ARCA Unlimited was commissioned to design the Vaalwater Oasis Shopping Centre as a catalyst in the community: to revitalise commercial and retail activity and create a hub where locals can interact and do their daily business. The centre had to cater for diverse tenants and provide space for social interaction. The centre is set back from the street, which minimises its imposing nature and provides the possibility for the later development of retail- and gathering areas. It sees both pedestrian and vehicular traffic and thus combines a sizeable parking lot with wide, covered walkways. Signage is placed on steel screens against a backdrop of plastered walls and steel detailing. The olive green of the developer is complemented by a neutral charcoal palette; allowing the Vaalwater Oasis Shopping Centre to blend with its natural surrounds.