Page 20 - RLI February 2019

ASIA NEWS

MAJID AL FUTTAIM TO LAUNCH FIRST FORAY CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON
INTO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS CHANGCHUN CR CENTER SINGAPORE ADDS THE ALLEY
Taiwanese bubble-tea chain The Alley is to open
its first outlet in Singapore. Established in 2013,
UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping The globally renowned architecture firm The Alley is well-known for its brown sugar
mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across Goettsch Partners (GP), has announced the tapioca (Deerioca) milk tea served in cups with
the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has announced that start of construction for the Changchun CR round bases. The chain has outlets in Canada,
it will provide design and development consultancy Center, a major mixed-use complex which US, France, Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong,
services for the world’s largest indoor snow and ski will feature a striking 300m (980ft) tower Australia and Thailand among others.
resort, Wintastar Shanghai, led by Singapore’s SGX in Changchun, the capital city of China’s
Catalist-listed purveyor of luxury lifestyle, real estate northeastern Jilin Province.
and hospitality, KOP Limited. Plans for the 34,000sq m development NEW CONCEPT IN KOWLOON
The project, which will be managed by Majid Al in Changchun comprise multiple towers, World’s first Chocolate convenience store
Futtaim’s Leisure & Entertainment business marks including office space, high-end residential ChoConveni has opened in Hong Kong’s
the company’s first foray in the international market units, and fully furnished serviced apartments, Harbour City. The store, designed by local visual
outside of the MENA region and represents its maiden while the Changchun CR Center will be artist Rex Koo, offers a global range of chocolates
indoor snow entertainment venture in China. anchored by an innovative, 1.8 million square as well as chocolate cookies, desserts, liquors
Wintastar Shanghai’s 90,000sq m ski and snow foot retail and entertainment complex. and milk drinks.
park will feature three ski slopes of varying gradients, CR Land will occupy the 63-storey, 1.5
including a slope of Olympic standard for training. For million square foot office tower with its
non-skiers, there will be 25 snow play attractions. own regional headquarters, with direct COSMETICS BRAND TO EXPAND
connection to the subway. The Body Shop India is planning to open 20 new
stores this year, according to the brand’s GM for
DESIGN ORCHARD HAS A WORLD FIRST CAFE retail in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Vishal
OPENED ITS DOORS OPENS AT HKIA SYBARITE DESIGNS SECOND Chaturvedi. The Body Shop India has built a niche
CONCEPT STORE FOR SKP for itself in a market with a growing consumer
awareness of sustainability and naturality.
Design Orchard mall last month opened to the public, hosting 61 The world’s first Bite & Bite with Line Friends cafe has opened at
homegrown labels. Hong Kong International Airport. Operated by food and beverage SKP Xi’an is luxury retail operator SKP’s walnut shelves that frame the bookstore,
The new Orchard Road mall, a joint venture between the company SSP Hong Kong, the cafe is located on level 7 near second luxury department store in China as well as all furniture, including a series JYSK LAUNCHES IN THAILAND
Singapore Tourism Board (STB), JTC Corporation and Enterprise gate 201. following the success of SKP Beijing which of coloured anodized aluminium drum- Scandinavian furniture retailer JYSK has opened
Singapore, is conceived of as a home and exhibition space for local The cafe combines original Line Friends characters with a opened in 2017 and has since been ranked shaped tables in various heights that create the first of six stores in Thailand as it looks to
design work. It features a 9,000sq ft first-floor retail showcase, variety of dishes ranging from breakfasts through to snacks and number two in the world by revenue. a grouping and narrative for products. launch 30 branches in the country over the next
second floor incubation spaces, and a rooftop events area. The first dinner fare in a 60-seat dining area. The menu features both The store totals 250,000sq m across 20 The two Rendez-Vous floors are linked by five years. The store is in the brand’s smaller
level is currently leased to local retailer Naiise. Korean and western food. The cafe also sells lifestyle products, storeys and houses all global luxury retail a grand staircase that has been designed to “city” format and is situated in a shopping centre
Featured supports for local designers include co-working spaces souvenirs and travel items. brands as well as an extensive range of feel welcoming, incorporating intimate areas in Ratchapruk in the capital city of Bangkok.
provided by Taff – equipped with professional sewing equipment, a Line, a chat program owned by South Korea’s Naver carefully curated domestic brands. within it to read as well as delicate planting
fabric library and collaboration and networking opportunities with Corporation, has opened Line Friends stores in Bangkok, Hong Materials used within Rendez-Vous at to create an area of calm. A dramatic cluster
industry players – and a mentorship program from Naiise covering Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo, Taipei, New York and Los Angeles, SKP Beijing have been carried through to of lights designed by Sybarite creates a HONG KONG LANDS WHSMITH
marketing and merchandising. selling memorabilia featuring the characters of software. the Rendez-Vous store in Xi’an to create sculptural installation within the centre of WHSmith is poised to make its mark in Hong
a distinctive brand image. Sybarite sourced the staircase. Kong after striking a new franchise partnership for
marble from a quarry in naturally occurring Torquil McIntosh, Co-Founder of Sybarite its international travel retail arm. The partnership,
light and dark tones of grey for the floor said: “You find you really want to use it in with the King Power Group, will enable the book
and columns to form the basis of a simple order to explore. The staircase, flanked and stationary retailer to develop its brands and
material palette that instills warmth and with books and with incredible views of the concepts across Hong Kong as part of plans to
makes each area of the concept feel intimate. old wall of Xi’an, takes you on an inviting grow its presence in Asia.
Sybarite designed black lacquered steel and journey from one floor to another.”

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