Blueprints for the Future

People around the globe are still trying to get back to normal after a period of time nobody has experienced before and the 26th edition of MAPIC will look to navigate retail towards a more ‘human’ world. This year’s three-day event will take place across 29 November – 1 December at its annual home of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.

Created in 1995, MAPIC is the leading global platform to build vibrant retail & urban destinations and MAPIC 2022 will bring together retail, food, leisure and technology communities under one roof.

RLI is once again proud to continue its Global Partnership for the sixteenth year of this landmark event and be at the heart of the action of this highly anticipated event and is set to once again have a prominent position throughout the show, with not only a presence in all the Delegate Bags but also visibility at each of the individual events, where RLI are exclusive partner, including the Franchise Summit and LeisurUp.

MAPIC, the landmark event of the retail real estate industry, will showcase the new face of the retail emerging from the Covid crisis. A rich programme of conference sessions and networking events will illustrate the deep transformation of the retail sector with views from top international experts and new market players that are disrupting the industry.

This year’s focus will take a deep dive in to the fundamental changes undergoing in Retail & Leisure. Consumers are driving these changes, becoming more conscious of the environment. Nowadays, buyers seek meaningful purchases and therefore businesses now need to be driven by a purpose that goes well beyond profit; a purpose that is rooted in community, the environment and society.

As MAPIC draws ever closer, RLI takes this chance to highlight a global selection of key projects that are laying the groundwork for the future of people and retail after a difficult few years.

“The entire retail industry has endured two of the most challenging years in the history, with many big transformations. Next generation retail will be about putting people and the planet first – the consumer is now looking for deeper meaning in what they do and what they buy, whilst businesses need to add a social role to have genuine social impact. MAPIC will emphasise the new ways of doing business, with more flexible models that will allow industry players to meet current customer needs.”

Francisco Pupillo – MAPIC Markets Director

Global Projects

Americas
A new mixed-use life science campus that includes housing and retail will be a welcome addition to Boston’s expanding lab market. JLL has secured $585M in financing for the construction of a 580,905sq ft development in Boston’s Allston neighbourhood. Allston LabWorks, located on 4.27 acres at 250, 280 and 305 Western Avenue, will be comprised of a life sciences, retail and multi-housing space. Once the project is complete, it will feature 534,000sq ft of lab space; 20,000sq ft of retail space; 35 multi-housing units, 26 per cent of which will be affordable. It will also include a 12,000sq ft public plaza with an additional 5,000sq ft landscaped open space and 668 garage parking spaces. JLL worked on behalf of the borrower, a joint venture between King Street Properties, Brookfield and Mugar Enterprises, to secure the four-year, floating-rate loan through an institutional debt fund. The JLL Capital Markets team representing the borrower was led by Managing Director Greg LaBine and Director Amy Lousararian.

With the launch of Rosewood São Paulo earlier this year, Cidade Matarazzo by developers Groupe Allard is now fully open and is a quiet, green refuge in the heart of the Paulista Avenue region, one of São Paulo’s most lively neighbourhoods. The charming village of historic, landmark buildings, designed in 1904 and being restored by developers Groupe Allard, is an unprecedented venture in Latin America’s largest economic and cultural capital. The unique destination is home to a 45,000sq m park (including the urban requalification project), a 135,000sq m building area, the 56,000sq m six-star hotel complex operated by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, a 10,000sq m House of Creativity, a 4,000sq m office building, a 28,500sq m retail village featuring 70 exclusive international brands, 34 restaurants that is capable of serving up to 15,000 meals a day and 2,200 parking spaces. To live in or visit Cidade Matarazzo allows one to revel in the serenity of an oasis while enjoying every bit of the glamour of Sao Paulo.

A project being designed by Chapman Taylor for its client Provalor is Parque Oeste. While it is still in the design concept stage, it will seemingly be an innovative, large-scale mixed-use project in Cali, a beautiful city in western Colombia near the foothills of the Cauca Valley. Located close to the university in the city centre, the scheme, which includes a shopping centre and offices, is designed and landscaped to merge seamlessly into its locality. Responding to the river and the natural, green environment that characterises much of the city, the architecture takes advantage of the terraced valley location and draws inspiration from the local, rocky
landscape as well as the city’s river. Chapman Taylor’s Madrid studio was appointed to provide architecture and interior design services for the 110,00sq m project, which includes a vibrant mix of uses, such as an office block, 186 retail units, a supermarket, a cinema, a children´s park and a food court alongside 5,000sq m of green spaces.

Distrito Armida is a new multi-phase mixed-use community in the upscale city of Monterrey, Mexico, masterplanned and designed by JERDE and developed by GM Capital. The first three phases of the project are clustered at the southern end of the site and provide the neighbourhood with office and residential towers, a hotel, retail and a wide array of public spaces for the community. The neighbourhood of San Pedro Garza Garcia stands somewhat separated from the city centre of Monterrey and is an upscale district for young professionals. Phase 1 was launched last year and features an iconic office tower atop a commercial podium full of shops, restaurants and outdoor spaces. The 20-floor office building – branded Torre Malva – a WeWork and a 170-key hotel are currently under construction. The commercial podium full of shops, restaurants and attractive outdoor spaces, will help activate Phase 1 beyond the typical workday.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) today announced Mill Creek Residential (MCR) as co-developer for the first phase of the landmark transformation of Westfield Garden State Plaza in Bergen County, New Jersey. Anticipated to break ground in 2024 and slated to open to residents in 2026, the first phase will include the construction of 550 luxury apartment homes that will be integrated with the shopping centre via a one-acre ‘green town’ for residents, visitors and shoppers to enjoy, as well as introduce a ‘main street’ outdoor district featuring restaurants and everyday conveniences and services. The development will also include significant community and sustainability features such as new parks and greenspaces, green building construction, upgraded connectivity to public transportation networks, electric vehicle charging stations and the restoration of a section of the beloved local Sprout Brook. Aligned with this vision, Garden State Plaza will be completely reimagined, with surface parking areas to the west of the shopping centre converted into modern luxury apartment homes, plazas, parks, gardens, health and wellness amenities, commercial office space, as well as a transit center – alongside new outdoor shops, restaurants and community event spaces. The centre will appeal to shoppers and residents alike: the perfect place to find the latest fashions, enjoy premier dining, socialise, take a walk or ride a bike, enjoy concerts and cultural festivals and so much more.

Asia

December last year saw the launch of CIFI Cmall by developer CIFI Group, with architectural work undertaken by LWK + PARTNERS. With a total volume of 260,000sq m, the development is located in Xiangcheng centre, Xindu District, Chengdu. As a new generation or urban sub centre, Xiangcheng centre occupies the position of the Chengbei development centre in the Urban Diamond layout. Since its opening, the popularity of the mall has continued to rise, laying down its position as an important commercial asset in Xindu and in Chengdu as well. The vision of the project was not only to provide local residents with a place for rest, but a place for entertainment and create a regional landmark commercial complex building. In addition, they wanted to convey a dynamic and upward sense, as well as a positive attitude towards life and an integrated environmental atmosphere. The core goal of LWK’s design was to establish and enhance the brand value for the owners.

Uzbekistan’s Silk Road Samarkand, billed as the largest tourism complex in central Asia, has opened its doors. The $580M resort is now welcoming visitors. Silk Road Samarkand covers an area of more than 260ha and it is home to cultural, dining, retail and wellness facilities. “Three years on from the commencement of works, with trepidation and pride, we are now on the threshold of the opening of the Silk Road Samarkand tourist centre,” says Silk Road Samarkand’s General Director Artyom Yegikyan. “I am sure this unique tourist complex will become a model of world-class hospitality for the entire central Asia. The opening of Silk Road Samarkand is a significant event not only for the people involved in its creation, but also for the country in general.” The resort features eight hotels with approximately 1,200 rooms, green areas with 30,000 trees and more than 238,000 shrubs, shopping facilities, wellness areas and an eco village. The project is being managed by the self-named company.

Developer Ingka Centers revealed earlier this year its Livat Kunming meeting place. The seventh meeting place in China in the company’s portfolio was created within the existing IKEA store, providing a 46,500sq m GLA space. Livat Kunming adapts traditional Scandinavian design values to create modern and functional space. The new destination offers a blend of cuisine, digital services and family-friendly experiences. The opening of Livat Kunming will also create around 3,000 jobs, providing a number of employment opportunities for the local community.

Amid much fanfare and spectacle, Sands China Ltd. launched the award-winning The Londoner® Macao integrated resort last year. The Londoner Macao is developer Sands China’s bold British-themed reimagining of the Sands® Cotai Central integrated resort, offering the best of British history and culture alongside a traditional yet contemporary hospitality experience. In addition to the Crystal Palace, the first-phase launch features new dining options, interactive London-themed attractions and the opening of The Londoner Hotel – an all-suite tower featuring approximately 600 luxury suites. Representing an investment of US$1.9bn, The Londoner Macao introduced additional integrated resort offerings progressively throughout 2021, including the Suites by David Beckham; Londoner Court, a luxury residential-style all-suite hotel; the re-themed Shoppes at Londoner retail mall which incorporates over 150 fashion and lifestyle boutiques and stores, from high street to haute couture and the Londoner Arena.

Snøhetta has unveiled the design for its largest project in Japan to date, a mixed-use development in Tokyo offering retail, a hotel and art and cultural experiences. The 117,000sq m Shibuya Upper West Project by developers Tokyu Group is located in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. Billed as the city’s newest ‘urban retreat’, it is scheduled for completion in 2027. “In such a well-known and historically significant area in one of the world’s most exciting cities, the project is paying homage to and respecting traditions as well as looking ahead,” said Robert Greenwood, Partner and Managing Director of Snøhetta Hong Kong. “We aim to design for the future and aspire to find the most sustainable solutions, contributing to Japan’s goal of being carbon-neutral by 2050.” The project will be developed in collaboration with the adjacent Bunkamara cultural complex, which promotes art and culture throughout Tokyo. According to a news release, the 36-storey building pays tribute to “the distant foothills of Mount Fuji”. Snøhetta plans to achieve the highest possible sustainability ratings for the Shibuya Upper West Project.

A game-changing retailtainment destination, 11 SKIES will be Hong Kong’s largest hub for retail, dining and entertainment and the first to combine wealth management and wellness services in one complete ecosystem. Opening in phases from 2022 to 2025 by New World Development, it is set to bring brand new experiences for consumption, entertainment and wellness services to everyone. 11 SKIES will bring together 3.8 million square feet gross floor area; 2.6 million square feet of retail space, encompassing over 800 shops and more than 120 dining concepts; 570,000sq ft of experience-based entertainment facilities including immersive, fun and interactive role-play learning experiences at KidZania and Grade-A office towers. Strategically located right next to the Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, 11 SKIES will benefit from a high volume of passengers who travel through Hong Kong International Airport, which recorded 71.5 million in 2019 and will become a centrepiece within the GBA ‘one-hour living circle’ and a gateway to the rest of the world.

Europe

Austria

SES is developing a multifunctional inner city quarter adjacent to the busy pedestrian zone in Lienz in East Tyrol. In addition to retail, services and gastronomy, the project also includes a hotel, the construction of which started in August 2022. The “harry’s home” Lienz as a 3* superior plus hotel will offer 85 rooms and 170 beds. Completion is planned for 2024. Part 2 of the inner city quarter is currently in the planning stage. The concept envisages an underground car park as well as retail and restaurant space on the ground floor. Various uses are currently being examined for the floors above in consultation with the city of Lienz. The Lienz shopping district is located directly on the B100, which connects Lienz with Carinthia, Salzburg, the Puster Valley, South Tyrol and Italy.

Belgium
The Gare Maritime in Brussels consists of the repurposing of a former rail freight terminal to create 30,000sq m of workspace, 10,000sq m retail space and 2,500sq m food-hall space, alongside a significant amount of public and events space. The former freight terminal is the centrepiece of the wider Tour & Taxis development with a focus on restoring original features alongside new architecture – the developer has created 12 pavilions from 10,000 cubic metres of timber, making it one of Europe’s largest cross-laminated timber projects. The combination of shopping, work, leisure activities, eating and drinking and public events across a heritage building with strong sustainability credentials, makes this scheme stand out in Brussels. The scheme has been developed by Nextensa.
TORG International will collaborate with Start Concept on leasing the first outlet in Brussels. Construction of the entire project is well advanced with an opening planned for late 2023 and the project will be called Tubize Outlet Mall. The 15,300sq m outlet will be located in the heart of Belgium, 25 minutes South West of the city of Brussels. It will be part of a new mixed-use neighbourhood development, the so-called “Confluents” including residential, leisure and diversified gastronomy. Located on a former industrial site of over 80ha, TOM will benefit from one of the most densely populated catchments in Europe with over seven million people living within 60 minutes as well as an above average purchasing power. It aims to attract visitors from Flanders, Wallon Brabant and Hainaut. On leasing the outlet, TORG International will collaborate with Start Concepts.

France

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has announced the full opening of the €500M redevelopment of Les Ateliers Gaîté in Paris, a sustainable mixed-use redevelopment. The project’s final phase, a 28,800sq m retail and lifestyle destination, has opened to the public. It joins residential properties, offices and a hotel on a 1.5ha site. “Les Ateliers Gaîté demonstrates our commitment to partnering with cities on major regeneration projects that meet the changing needs of an urban society,” said Jean-Marie Tritant, CEO of URW. He said the project is “a vibrant and people-centric mixed-use destination that makes a practical contribution to the lives of residents, workers and visitors in the Montparnasse neighbourhood.” Designed by Winy Maas and his architecture and urban planning firm MVRDV, Les Ateliers Gaîté is home to 60 retail outlets, entertainment facilities and F&B venues. Public services include a health centre and library. Since last November, it has featured a next-generation gaming attraction called Time Tripper. It also offers Food Society, a new food hall concept with 15 restaurants, two bars, a wine cellar and a gourmet shop.

Georgia
Tbilisi Outlet Village, located 30 minutes south-east of the capital of Georgia will be the first outlet at the crossroads of East and West when it opens in autumn 2023. Targeted to become the number one in Central and Eastern Europe, it will be a completely new shopping experience for Georgia, one that has no analogues in the region, a fusion of tradition and modernity. Consisting of 12,500sq m GLA and 70 units it will bring together well-known labels from Europe, the US and Georgia. Cross border travelling from Russia and Ukraine has been skyrocketing this year, adding significant purchasing power to the country. A strong gastronomic offer will be of particular focus given the country’s food culture and its 8,000 year-old history in winemaking. Phase 2 is scheduled to follow within the three years after the opening of phase 1 bringing the project to a total of 20,000sq m GLA and 110 units. The scheme is under development by Georgian Outlets & Resource Group & The Outlet Resource Group.

Germany

The largest city-centre project in Europe, Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier is set to become a new urban community hotspot. Encompassing a unique culture, leisure, entertainment and dining offer, it will feature a 10-screen flagship cinema, beauty and wellness centres, international and local restaurants, bars and cafés and the latest trends in entertainment technology. This mixed-use urban district will feature flexible offices with 360° views over HafenCity and the harbour, modern apartments with direct access to the waterfront, three hotels and a 200-store shopping centre offering the best local and international brands together with a wide range of services and digital innovations, for an enhanced customer journey. The shopping centre itself will span 80,500sq m of retail, leisure and restaurant space and it is set to open in 2023 by developers Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. The scheme will expand the Hamburg City metropolitan area by 40 per cent and the proportion of public and publicly accessible private open spaces is 38 per cent.
Technically a redevelopment but in effect a new scheme and with its first phase launched back in September, Owned by Brookfield Properties, The Playce, formerly Potsdamer Platz, will comprise 90 stores (due to open in 2023) in six blocks of themed areas, including food, technology, sport, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment. A complete redevelopment of the interior space and public realm (due to open in 2025) will be complemented by double and triple-height facades for new emblem stores Manifesto Market, a sustainable food hall, an eco-flagship for Peek & Cloppenburg and Mattel: Mission Play. Manifesto Market will span 4,400sq m, with over 750 seats on two floors, combining local gastro- entrepreneurs and artisans, as well as Michelin-starred chefs. P&C will open its eco megastore in Berlin in 2023.

Greece
Under construction by Athens-based firm Lamda Development, The Ellinikon Park is slated to be Europe’s greatest urban regeneration project and a large portion of the park is due for completion in 2025. One section – the Experience Park – is already open to the public after launching in December last year. Once completed, the larger than Hyde Park in London, two million square metre project along the Athenian Riviera will be able to handle over 500,000 visitors a day. A main attraction will be a 56m wide promenade connecting Vouliagmeni Avenue with the coastal front through The Ellinikon. Developers expect the park will have multiple benefits contributing to the improved standard of living, to the microclimate and the environment and serving as a main tourist attraction. Situated within the scheme will be the exquisite world of Riviera Galleria, with over 20,000sq m of deluxe shopping, exceptional dining and first-class entertainment space, the most premium retail scene in Greece will become the jewel of the Athenian Riviera attracting visitors from all over the world.

Hungary
Multi Corporation has completed the refurbishment of Allee Center in Budapest, enhancing the interior and exterior design, leading to an improved customer experience. The entire renovation cost amounted to almost 18 million euros, including a significant investment in sustainability to pave the way to carbon neutrality Allee Center is owned by Allianz, represented by Allianz Real Estate and an investor represented by CBRE Investment Management. The shopping centre is managed by Multi Corporation. The refurbishment works started in 2020 and continued during the pandemic. As a result of the refurbishment, Allee secured its leading position in Budapest. As part of the renovation, Allee’s food court has been extended and transformed. More space was created for additional restaurants and cafés to widen the food offering and the seating capacity was doubled. Three distinct seating areas with different atmospheres were created.

Italy

Nhood Services Italy became a service provider for the urban transformation project of Waterfront di Levante, located in Genoa. Due to the special architectural solutions made by Renzo Piano, Waterfront can be described as a low environmental impact project for the city. Nhood will be in charge of leasing in partnership with Realia, also responsible for future mall management. The main characteristics of the upcoming project under construction with a circular shape are: GLA of 28,000sq m and GBA of 55,000sq m. The project is in line with the company’s mission to create or regenerate living places at the service of citizens according to the city model of “15 minutes urban accessibility” to maximum of services. The entire study of the commercialisation project is functional to the transformation of this place as a space for living, meeting and socialising. On three levels, this mixed-use asset has been designed to host shops, restaurants, services, leisure and entertainment, with sports at the core. The interior layout was designed by the international architecture studio CallisonRKTL, partner of Nhood Services Italy in Merlata Bloom Milano in the heart of Milan’s new urban smart district.

Poland
Opened at the end of last year by developer Capital Park Group, the Norblin Factory covers a total area of over 65,000sq m, including 41,000sq m of modern A+ class offices and 24,000sq m adapted for entertainment, culture, food, retail and service space. The complex includes boutique cinema KinoGram, Poland’s first market with certified organic products BioBazar and the largest food court in Warsaw Food Town. New outlets opening or opened this year include the Apple Museum Poland, Poland’s first fully digital art gallery, Art Box Experience, the craft beer bar Uwaga Piwo, a Bang & Olufsen store, the Manufaktura Wisni and a W Kruk jewellery store. The complex will house a modern Orange Theory Fitness club, the new once.media Group, a Super-Pharm drugstore and pharmacy a Paris Optique store, as well as a Medicover Stomatologia dental care centre.

Romania

Launched back in May last year by developer FASHION HOUSE, the FASHION HOUSE Outlet Centre Pallady is situated near the A2 highway and the second outlet centre in the Romanian capital has direct access from the autoroute in a key location and attracts a catchment area of over three million people. The second FASHION HOUSE Outlet Centre in Bucharest, Pallady is being developed in two phases. Phase one opened with 8,700sq m this summer and the remaining 4,000sq m is set to follow at a later date. Costing €25M, FASHION HOUSE Outlet Centre Pallady accommodates over 60 stores and has restaurants and a children’s play area. The new outlet centre comprises open-air gallerias – a unique feature – with the shopping alleys inspired by a Belle Epoque style of Bucharest’s old city.
Iulius Group is launching a new investment in Cluj-Napoca: more than half a billion Euros for their urban regeneration project in Romania. The investment will transform the Carbochim industrial platform into a destination of the city in Cluj (Transylvania). The Carbochim factory will be relocated this year and upgraded. The new project includes the largest retail area in the country at 115,000sq m, a centre dedicated to performing arts and the largest underground parking lot in the country, with 6,000-plus parking spaces. The Carboshim industrial platform spans on approximately 14ha, with less than 30 per cent of the area currently utilised for manufacturing purposes, while the rest is either underused or residual. More than €5M will be invested in relocating, modernising and upgrading the production unit, without interruptions to its activity.

Slovakia

The construction of Eurovea’s expansion is in full swing. The shopping mall will be opening in April 2023 with a new design. The project is a clear symbol and indicator for the ongoing mixed-use trend. The development company J&T Real Estate has continued its implementation of the new Eurovea City neighbourhood on the Danube embankment in the modern centre of Bratislava, which is gradually expanding. As part of the expansion of the Eurovea project, not only will the popular shopping mall be expanding by next spring, ultimately offering over 85,000sq m of shops, services, entertainment and gastronomy, but there will also be two new office buildings Pribinova X and Y and the Eurovea Riverside block of flats. The first Slovak residential skyscraper called Eurovea Tower will be a new landmark on the Bratislava skyline. It has already risen to a height of 40 of the total planned 45 floors. The planned height is 168m.

Slovenia

The country’s first outlet shopping village is coming next year by developer HG Invest in cooperation with FOC Retail Service and Outlet Evolution Services. On an area of more than 20,000sq m, 70 shops and several hundred new jobs will be created in two phases. Its first phase will be opened in 2023, phase two is scheduled for 2026. The Fashion Outlet Slovenia will be located directly next to the motorway exit for Šentilj on the Austrian border in the north-east of Slovenia. It is only 30 driving minutes south of Graz, the second largest city of Austria. The village atmosphere incorporates modern and typical regional elements of Slovenian construction style and architecture. The category mix is based on international experience and will mostly include fashion brands. A broader brand mix will be completed by segments in outdoor, shoes & accessories, home and kids wear. The catchment has 2.25 million residents and includes the cities of Graz and Maribor, as well as the centre of the Austrian thermal baths area, with approximately 13 million overnight stays and those of Slovenia with approximately 16 million yearly overnight stays. The nearby Šentilj casino resort offers entertainment and overnight accommodation for 400,000 visitors per annum.

Spain

VIA Outlets – the leading owner-operator in redefining the outlet shopping experience with a portfolio of eleven premium outlet centres in nine European countries – announces a 17.5 million euros expansion programme for its Sevilla Fashion Outlet, the first Premium outlet shopping destination in Seville, creating 150 new jobs for the local community whilst contributing to the economic growth of the region. Due for completion in the last quarter of 2023, the shopping destination is poised to become Andalusia’s new landmark premium shopping offer. The outlet shopping destination will grow both in size and services with an increase of close to 20 per cent in gross leasable area, reaching 18,396.6sq m and the creation of 17 new spaces to host a total of 80 stores in the entire centre. The extension will allow the entry of large national and international fashion brands and a completely new hospitality offer. To accommodate the expected increase in clientèle, the parking had some recent renovations to increase capacity by 80 per cent.

Sweden

Malmö Designer Village will be an exemplary outlet destination for Europe, combining an appealing mix of premium international and new-to-market brands in a high-quality environment for an enticing consumer experience never before seen in outlets in Scandinavia. Upon completion of Phase 1 in summer 2025, Malmö Designer Village will be one of Scandinavia’s largest shopping destinations and with the opening of Phase 2 in autumn 2027, it will rank in the top 25 per cent of outlet centres across Europe for visitor numbers. As the first scheme of its kind in the region, it is already generating a strong response from top-tier brands, who are attracted to its prime catchment and superior customer experience vision. In addition to premium shopping, Malmö Designer Village will include a varied food and beverage offer, landscaped gardens, kids play areas and dedicated areas for physical exercise, making it an all-day destination for the entire family. Rioja Estates, pioneers of the outlet retail sector, will be delivering the project with leasing support from advisors TORG International and KLM. Malmö Designer Village will also offer a transactional website enabling visitors to shop online or comfortably browse product ranges and in-store availability from home before travelling.

UK
Opened back in 1998, Trafford Centre has become the go-to shopping destination in the North of England thanks to its fantastic mix of high street favourites alongside affordable luxury brands. The centre continues to hold a unique appeal as its spectacular design, both inside and out, has made it one of the most Instagrammable shopping centres in Europe. The recent Dyson store unveiling has been a huge success and the Trafford Centre is only its second ever UK Demo store. H&M also chose Trafford Centre for its ‘first-of-its-kind’ new store concept, featuring an open façade with the introduction of a huge H&M Home, which has been enormously popular with shoppers. The Trafford Centre has recently appointed Pradera Lateral as Asset Managers and they will be taking the scheme forward in the years to come.

Battersea might be the last of the great UK shopping centres to open, if it is, it would be quite a scheme to end on. The power station opened on 14 October and is a modern mix of over 100 stores, dining, leisure, medical, wellness, co-working and offices. The original control rooms in both the 1930s and 1950s sides are being retailed to serve as cool dining/drinking locations and the architecture unsurprisingly, is the star. The power station is at the heart of a much wider redevelopment of the south west London site, with several stages of its residential and convenience retail and leisure plans already complete and a new London Underground station open. However, the iconic power station will inevitably be the standout. Control Room B, built in the 1950s and featuring stainless-steel control panels arranged in an arc is now a fashionable bar. Brands including Ray-Ban, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, The Kooples, Aesop and Calvin Klein opened among more than 100 shops, bars and restaurants, 254 apartments, office space as well as a leisure offering that includes the Chimney Lift experience. Developed by Battersea Power Station Development Company, the scheme is also home to a new six-acre riverfront that is open to the public.

Opening in 2024, Grantham Designer Outlet Village will be the premium new outlet shopping destination for the East of England, with Phase 1 comprising up to 90 top-tier retailers, restaurants and attractive coffee shops and Phase 2 bringing the total number of stores to 137 in 2025. This responds to the high demand for space: almost 30 per cent of the available footage is already committed, with a mix of popular brands similar to that of Rioja Estates’ previous development, Designer Outlet West Midlands in Cannock. The scheme will have social and environmental sustainability at its core; in addition to being awarded the BREEAM ‘Very Good’ certificate for sustainability in its design, the Designer Outlet promises to bring £100M in direct investment and create more than 1,500 permanent jobs when it opens, creating opportunities for local people and businesses. The project is being delivered by Rioja Estates, pioneers of the outlet retail sector, with leasing support from advisors TORG International and KLM. Complementing the in-store experience, it will also be the first outlet in the UK to offer a transactional website, enabling visitors to shop online as well as browse available products before travelling.

Middle East & North Africa

Designed and developed by DAMAC Properties as their flagship community mall, DAMAC Ventura is a bold new venture into retail in DAMAC Hills 1. This is a master community with 10,000 high profile residents that curates a one-of-a-kind living experience. DAMAC Ventura is conveniently located on Hessa Street and offers a well-thought mix that includes a large supermarket, premium service brands and leisure and F&B offerings. The mall will be 15,615sq m in size with a GLA of 9,940sq m over two levels, feature 38 retail outlets in total along with 300 car parking spaces. The upcoming mall is set to open its doors in March 2023.

Al Khiran, the region’s first hybrid outlet mall is set to open in Q2 2023 and it will serve to meet heightened shopper expectation by offering a combination of high value and dynamic experiences through a mix of premium outlet shopping, unique dining options, cutting-edge entertainment and recreational leisure experiences like Kuwait’s largest marina with 900 berths, a 70,000sq m boardwalk, 1.25km walking track and outdoor gardens with an amphitheatre for year-long events. Additional features that are currently being planned before opening will include multipurpose sports facilities and a resort hotel. Under development by Tamdeen, the upcoming outlet mall will soon be the main commercial centre in the South of Kuwait serving as the Central Business District of the area.

New CGIs of the Knowledge Entertainment City Hub bring to life how this 392,000sq m mixed-use district in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, will undoubtedly become one of the top visitor destinations in the world. Knowledge Economic City (KEC) Hub is an exciting and dynamic urban district offering the largest and most diverse shopping, dining and entertainment venue as part of the wider masterplan, for this globally significant pilgrimage destination. Located just six kilometres from the Phophet’s Mosque and easily accessible from the Haramain high-speed railway station, the development’s 129,000sq m shopping and entertainment centre includes a series of glass-covered atria and streets containing a range of shops, restaurants, cafes, a cinema, family entertainment centres and a wellness clinic. A vibrant, open-air restaurant boulevard provides a pedestrianised, family-friendly dining experience and a central civic square will provide spaces for events and relaxation, shops, restaurants and cafés. KEC Hub also delivers a 350-key, 5-Star hotel and 65 branded residences for the Hilton brand. The design concept for KEC Hub by Chapman Taylor was inspired by the charm and character of the traditional arabesque architectural style of the region. The construction of this socially and economically significant development began in 2021, with the scheme to be completed in mid-2024.

Solitaire by developers Al-Marqab Investment Company is set to be Riyadh’s newest multi-use lifestyle destination and will consist of three aboveground levels of retail, food and beverage, entertainment, wellness and sport offerings and three levels of basement parking. Within the city of Riyadh, Solitaire occupies a 60,000sq m area bordered by King Abdulaziz Rd, Al Imam Saud Ibn Faisal Road and Al Thumamah Road. Directly opposite is the Kingdom Hospital and views to the south reveal the prestigious King Abdullah Financial District, affirming this prime location within the city. The North Ring Road is just 2km away, making the asset easily accessible from Riyadh’s outer suburbs. As a multi-use lifestyle destination with design work by Benoy, Solitaire’s focus is on providing a unique, 360° lifestyle offering encompassing the key areas of retail, dining, entertainment, wellness and sport.

Festival Avenue, the new expansion of Cairo Festival city mall being developed by Al-Futtaim Real Estate Group, will redefine the Egyptian retail market with an unparalleled shopping and lifestyle experience. Spanning over 45,000sq m, Festival Avenue will soon take Cairo Festival City Mall’s unique experience to the next level of luxury and fashion. Set to the be Cairo’s ultimate fashion forward destination welcoming international renowned brands, this top-of-the-line extension will open its doors to a variety of 80 first-to-market luxury fashion & jewellery brands that will call Festival Avenue their first address in Egypt. Festival Avenue will also offer an entertainment destination for all ages and an assortment of international restaurants with indoor and alfresco dining experience.

As part of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) is transforming Diriyah into what will become the world’s largest cultural and heritage destination. Located 15 minutes from Riyadh, Diriyah will become the world’s largest cultural and lifestyle mud city. Celebrating 300 years of Saudi Arabian history and heritage, Diriyah is destined to become a world-class lifestyle destination with Saudi’s greatest collection of museums and cultural attractions, luxury international hotels and resorts and luxury retail, leisure and dining experiences. Built in the fifteenth century and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, it was here that Diriyah’s ruling family lived under the leadership of Imam Mohammad bin Saud, the forefather of Saudi Arabia’s current King, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. A SAR 65bn cultural and lifestyle development, inspired by the timeless Najdi architecture of At-Turaif, Diriyah is the ancestral home of the Royal Family of Al Saud, the birthplace of the Kingdom. On completion, Diriyah will become Saudi’s premier lifestyle destination to visit, live, work, shop, dine and celebrate the wonder of the Kingdom’s rich heritage and culture.