On May 6, 2021 Ingka Centres announced the opening of Livat Fuzhou. Fuzhou is the capital of the Fujian Province in the southeast of China. Known as a bustling, well-connected city with a distinct cultural identity, it has become a tech hub in recent years with smart industrial hubs and tech incubators. The city is surrounded by parks and forests and is close to the 925m Drum Hill (Gushan) mountain. The mountain is a famous Fuzhou beauty spot and the meeting place’s design echoes its heritage and presence. The new meeting place has been created within the existing Ikea store following a EUR 130m (RMB 1bn) redevelopment to create 16,000 sq m GLA of sustainable mixed-use space, housing 60 domestic and foreign brands.
Livat Fuzhou creates experiences tailored to the needs of local residents with restaurants, kids’ offerings, fashion, retail, online services, entertainment and home furnishing inspiration. It provides a new place for Fuzhou’s community to shop, eat, relax, learn, and spend time with their families and friends. Together with Ikea, Ingka Centres promotes recycling, good air quality, and energy-saving initiatives that make sustainable living accessible for the many. The meeting place will have cycle bays, electric car charging points and is easily accessible by public transport.Livat Fuzhou, offers a change from peoples’ daily routines, with a blend of sustainability, Scandinavian design, education, public spaces and fun. The tenant mix is in tune with the needs of the community, with purpose-driven offerings and experiences that are relevant to consumer lifestyles as well as the local traditional “Min” culture, which is known for its architecture, arts, crafts, cuisine, and music.
Just one example of new retail-led destinations
Cindy Andersen, Ingka Centres Managing Director, commented: “We are reimagining the future of physical retail with new concepts and partners that match the aspirations and needs of people and local communities. Together with Ikea and our partners, Livat Fuzhou brings together a vibrant mix of local and global brands and cuisine, digital services, and family-friendly experiences in a meeting place that will bring inspiration and joy to millions of people each year.”
Livat Fuzhou is just one example of the new retail-led destinations Ingka Centres is creating around the world, in partnership with local communities, to bring even more value to people and the planet. This announcement follows the acquisition of shopping centers Kings Mall in London and 6×6 in San Francisco in 2020 creating the first smaller format Ikea anchored meeting places in urban locations. Earlier this year the company acquired a land plot in Noida, India for a major new mixed-use project. Ingka Centres is also investing EUR 2bn to upgrade its existing portfolio–including its regional Mega malls in Russia–with F&B, parks, pop-up spaces, flexible workspace, cinemas, kids play areas, edu-tainment and more.
