How New Retail Can Revitalize Cities

9 November 2008 - 9:00am

Where traditional shopping malls were all about creating retail-only internal spaces, new retail developments are mixing uses and returning to the street.

"Retailers and users are demanding public spaces, civic streets and squares in new developments. The internal agenda has become truly external, moving the focus away from controlled environments towards outside spaces and places.

New developments are creating a sense of place which is a natural extension to the city, not just a retail scheme, and through it, restoring and creating civic pride.

We have created destinations to get people back into city centres that were previously underused, with a rich mixture of retail and leisure that caters for the widest range of people, as well as offices, hotels and residential.

We are creating a catalyst for the whole city — so we’re talking about getting investment, as well as people, back into cities."

Full Story: Can shopping centres be used to regenerate cities?

Source: Building Design, November 7, 2008