The recently published MIPIM Asia Summit One Book article “Retail blossoms into a new era” examines the ongoing success of a range of bricks-and-mortar segments — from neighbourhood stores to luxury boutiques and destination shopping centres — and demonstrates that there is still plenty to be hopeful about across APAC. The latest shopping centre and high street concepts ensure the sector’s future growth, with unique F&B ideas fertilising the most successful developments.
In this article, Terence Seah, Head of Hong Kong, Singapore and Shenzhen, shared his thoughts on the resilience of retail and some Benoy projects which prove this very point, all being grounded experiential and functional design.
He says that “In many ways, F&B is the new anchor, but the tricky bit is always the curation of the experience and types.”
Terence cites as a successful example Sook-Siam, a marketplace styled to recall regional Thai bazaars, which Benoy designed for the mixed-use ICONSIAM development in Bangkok. “It was a bold move to curate all the great street food, and food retail and crafts of Thailand into a locality in Bangkok… its authentic execution created a one-of-a-kind experience,” he says.
The heritage theme is another notable trend in Seazen Suzhou Wuyue Plaza, in Suzhou, a retail scheme which has been singled out for a MIPIM Asia Award this year. Designed by Benoy, the project brings the spirit of the city’s old town into the mall with a unique, indoor high street. Terence says that the secret of the project was incorporating “community spaces for events as well as promoting social interaction.”
Benoy Architects and retailer David Jones have won a MIPIM Asia Award this year for the transformation of the 180-year-old David Jones Elizabeth Street Flagship in Sydney, Australia, a project which Terence describes as “unpeeling some layers of the decades of additions and alterations”.
But there is also place for a very contemporary experience and an equitable approach to the brand concessions within the store. Striking details include the store’s penultimate level, which used to function as a grand ballroom and welcomed Queen Elizabeth in 1954.
Enthuses Terence: “We created a homage to the beautiful heels that graced the dance hall that could also flex into an events space.”
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