USA
Hudson Yards
The Hudson Yards neighborhood officially opened to the public on March 15, 2019, marking a historic moment in the city of New York. Beginning at noon, New Yorkers and visitors were able to visit Public Square and Gardens, a new 5-acre public space; its centerpiece, an interactive landmark temporarily known as Vessel; and The Shops & Restaurants, a 93,000-square-meter retail center featuring a collection of more than 100 diverse shops and culinary experiences. Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group are the developers responsible for this large-scale project. Stephen M. Ross, Chairman of Related Companies, said at the opening: “Building Hudson Yards is the most humbling experience of my lifetime. It’s a rare opportunity to be able to create a neighborhood of this size and impact, let alone in New York City. Hudson Yards’ economic impact is already profound and its place amid the New York skyline is meaningful. This new neighborhood represents more than just a set of buildings: It shows what can be achieved when the public and private sectors join together to unleash passion and creativity. Our ambition was to create a great neighborhood, with experiences and opportunities for everyone. I am confident that we have achieved that with great public spaces, shopping, culinary expressions across all spectrums, cultural attractions, diverse residential opportunities, and cutting-edge sustainability and resiliency.”
COLUMBIA
Jardín Plaza Cúcuta
Following an investment of 52 million euros, Jardín Plaza Cúcuta opened its doors to the public on February 27, 2019 as the city’s largest shopping center. With its 40,000 sq m and open-air design, which highlights the region’s culture, Jardín Plaza will offer the inhabitants of Cúcuta a special experience. Sonae Sierra, in partnership with Colombian company Central Control, chose the capital of Norte de Santander for the development of this project, which is strategically located on the city’s eastern ring road. A third investor PEI, a leading real estate investment vehicle in Colombia, entered the JV at the opening, reinforcing the robustness of the new mall, which will offer benefits not only to visitors but also to local and national businesses. The shopping center boasts an ample and varied offering, which is provided by 180 shops of different local, national, and international brands, to cover the needs and tastes of the inhabitants of Cúcuta. In conjunction with its commercial and leisure offer, Jardín Plaza Cúcuta should become an economic hub and generator of around 3,500 direct and indirect jobs for the city, in addition to the 1,500 jobs created during the construction phase.
THAILAND
One Bangkok
TCC Assets Co., Ltd. and Frasers Property Limited jointly intend to develop 16.7 hectares, in the heart of Bangkok, into a “must-visit” destination city district. The project, called “One Bangkok”, will create Thailand’s first fully-integrated district that is built on people-centric principles as well as a focus on environmental sustainability and smart-city living. It is the largest private sector property development initiative undertaken in the country, with an estimated investment value of over USD 3.5 billion. The project is set to become a new global landmark when its first components open in 2022. “One Bangkok” will comprise next generation office buildings, luxury and lifestyle hotels, a comprehensive array of retail and leisure offerings within differentiated precincts, ultra-luxury residential towers, a rich variety of civic areas, art and culture facilities, as well as eight hectares of greenery and open spaces. The land, leased from the Crown Property Bureau, enjoys a prime location at the corner of Wireless Road and Rama IV Road, with direct links to mass transit systems, right next to Lumphini Park.
CHINA
L+ Mall
Set in the heart of Shanghai’s financial district, L+ Mall will be situated close to Shanghai Tower. With its position in the city and retail offering, it is set to become a new hub for Shanghai’s financial center. Benoy worked on the scheme’s commercial space planning, interior design, and signage. With over 140,000 sq m of gross floor area, the space includes 10 above ground floors and one underground floor. The striking and futuristic interior design was inspired by the mall’s target market of quality-conscious consumers. In view of the mall’s vertical height, Benoy designed a “mid-air stage” by adding an extra floor on the fourth level, thereby solving space constraints within the building. Another highlight of L+ Mall is the Shanghai flagship “Galeries Lafayette” store. Benoy adapted the interiors to the requirements of both “Galeries Lafayette” and Lujiazui Group while also adding specially designed handrails in the main arcade to set the French department store apart from other retail spaces. This section of L+ Mall is scheduled to open in the second half of 2019. Home to almost 600 brands, retailers will range from the globally recognized to the niche. The space will also bring together a diverse variety of uses, from restaurants, leisure, and entertainment to art spaces.
