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ECMall Beijing : Retail Development China

Chinese Retail Center – design by Benoy

11 Nov 2009

ECMall – Beijing Shopping Center

Benoy at the centre of innovative developments in Beijing

Design: Benoy

Hong Kong, 23rd October 2009 – International award-winning architects Benoy, are delighted to announce the completion of ECMall in Beijing. Developed by ECM, this 53,000m2 retail centre is located within the renowned Science and Technology commercial development, the largest high-tech business district in Beijing.

The retail centre occupies the prominent North frontage of the development towards the International Financial Centre, facing the commercial pedestrian street and a landscaped podium deck, ensuring a consistent pedestrian flow into the mall. The development features seven trading levels from B1 to L6, amounting to approximately 43,000m2 of commercial space above grade and an extra 10,000m2 below grade, showcasing leading international fashion brands.

The inspiration for the exterior and interior was developed from the notion of the birth of nature and the concept of new rocks and solid materials, metaphorically evolving to create new life and new technology in which the roots of the design are sown. “We developed the concept to take on references of printed electronic circuit matter, interpreting the client’s original brief of a high tech mall positioned in the heart of the science and technology commercial district” explains project leader Mr. Chris Lohan. These references can be seen reflected in the internal detailing of the architecture, floors walls and ceilings.

Benoy developed a retail scheme with generous voids to maximize visibility within the core space and with carefully positioned escalators to ensure easy vertical flows within the mall. The plan also allowed for extra express escalators linking L1 to L3 and L3 to L5, directing customers to the upper entertainment and dining attractions.

The interior design takes an innovative approach to the predominant tonal palette and emphasizing the dramatic integration of strong contrasting colors. “The bright tones make for a contemporary edge and an interesting vista as one navigates the mall-scape” continues Chris. To complement the colour palette, large spatial elements were used throughout the arcades interplaying with the events spaces, open shop facades and skylights.

Benoy’s design focused on delivering an exciting retail environment that would complement the neighboring landscape. During the daytime sky lights, full height glazed curtain walls and mall atria all work in unison to bring natural light to the interior spaces.

In addition al-fresco style dining terraces of the F&B units profit from the best views of the adjacent park to the North all of which add value to the effect of bringing the shopper closer the exterior environment which Benoy determined would add valuable dynamism to this unique shopping experience.

In the basements two subterranean shopping arcade levels offer a fully integrated environment with trendy fashion, homeware, entertainment and dining offers linking the mall directly to the new mass transit rail line connecting this regional node to the rest of Beijing.

Benoy’s designers also developed a graphic identity and signage that are a direct reflection of ECMall’s architecture, both in plan and elevation. To compliment the strong angles and stylised geometrics of the exterior and interior design, the signage system was designed as a direct reflection of the architectural form, both in plan and elevation.

The signage incorporates the dramatic contrasting colours used within the mall space, which not only strengthens the scheme identity but also seamlessly integrates the signage within the environment.

Dynamic wall graphics are introduced at facility entrance lobbies, which energises the space and also act as graphic expressions of the building’s angular façade and atria. The graphic style is consistently maintained throughout the scheme, externally and within the car park areas. Lift lobby walls are graphically highlighted to identify the vertical connections to the visitor.

ECMall Beijing images / information from Benoy

ECMall design : Benoy

Location: Beijing, China