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Solitaire, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
banks of the Huangpu River also opened with Genting Singapore, the company
DESIGN PROFILE - BENOY its doors. Commissioned to deliver the will create an unparalleled and world-
class luxury lifestyle destination deeply
interior design and retail planning of the
project’s boutique shopping mall and office rooted in biophilia and sustainable design,
complex, central to Benoy’s vision was a with the waterfront development set to
cutting-edge, multi-purpose experience become one of the world’s leading leisure
centre, highlighting the distinctive design and lifestyle destinations.
and functionality of the mixed-use complex. People recognise Benoy as architectural
“To bring this concept to life, the team designers at heart, with creativity at the centre
developed a comprehensive spatial design of everything they do. What people may not
and soft furnishings plan tailored to user immediately recognise is that they know how
needs. Based on this concept, the team to create places in ways that deliver value for
integrated four different themes inspired clients. Their biggest innovation in recent
by traditional Chinese design techniques. times has been the addition of Pragma and
Each theme employs a blend of light and through this symbiotic relationship of Pragma
colour to evoke a different experience. For + Benoy, they have carved out a unique,
instance, one theme involves a one-way forward-looking proposition of data and
thoroughfare enveloped by an array of design, using data to enhance their processes
visual elements, offering a unique sensory and validate their creative decisions.
journey while maintaining smooth foot “We also provide high levels of design
traffic flow,” Cartledge highlights. verification and augmented reality, our use of
Looking forward, one of their most state-of-the-art technology means we work
exciting upcoming projects is Resorts fluently with BIM environments, generating
World Sentosa in Singapore. Partnering real-time simulations as our designs evolve.

uilding on their strong retail heritage, Designing Memorable We deliver innovative products that
balance creativity with financial returns and
Bthe last few years has seen an shareholder benefits,” adds Cartledge.
evolution at Benoy, who have grown to As we move the topic of conversation
become an integrated team of creative Experiences onto sustainability, the CEO explains
specialists, partnered with data experts in that, as designers, Benoy feel they have a
its sister company Pragma. responsibility to their clients, communities
Working across multiple sectors and A leading data-driven design company that operates in the Americas, and future generations to create solutions
geographies, they blend art and science Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Benoy specialises in architecture, for a hotter and wetter climate and critically
as well as creativity and commerciality masterplanning, interior design, branded environments and landscape. Here, that help reverse the climate emergency.
through a full range of design services that He says that it is primarily the decisions
are backed up by data, insights and analysis. RLI spends some time with CEO Tom Cartledge to learn more about their they take at the inception of the design
“Our key point of difference has to be our recent work across the world and what drives their continuing success. process that have profound implications for
77-years of experience as retail place makers embodied and operational carbon. Today
– it is in our DNA and as relevant today as An example of this is the Bujairi series of wind towers that aim to create a they go forward with a renewed optimism
ever before,” explains Tom Cartledge, CEO Terrace in Riyadh, Saudi comfortable outdoor environment by using as their designers work in tandem with their
of Benoy. “Whether it is an airport, a town Arabia which is set in a passive cooling technology. technology leads, exploring the application
centre, a mixed-use project, a stadium or a unique location, adjacent Outside of the Middle East, the of new tools to provide real-time data and
city, we continue to draw inspiration from to the UNESCO world Royalmount project opened earlier this Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore inform better design decision to help them
Image courtesy of Resorts World Sentosa
over seven decades of award-winning heritage site of At-Turaif. year in Canada, an 86,000sq m scheme meet the sustainability challenge.
design combined with commercial space Following authentic Najdi- that is the largest private development Driven by an ambition to be a modern,
planning for today’s consumers. Designing style architecture, the in Quebec. As the lead architect, the Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia future-focused and multi-cultural company
retail places has taught us the art of creating scheme delivers a mixed-use business was tasked with creating a vision and built on the firm foundations of
economically successful, socially inclusive retail and F&B led destination, for a significant mixed-use development family ownership, Benoy combines legacy
and now, environmentally sustainable places with culture at its heart. Comprising on a large, well-positioned, brownfield with fresh ideas and innovation and offer
– those rules apply across any places where more than 27 F&B units set in a lush landscape, site. With retail, leisure, hospitality, office analytical and design services under one
people come together.” Benoy has provided both an indoor and and residential developments, the space is roof, with the reassurance of a brand that
In addition, Tom highlights the important outdoor dining experience. An additional creating a new urban destination in the city. is trusted around the world.
appointment of Simon Forster, ex-CEO leisure and entertainment programme with “Featuring 170 stores including 60 “Few firms have so many creative studios
of Selfridges, who will bring further retail outdoor cinema, family entertainment centre restaurants and cafes, the retail offer globally under single ownership, operating
and consumer experience to the business. (FEC), spa, two galleries, a cultural centre and includes 50 per cent new-to-market as one company across all continents. This
As Director of Retail Futures, Simon will associated public facilities form part of the concepts and the largest concentration of model ensures consistency of quality and
work to develop new concepts and ideas overall Bujairi Terrace experience. luxury flagship stores in the province. The approach. Wherever in the world that
in collaboration with their placemaking and A scheme of Benoy’s which is due scheme is also home to a 77,000sq ft urban may be, our clients are guaranteed the
development clients around the world. for completion this year is Solitaire. park and public art trail, featuring more same level of expertise, enhanced by local
Discussing how proud he is of their Currently their largest on-site project in than 60 art installations from local and knowledge and cultural insight. There has
work in recent years, Cartledge highlights the Middle East, the company is delivering international artists,” Cartledge comments. never been a more exciting time to be
that they have been privileged to work masterplanning, architecture, landscape Meanwhile in China the Shanghai Expo solving our clients’ problems and creating
with some of the most innovative owners design and interior design across 6,500sq m. Place, a mixed-use complex located in the value,” Cartledge concludes.
and developers in the world. Their sustainable design strategy includes a heart of the World Expo site along the www.benoy.com

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