MAPIC Italy – Rebuilding Retail

The last two years have been a tumultuous time for the retail and property industries, and it has seen an acceleration in the changes of consumer habits. The MAPIC Italy 2022 event will take place on 18-19 May at Superstudio Maxi in Milan, and will assist attendees in building connections with the most relevant players from the retail, food and leisure communities. Over the next few pages RLI will take a closer look at the Italian market and highlight some of the key schemes that are being presented at the event.

Over the two days of MAPIC Italy 2022, retailers, leisure operators, restaurant chains, shopping centres developers & owners will connect to expand and develop their business in Italy. This will be an unmissable trade show for property players and retailers looking to build the perfect retail mix and to create complete lifestyle destinations.

The topic of the event is ‘People, Planet, Profit: Navigating retail towards a more “human” world’ and the sixth edition will provide tailored solutions to help visitors respond to the new demands and challenges in the retail, leisure and F&B sectors. Guests will be able to discover the best property projects in Italy and network with leading industry leaders. From shopping malls & high street locations to factory outlets or transit hubs, attendees will discover the properties available in prime or secondary locations throughout Italy. Over the next pages, RLI will delve a little deeper into those schemes that are putting Italy back on the map.

Projects Across Italy
A 1,572sq m extension and redevelopment project in Campi Bisenzio, Florence in December 2020 saw the inauguration of the Cammin de’ Gigli, a pedestrian link between the two restaurant plazas on the first floor, Corte Tonda and Corte Lunga. In addition to new services for the public, including a beauty centre, a barber shop and a co-working area, there are four restaurant kiosks and a large Jurassic-themed “Giglisauri” kids area. A project of great architectural and functional value, the renovation was undertaken by Eurocommercial Properties and aimed to increase the attractiveness of the shopping centre thanks to, amongst many things, the integration of different services and entertainment functions.

Opened in 2020 in Rome and a Highly Commended winner at the Global RLI Awards 2021, Maximo Shopping Center is owned by Parsec 6 SPA, with architectural and design works undertaken by 3C + t Capolei Cavalli Architetti Associati and Design International respectively, Maximo is a new shopping and leisure destination in Rome. It has been designed with a layout suited to the changing shopper and leisure of needs. It has a consistent offer in line with the competitive context and the consumer trends, a distinctive tenant mix, a prestigious architectural structure with great visual impact and a strong, recognisable identity. The project features over 65,000sq m of GLA distributed over three levels and 160 points of sale, including shops, restaurants and activities related to entertainment. Inside the Maximo, there are 38 restaurants with a path dedicated to street food, bars, cafés, wine bars, 17 craft businesses and the renowned Primark store which recently opened.

Launched in autumn last year at the Torino Porta Nuova Station, the new food hall in the station is characterised by a great attention to design and elegance, energy saving and sustainability. Developed by Grandi Stazioni Retail, the area hosts a diversified food offer, with 13 new restaurants to suit all tastes and for every moment of the day. The new food hall, called Il Terrazzo, with over 2,000sq m of restaurants, bars and services for citizens and travellers, overlooks the platforms and the historical atrium, and has seven different access points.

An additional completion by Grandi Stazioni Retail took place in September last year and this was the Food Hall of Napoli Centrale Station. The ambitious refurbishment project involved around 3,500sq m of previously unused spaces in Napoli Centrale station, located between the platform floor and the mezzanine that created a brand-new food hall and further entrances for the station itself. The offer will be diversified and innovative to meet customers’ needs even for the most demanding ones, thanks to locations dedicated to quality food and local tastes. This, together with free Wi-Fi, phone charging areas and other services, has transformed the area into a new lounge for waiting and entertainment.

Two completed redevelopment projects in Italy last year by developer Multi were the Food Court at Forum Palermo and the Food Court at Le Colonne Shopping Center. Launched in April last year at Forum Palermo was the updated Food Court that is now spread across 1,400sq m and is home to eight different F&B concepts that will appease people of all tastes.

Meanwhile in September, Multi completed work on the refurbishment of the Food Court at Le Colonne Shopping Center. The Shopping Center Food Court has been subject of a refurbishment and redevelopment that has led to the creation of four new restaurants (three units + one kiosk) for a total GLA of 400sq m, in addition to the two existing restaurants. The project also included the construction of an external space that has again expanded the food court capacity. The food court project of Le Colonne is part of a broader redevelopment project that also involves the common area of the gallery, revising the layout and enriching the offer (Tesla recharging columns, outdoor children’s play area, etc.)

Under development by IGD SIIQ S.p.A., the Livorno Porta A Mare scheme is due to finish this year on an area of 15,000sq m and feature 40 stores. The scheme is a waterfront site located in the heart of Livorno that, in addition to a varied retail offer, will feature a wide F&B selection and large open spaces that are positioned on the docks overlooking the marina. As well as retail and F&B, the site is set to feature fitness and wellness spaces with swimming pools, gym and spa; innovative entertainment offer, playground areas and the inclusion of sports associations and nautical centres.

Three projects are being overseen by Nhood and developed by Ceetrus Italy. The first of these is due to open this year and it is the Merlata Bloom project. Merlata Bloom Milano is a smart and innovative place that will be located in Arexpo, in one of the most evolving areas of the city of Milan. The project combines technology and sustainability, entertainment and services, daily life, commerce and encloses in 70,000sq m a unique mix of brand and experimental stores: 150 experiential shopping spaces, five food areas, 10,000sq m of entertainment and culture, 20,000sq m of Urban Farm in a location that offers maximum accessibility from the highways and by metro, in total harmony with the urban park.

A few steps away from Duomo and excellently connected to the public transportation system, The Medelan by developer DeA Capital Real Estate SGR S.p.a., acting as management company of the Broggi Fund is a mixed-use building with eight storeys above ground that was launched last year.

Two imposing lobbies and three large courtyards with gardens make up the building’s common spaces, serving: grade-A flexible offices with unique terraces granting incredible views, prestigious retail spaces creating an unforgettable shopping experience, restaurant and bar dedicated to the finest cuisine and cocktail culture. The LEED Platinum and Well Silver certifications guarantee the highest standards in sustainability and quality of the environment. The Medelan aims to become the city’s most prominent 24/7 lifestyle destination. An iconic, flexible and extremely sustainable space designed for your business: The Medelan is the epitome of Milanese splendour that will satisfy the most sophisticated contemporary needs.

Originally opened in 2007, the Bariblu Shopping Center is located close to the city of Bari, near the ring road and the centre is located in a largely urban catchment area with a population density. It currently has 99 shops plus a Carrefour hypermarket, and the main brands include Zara, OVS, H&M, Expert, Happy Casa, Cisalfa, Azzaro, New Yorker and Pittarosso. From this year the shopping centre will undergo a major redevelopment involving the creation of a new food court, the introduction of new medium surface stores and an increase in national and international brands.

Set to open in 2023, also by developer Grandi Stazioni Retail, the refurbishment of the Roma Termini Station will comprise of bringing to light the remaining of Mura Serviane in the historical Atrium; the refurbishment of windows and facades of Galleria Gommata and the introduction of two new holes on the floor to improve the connection with the underground floor and facilitate customer journey. The underground floor will be completely redesigned too thanks to the refitting of floor, ceilings, lighting and windows. The 47,800sq m scheme will see a complete restyling intervention for the biggest railway station in Italy.

The upcoming Maximall Pompeii shopping centre is now due to launch in March next year by developer Irgenre Group. The 42,250sq m GLA of retail and 7,000sq m of non-retail space has been inspired by the structure that characterised the ancient city plan of Pompeii. The Maximall Pompeii complex was born from the idea of creating a pole of tourist attraction, a real “hub”, near the archaeological site of Pompeii and all other areas of tourist interest in the area. The need to provide the visitor and tourist with an integrated premium service has led to architectural choices where multiple functions coexist within a single structure capable of creating involvement that gives a unique experience to the visitor as a primary element of attraction, excellent shopping with the exclusivity of the offer in much more.

Currently under development with the aim to complete next year by the developer Rocchia, MODE – Movie & Design is a unique project in the pipeline in Italy. The scheme is being constructed on 20,400sq m of GLA and will be home to the first “Home & Design District” in Piedmont, with over 25 home and design retailers, a new generation nine-screen multiplex and a FEC dedicated to the world of virtual reality, a food court of over 4,500sq m, a green area of over 10,000sq m with outdoor entertainment and installations and more than 5,000sq m of public squares for events to be held at.

An upcoming scheme from Nhood and developer Ceetrus Italy that is slated to open in 2024 is the Rescaldina Shopping Center that through the renovation will double in size thanks to the expansion project that will base the new offer of the centre on entertainment and transform the gallery into a destination point for the latest generation. The new concept will focus on hospitality, well-being and eco-sustainability and will target a heterogeneous target. The architectural project is based on the elements of nature both for the definition of the settings and for the choice of colours and materials and immerses the visitor in four different atmospheres: water, air, forest and mountain.

The final one of the Nhood and Ceetrus Italy projects, which is due to launch in 2026, is the LOC – LORETO OPEN COMMUNITY project, winner of the C40 Reinventing Cities call, which will transform Piazzale Loreto, from a large urban void to “Piazza a Cielo Aperto”, an accessible and inclusive public space, a smart and sustainable neighbourhood on a human scale. The new urban district will host hybrid and multifunctional spaces dedicated to trade and leisure, food and sport, offices, co-working areas and a district kindergarten. LOC will create a large interactive Hub that will host a lively schedule of activities and events that will give back to the city of Milan a lively and attractive environment.