Dubai UAE: In the past decade, visitor expectations of shopping centres have changed beyond all recognition. Today, nearly half of all visitors report that the non-retail offer drives both the number and length of visits they make to shopping centres.

Increasingly too, they expect to be able to access to services such as such as F&B (79%), leisure/entertainment venues (64%) or medical/health/wellness facilities (51%)1. Shopping centres have been transformed into consumer centres. Responding at pace to these shifting demographics, behaviours and expectations of the consumer is one of the largest challenges facing designers and architects working in the sector.

Design International, which recently expanded into the GCC with an office in Dubai, has been at the forefront of shaping retail architecture trends for over 50 years. As early as the late 60’s, they designed pioneering shopping malls that successfully integrated the retail, F&B and entertainment offer, such as Bugis Junction (Singapore), CoCoWalk (USA), Odysseum (France) and Morocco Mall (Morocco). This drive for innovation and outstanding design remains the hallmark of their work today.

Headed by renowned retail architects, Paul Mollé and Lucio Guerra, the DI team attended RECon Las Vegas showcasing some of their most recent work. This included the Plaza Patria extension, opening later this year. A much-treasured landmark in Guadalajara, Mexico, the project provides three levels of retail, a roof top terrace with diverse dining options, a City Market including hypermarket and an 18-screen cinema with VIP screening. The subsequent phase will comprise an 8-story hotel and office tower.

Visitors can also discover projects such as Maximall Pompeii, the striking new retail resort that is a key landmark in the major redevelopment programme for this historic Italian city; the LIVAT Centres in Shanghai and Changsha, China where regional shopping centres sit alongside IKEA-inspired apartments and office towers, and Reem Towers in Abu Dhabi, a mixed-use development that integrates retail with organic forms and dynamic living spaces.

https://www.icsc.org/uploads/t07-subpage/Non-Retail_Tenants_Consumer_Series.pdf 

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Issued on behalf of Design International. For more information please contact Shereen Dury on shereen@coralcoastpr.com  or 0507690087. Website is www.designinternational.com .

About Design International

Design International is an innovative architectural practice with vast experience on a global scale. Regarded as one of the industry’s leaders in retail architecture, the firm’s unique and diverse designs have seen the practice win many awards, as well as having a strong presence worldwide.

Originally founded in Toronto, Canada, in 1965, Design International is now headquartered in London, with offices in Milan, Shanghai and Dubai. It works across six integrated divisions: Architecture, Master planning, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Landscape Design, and Graphic Design.

Design International’s philosophy is deep rooted in the belief that every design has its own individual story; these bespoke spaces are created with the aim to trigger a unique experience for guests. The success lies in its ability to shape stories to transform experiences.

About Davide Padoa

After completing his architectural studies in Milan and Los Angeles, Davide started his career in Indonesia where, at just 25, he gained international recognition for the design of PSP bank headquarters - one of the tallest skyscrapers in Jakarta. In 1998 he moved to London and joined Design International. Embracing the company’s ethos to tailor unique, commercially viable projects, Davide has pushed the design boundaries in every project undertaken.  Rising rapidly within the company, he became a Partner in 2002, and Chief Executive Office in 2006.

Committed to constantly setting new benchmark designs that are both financially sustainable and aesthetically strong, Davide has been Project Principal on many ground-breaking developments, including Odysseum in Montpellier (2009), Morocco Mall in Casablanca (2011), Nave de Vero in Marghera (2014), Il Centro in Arese (2016).  These, and many other Design International projects have been recipients of some of the most coveted industry Awards, including ICSC, Mapic, Mipim, RLI, a Guinness World Records™ and over 30 other International Property Awards across four continents. 

Davide retains a hands-on approach, working closely with colleagues and guiding teams to deliver projects that are meticulously crafted and tell their own unique story.  Under his leadership, Design International has grown into a globally-recognised practice.

© Press Release 2018