such a shopping centre will surely create new businesses, employment and production opportunities for local businesses it is of importance to first determine the financial viability and impact of the new development on existing businesses. Developers and researchers often approach the subject of shopping centre development from different perspectives. The research output is often of limited impact as the critical link between demographical analysis and financial viability is not made. Researchers are usually excluded from the physical establishment, rental structures, tenant mix, design, cost of construction, return on investment, funding and future management of the proposed new shopping centre project. Linking demographic assessment and financial viability is a critical output of this study. Bethlehem and its district are quite unique in a number of ways, especially regarding the presence of a large farming community. Bethlehem provides goods and services to residents of Bethlehem, Clarens, Kestell, Harrismith, Heilbron, Paul Roux, Petrus Steyn, Reitz, Senekal and Warden. The main shopping activity occurs in the CBD of Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. Bethlehem only has one major shopping centre (the Metropolitan Centre) that provides goods and services for the people in the surrounding area. This causes an over concentration in the CBD and too much traffic in an already limited space. There is a high need for Bethlehem to provide a bigger shopping centre for the citizens of the town, as well as the surrounding areas. This study investigates the need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and will determine whether a new shopping centre will be viable within the area The empirical study revealed that approximately half of the respondents are not satisfied with the current shopping centres in Bethlehem. A greater amount of respondents felt that the shopping centres do not offer enough parking. The study revealed that, from a consumer point of view, there is definitely a need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and that there is a gap of approximately 12 892m² GLA (Gross leasable area). However, this was determined before the opening of the new Dihlabeng Mall. The Dihlabeng Mall occupies 24 142m², therefore an oversupply is already taken place. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

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The subject of the diploma thesis is a project documentation of a multifunctional building within the scope of the implementing documentation. The main goal of the thesis is the design of the layout, construction and material solution, completed by design of the fire safety solutions and assessment in terms of building physics. The multifunctional building has one underground floor and nine above-ground floors. In the basement there are technical facilities of the building and a parking area, in the 1st floor there are business premises, in one part of the 2nd floor there is a gym and the remaining areas are used for administrative purposes as well as the entire 3rd to 9th floor. The construction system is designed as a reinforced concrete monolithic skeleton, completed by a reinforced concrete core. Ceiling structures are monolithic reinforced concrete locally supported slabs. The building is founded on the concrete slab placed on drilled shafts. The main element of the outer wall is curtain walling, which is made from a mullion-transom system.