Winners of the 2009 ICSC European Shopping Centre Awards were announced at the 2009 ICSC European Conference in Barcelona. Every year since 1975, ICSC has recognized excellence in new and refurbished shopping centers throughout Europe with the presentation of these prestigious and highly sought-after awards. Four centers out of a record 41 entries from 19 countries have won full awards with a further six receiving special recognitions, certifications of merit and commendations.
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
New Development — Medium
Award Winner: Delta City, Belgrade, Serbia Developer: Delta Real Estate; Architect: MYS Architect; Total Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 30,381 m².
The first international-style shopping mall in Serbia, located in the largest residential area of Belgrade with a high population, Delta City is ten minutes from the city center. This regional fashion mall has over 20 fashion brands entering the Serbian market for the first time over two floors and a strong sports cluster anchored by a large Nike store. The mall’s top level offers entertainment options new to Serbia: multiplex cinema, bowling court, kid’s playground and fast food.
Certificate of Merit: 8ª Avenida, S. João da Madeira, Portugal Developer: Sonae Sierra; Architects: Sonae Sierra (José Quintela) and LaGuardia low; Total Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 28,269 m².
Avenida is an important step towards the modernization of the shopping and leisure offer in the S. João da Madeira region, where there is no other similar development. Located in an area of about 300,000 inhabitants, the 8ª Avenida will serve a far larger population, expecting to attract up to 5.7 million visits from people from the surrounding counties and an estimated sales of €62 million in the first complete year of operation, excluding the hypermarket sales.
New Development — Large
Award Winner: Forum Mersin Shopping and Lifestyle Centre, Mersin, Turkey Developer: Multi Turkmall Gayrimenkul Yat. Ins; Architects: T+T Design, Chapman Taylor and MM Proj; Total Gross Leasable Area: 71,500 m².
In the Mediterranean city of Mersin (Turkey), Forum Mersin is close to the seafront where the city’s population of 1.8 million triples during the summer months. Divided by a boulevard, the site is now linked by an open-air bridge offering seafront views. Forum Mersin was designed to be an integral part of the city with covered and open shopping streets. The architecture incorporates existing historical features with modern elements such as landscape, cinemas, and a red-lit tower in the outdoor mall.
Commendation: Galeria Baltycka Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland Developer: ECE Projektmanagement Polska Sp. z.o.o; Architects: ECE Projektmanagement Polska Sp. z.o.o. and A-plan; Total Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 40,000 m².
The seashore landscape has been the source of inspiration for the impressive architecture of Galeria Baltycka. The facades are fitted with sandstone and glass panes relating to the beach and water of Gdansk Bay. The malls are decorated with maritime and beach motifs and there is an atypical arrangement of malls that form an irregular triangle. Its corners and its center constitute plazas with a lot of natural light.
Commendation and ReStore Recognition: Victoria Square, Belfast, United Kingdom Developer: Multi Development UK; Architect: T+T Design; Total Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 64,000 m². The ReStore distinction rewards both the developer and the local authority for a successful partnership that delivers a sustainable result for the local and regional community.
Victoria Square is the first major city centre development in Belfast for 15 years and the first fully financed private sector investment of this scale ever in Northern Ireland. A public square covered by a glass dome serves as the hub and the ornate 1870s Jaffe Fountain has been restored in its original location in the Square. This centre combines a streetscape and urban design. After 30 years of under-investment in Belfast after civil unrest, Victoria Square is tangible evidence of the "peace dividend" in Northern Ireland.
ReSource Recognition: Meydan Shopping Square, Istanbul, Turkey Developer: Metro Group Asset Management GmbH & Co KG; Architect: Foreign Office Architects (FOA); Total Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 68,655 m². The ReSource distinction is only given when the ICSC Shopping Centre Awards Jury agrees that a project, developer, architect, manager or retailer has proved a commitment to long-term sustainable development.
Meydan Shopping Square has air-conditioning provided by one of the largest geothermal systems in Europe. The center of the complex is an open plaza connected to all levels of the building by a series of ramps and staircases. The building’s roofs (30,000 m².) are covered in wild meadow vegetation. In the middle of this city district otherwise dominated by concrete edifices, Meydan acts as a green oasis – a place to play, stroll, and picnic.
New Development — Very Large
Award: Istinye Park, Istanbul, Turkey Developer: Orta Gayrimenkul Yat. Yon. ve Turizm A.S.; Architect: Development Design Group, Inc.; Total Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 88,936 m².
Istinye Park is an urban lifestyle environment. Three conceptually distinct elements – Grand Rotunda, Lifestyle Center and Fashion Zone –target people of all socioeconomic levels. The open-air Lifestyle has a green central park, street-side shopping and two levels of high-end retail below. The three-level Fashion Zone is a fresh take on an enclosed mall and there is a media wall hung in the center of Rotunda.
Certificate of Merit: Panora Shopping and Leisure Center, Ankara, Turkey Developer: Merkez Construction, Tourism, Management Inc.; Architects: A Tasarim Architecture and Consulting Ltd.; Total Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 85,791 m².
Panora Shopping and Leisure Center, with the surrounding collective housing, villa areas and belt highway, is in area of high-income groups. Not only close to a group interested in a high standard of living, Panora is also located in Çankaya, the most significant district of Ankara where business centers, big corporations, embassies, a prime ministry building and Çankaya Mansion are being developed.
Refurbishments and Extensions
Award: Beaulieu, île de Nantes, Nantes, France Developer: Ségécé; Architect: B&H Construire; Total Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 39,000 m².
Renovated and extended, the Beaulieu centre in Nantes was unveiled in March 2008 with bold new architecture. Situated on Île de Nantes, it was designed in close collaboration with the architect and town planner Alexandre Chemetoff, who is responsible for the sustainable development of Île de Nantes. To link the existing centre with the extension, the architects covered the façade with a "hedgerow" of 260 metal palms in various shades.
Specialised
Commendation: Vicolunga Outlets, Vicolunga, Italy Developer: Neinver; Architects: William Taylor and Lombardini22; Total Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 28,500 m².
Opened in October 2004, Vicolungo Outlets expanded to more than 130 shops in 2008. In the province of Novara, Vicolungo Outlets is 30 minutes from Milan, 40 from Turin and Malpensa airport, 50 from Varese, and less than 1 hour from Lakes Maggiore and d'Orta. The urban center main street extension enables a strong usage of the area. Typical Piemonte style paving and the combination of green areas and water lined with wooden benches enhance the architecture of the pre-existing urban areas.
ICSC Solal Award Finalists Announced
The ICSC Solal Marketing Awards bring together the very best of retail marketing across Europe to reward those with the most effective campaigns. Recognizing best practise and outstanding marketing performance, the Solal Awards are seen as a benchmark of quality throughout the industry.
The 2009 Solal Awards winners will be presented at the new ICSC Marketing Conference in Vienna on 18-19 June.
Source: ICSC
