The heart of the Village Walk development will be the pedestrian walkway linking The Village to the Club Precinct, enabling easier and more fluid movement between the two hubs while providing a unique attraction in the form of restaurants and boutique retail stores along the way.

The new development will create both a conceptual and a physical link between the rustic and organic Village feel and the more structured Club Precinct, notes Charles-Louis Herbst, Atterbury’s development manager for Village Walk.

The Village, The Club retail Centre, Die Klubhuis and Club One office buildings, The Club Surgical Centre and the Advocate Chambers collectively form part of what is known as the Old East Precinct.

The newest addition to this precinct, Village Walk, will also provide much-needed additional structured parking. The link will make it safer for the public to park in a secure area with easy access to both The Village and The Club.

Village Walk is inspired by the character of the Old East Precinct, which combines the best of urban and suburban life with unique charm, giving communities a ‘village’ feel within an urban setting.

“The guiding philosophy is one of creating a design and mix of tenants unique to the feel that The Old East precinct provides, setting it apart from conventional offerings,” says Herbst.

The design strives to link the Village and Club precincts, but at the same time to be its own particular offering which blends inspirations from the two. The resulting aesthetic is a blend of modern, rustic, vintage, and industrial designs, expressed through a combination of different materials such as exposed brickwork, metal sheeting, stone walls, wood paneling and open truss roof designs. At street level, this is integrated with hard and soft landscaping along the route to soften the lines of the buildings.

As Village Walk is essentially about its public space, the public experience of the linking walkway will be enhanced by means of seating areas, courtyards between the buildings, and public art. Rhino sculptures, by Angus Taylor, will be placed in the main courtyard as one of the key focal points.

Many of the retail offerings will be local, trendy brands with unique product offerings and business growth potential. “Several of these tenants are young entrepreneurs with visions to grow and build their businesses,” says Herbst.

“Once the precincts are connected, the Village, Village Walk and The Club will reinforce its position as one of the most attractive mixed-use precincts in Pretoria with its unique location, design, and offerings. The added parking and ease of access will further boost its appeal as a destination.”

Construction on Village Walk commenced in February this year. Fit outs are scheduled to start for the restaurants in August 2023, with retail stores following thereafter. Completion and the commencement of trade are expected by mid-November 2023.