ACROSS: WHAT ARE THE MAIN GOALS BEHIND THESE REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS?
JOSÉ MARÍA ESCOBAR: We focus on keeping our outlets lively and profitable. A concept developed over a decade ago is unlikely to meet today’s consumer habits, especially after COVID shook up how people shop and spend leisure time. We’re not just giving our centers a facelift but creating spaces that genuinely resonate with visitors. Think cozy, inviting areas where socializing is encouraged, and every detail – from comfort to sustainable elements – is designed with the customer’s experience in mind.
ACROSS: HOW ARE YOU APPROACHING THE DESIGN OF THE F&B SPACES WITHIN THESE REFURBISHMENTS?
ESCOBAR: Food and beverage is a key part of the shopping adventure. Our outlets have traditionally been all about fashion, so we’re reimagining dining areas as communal spaces that go beyond serving food. For example, at Castel Guelfo The Style Outlets in Italy, besides enhancing the F&B offer, we’re adding outdoor seating with different atmospheres and even integrating a bookstore. Our approach focuses on creating an ambiance that invites visitors to relax, catch up with friends, or enjoy the moment.
ACROSS: SUSTAINABILITY IS CENTRAL TO YOUR PROJECTS. HOW IS THIS REFLECTED IN THESE REFURBISHMENTS?
ESCOBAR: Sustainability is integrated into all our renovation projects. For instance, at Las Rozas The Style Outlets in Madrid, as part of the refurbishment, we’re introducing rainwater harvesting to irrigate our new green spaces, upgrading the facility’s Building Management System to use energy more efficiently, and installing air curtains with low-energy heat pumps in the three accesses to the center, among other things.
In every project, we prioritize eco-friendly materials, use local plant species that need less water, and integrate energyefficient solutions and green spaces that enhance aesthetics and sustainability. Every element is carefully chosen to reduce our environmental impact while making the visit more enjoyable.
ACROSS: RENOVATION PROJECTS ALWAYS COME WITH THEIR SHARE OF CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY WHEN KEEPING EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTHLY DURING THE UPDATES. HOW DO YOU TACKLE THIS?
ESCOBAR: Ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted experience for visitors and tenants during renovations is our top priority, but it can be tricky, so we plan different phases. This way, while one area is being upgraded, the rest of the center keeps buzzing along as usual. Communication is key, and we keep both our visitors and retailers in the loop about progress and any temporary changes. Plus, we schedule most of the work at night and add clear way-finding signs to help customers navigate easily. Our goal is to enhance our centers without ever compromising the shopping experience.
ACROSS: HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF OUTLET CENTERS EVOLVING, ESPECIALLY REGARDING ARCHITECTURE?
ESCOBAR: Looking ahead, outlet centers will continue to blend functionality, experience, and sustainability. Future designs will lean into natural elements, plenty of greenery, natural light, and eco-friendly materials to create truly welcoming spaces. Expect more energy-efficient designs, features like green roofs, solar panels, renewable materials, and smart climate control systems that make every visit comfortable. Regulations are increasingly demanding, and will influence energy consumption, accessibility and construction standards. For instance, renewable energy is progressively becoming mandatory across our geography. As cities grow around outlets, the centers are transformed into vibrant social hubs, with flexible spaces that support pop-up concepts, dynamic dining areas, and digital integration to keep things fresh and engaging. As outlets evolve, architecture will help retail and enhance social connections, sustainability, and overall well-being.
A CLOSER LOOK AT NEINVER’S OUTLET RENOVATIONS
CASTEL GUELFO THE STYLE OUTLETS (ITALY)
Images: NEINVER
Castel Guelfo is getting a complete refresh in Italy, including the F&B plaza and the center’s landscaping. A once-retail area has been redesigned into a dining plaza. It now includes dedicated terraces to host an expanded food offer and even the popular bookstore Mondadori, creating a lively spot to relax and connect. New landscaping will feature decorative trees, mixed flowering shrubs, and open, airy resting areas emphasizing natural materials and warm colors throughout the center. A striking wooden platform with greenery and large clay pots at the entrance will set a warm, welcoming tone right from the start.
LAS ROZAS THE STYLE OUTLETS (MADRID)
Images: NEINVER
Las Rozas The Style Outlets is undergoing a complete renovation both inside and out. Picture a modern façade, lighter floors, woodfinished ceilings, updated storefronts with micro-cement coatings, and improved lighting that tie the whole look together. The plaza’s transformation is a standout feature, which introduces an urban greenhouse with a large tree, hanging planters, and lush vegetation. The plaza also includes a new access point, a dining area, and a co-working corner. Meanwhile, wider sidewalks, inviting outdoor terraces, and comfortable resting spots make the exterior more appealing. As Spain’s first outlet center -initially opened in 1996 and renovated in 2013, with upgraded restrooms and a family room in 2024 – Las Rozas proudly honors its legacy while stepping confidently into the future.
GETAFE THE STYLE OUTLETS (MADRID)
Images: NEINVER
At Getafe, The Style Outlets, one of the interior plazas, has recently been converted into a cozy, inviting space. With a new wooden ceiling, timber-clad columns, built-in planters, and upgraded lighting, the area now offers a warm seating zone perfect for taking a break during a shopping trip. Another interior plaza is set to get a similar upgrade very soon.
José María Escobar
José María Escobar is Technical Director at NEINVER
