Page 61 - RLI April 2019

SPACE, PLACE, The 2019 edition of the ICSC European Conference & Exhibition will be the

44th, and it is being held, like last year, at the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I in

AND THE FUTURE two days of meetings and networking for international delegates. Ahead of the
Barcelona, Spain. The event takes place next month over the 10-11 April for

OF RETAIL ICSC’ flagship event, RLI takes this opportunity to highlight some of the key
points of the event and zoom in on some of the landmark retail and leisure

developments across the European continent.

CASCINA MERLATA MALL, Milan, Italy
Developer: Falcon Malls

ICSC Europe

he European Conference & Exhibition combines in the majority of Western European countries. Increased the local retail offer, and will transform Verviers into a cross- Investments, will be located on four levels, two of which are
the idea exchange of ICSC’s European activity was recorded in only a handful of markets (Spain, border shopping destination. It will offer a comprehensive ground levels due to the natural elevation of the terrain, on
Conference with its innovative exhibition. Portugal, Finland and Denmark), supported by an improved and diverse range of shops by introducing major national and a total leasable area of 40,000sq m, thus claiming a prime
TDelegates who attend in Barcelona can expect to economic backdrop, urbanization and growing tourism. international brands mostly absent in the Verviers area up to position as the second biggest shopping centre out of Sofia
expand their individual network, be inspired, share practical Shopping centre development also slowed in Central and now. Some 1,100 underground parking spaces will allow easy and the biggest newly constructed mall. In addition, it will
insights and capitalise on retail trends to grow their business. Eastern Europe, where annual completions declined by 23 access to the five million expected visitors per year. have three underground levels for parking with 1,300 places.
This latest ICSC event will bring together over 1,000 per cent. Delta Planet Mall in Varna, the newest big shopping and Opened last October in Estonia, T1 by developer Pro Kapital,
leaders from more than 50 countries, covering sectors from Following the fall in development in 2017, the level of entertainment centre in Bulgaria has opened its doors. is a new-generation shopping and entertainment centre and
retail, real estate, investment, F&B and proptech, everything completions is expected to remain unchanged in 2018 and Launched on 28 March, Delta Planet Mall is based on the the newest and largest regional shopping centre in Tallinn. The
and everyone attendees will need to know in one great the 2018/19 development pipeline with 6.6 million square newly developed concept of retailtainment – a combination shopping and entertainment centre has 52,000sq m of space
place over two days. metres currently under construction is in line with the two of shopping experiences, interactive interior and large inte- on four levels – three floors of shopping with more than 200
Much more than just commercial entities, successful years forecast, 12 months ago. grated entertainment zones (more than 4,000sq m), which shops and an entertainment level never seen before. The latter’s
shopping centres and retailers help build communities, fuel The development of technology, changing consumer will ensure the customers’ immersive experience as well as 11,500sq m of space features restaurants, a multiplex, trampoline
local economies and inspire innovation. To guarantee their behaviour and the growth of e-commerce has created a prolonging dwell time and overall satisfaction. Delta Planet centre, an autodrome, adventure park, children’s birthday party
future in the retail real estate industry, shopping centres challenging environment but also opportunities for shopping Mall, which has been developed by Delta Real Estate & AP venues and a cafe with a Lottemaa (children’s book characters).
and stores must continually evolve to deliver an experience centre owners and retailers. Today’s shopping centres are
beyond the simple purchase of goods and services. very different from those which emerged twenty years ago
Ahead of the event, RLI has taken a look at a and they will need to continue evolving in order to stay CITYMALL vERvIERS, BELgIUM
Developer: City Mall
selection of the key projects that have recently relevant to the increasingly savvy and discerning consumer.
completed, or are currently under development
across Europe, take a look for yourself below… PROjECTS ACROSS EUROPE
In Verviers, a town in the east of Belgium and close to the
EUROPEAN SHOPPINg CENTRE OvERvIEw Dutch and German border, City Mall has the ambition to
Western Europe recorded a 23 per cent decrease in new build a shopping centre in the historical heart of the city. With
shopping centre completion in 2017, according to Cushman 27,000sq m of gross leasable area, accommodating over a
& Wakefield’s European Shopping Centre Development hundred shops and restaurants, the shopping centre that will
2018 report. A similar development trend has been seen be built on the banks of the Vesdre river is expected to boost

60 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2019