The La Nova shopping centre has opened to the public, following a revamp to create the first major international shopping centre of its kind in China's Hunan Province, with international architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan acting as lead architect on the redesign of the centre, located in Changsha, the thriving provincial capital.
La Nova is owned by Bailian Ivanhoe Shopping Center (Changsha) Co. Ltd ('Bailian Ivanhoe'), a 60/40 joint venture between Bailian Group, one of China's biggest retail groups, and Ivanhoé Cambridge, one of the 10 biggest real estate companies in the world.
Broadway Malyan's Shanghai-based team oversaw the refurbishment, expansion and repositioning of La Nova. The 45,000-m2 centre is strategically located in Wuyi Square, one of the most vibrant shopping and entertainment districts in Changsha.
Jeremy Salmon, Director at Broadway Malyan, said: "This prestigious project has drawn on the diverse range of skills, expertise and experience of our Shanghai-based team of global design experts, who have partnered with the client and design team to deliver a stunning outcome. This repositioning will greatly enhance the popularity and commercial success of the centre.
"Despite the opening of many major shopping centres over the last decade in China, demand is still strong, driven by the dramatic increase in the pace of retail development, the maturing domestic market, the rise in the popularity of a shopping-based culture and a higher number of partnerships between established Chinese retail developers and overseas experts.
"This project is the perfect example of the exciting trends we are helping to shape in China, with a fascinating international mix of retail concepts. Given the increasing appetite for new developments and redevelopments, our multidisciplinary team is engaged in a series of major retail projects across the country."
The project has seen the transformation of La Nova from a department store into a world-class shopping centre, featuring a full range of retail, dining and entertainment opportunities. It boasts 90 tenants on six levels, is anchored by a 15,000-m2 Bailian Oriental department store and a nine-screen PolyBona cinema, and features state-of-the-art facilities.
"La Nova is the first shopping centre in Hunan Province where consumers can find a broad selection of retail, dining and entertainment venues. Retailers were eager to set up shop in the redeveloped property, and customer response has been terrific," explained Richard Vogel, Senior Vice President of Ivanhoe Cambridge China. "Twenty international retailers opened their first stores in the province here at La Nova, bringing a new, unique and stylish 'mall life' experience to the area," he added.
With dynamic retailers such as Asobio, Bershka, C&A, H&M, Mango, Pull & Bear, Sephora, Starbucks, Toys 'R' Us and Zara, La Nova will be giving Changsha's 7 million inhabitants the opportunity to enjoy a new shopping and leisure experience with international flair.
source: constructionweekonline.in