Malak shops up for face changing renovation

A modest renovation to a northern suburbs shopping centre will transform a 1980s ugly duckling into a modern office, retail and entertainment hub. Find out more.

A modest renovation to a northern suburbs shopping centre will transform a 1980s ugly duckling into a modern office, retail and entertainment hub.

Owners Yap Property Investments have lodged an application from One Planning Consult to refurb Malak shopping centre, an early 1980s development that serves hundreds of shoppers daily in Darwin’s northern suburbs.

Developed on 5530m2 in a commercial zone, the estimated $2m redevelopment seeks to alter parts of the ground, first and second floor, which will decrease carparking at the centre by more than five per cent of the previous planning approval issued last year.

Malak shopping centre on Wednesday. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The application said the proposed addition of office floor takes place within an established commercial precinct that delivers a mix of services to surrounding suburbs including Malak, Wulagi, Anula and Marrara.

The application said the precinct would be a mix of “office type use to leisure and recreation with different carparking demands throughout the day”.

“The proposed refurbishment to the facade of the building will activate part of the frontage to the building which is currently visually dominated by an extensive access ramp structure.

“The proposed building design incorporates use of appropriate energy rated glazing to minimise heat absorption through wall surfaces. The proposed changes entail use of glazing and slatting of facade in order to break the appearance of building mass relative to its surroundings.

Malak shops after the proposed renovation.

“The proposed development entails new facade treatment to the existing building to enhance the streetscape.”

The Malak precinct site is unique as it takes frontage to three streets – Chambers Crescent, Malak Place and Malak Crescent – with widths ranging from 30m to 40m wide.

“The site accommodates a range of commercial services and provides options for employment within an established residential neighbourhood where people can live and work,” the application said.

“The development will encourage walkability due to its proximity to residential developments. The existing road reserves provide adequate buffer from nearby residential developments.”

Submissions to the Development Consent Authority close at midnight on Friday August 2.

Originally published as Malak shops up for face changing renovation