SLAM, DUNK, SWISH! – 4 Global Future Design Awards 2020

Global Future Design Awards 2020. Established in 2016, the GFD 2020 Award is one of the world’s most prestigious awards for high-rise architecture. It recognizes outstanding ideas that redefine Architecture design through the implementation of novel technologies, materials, programs, aesthetics, and spatial organizations along with studies on globalization, flexibility, adaptability, and the digital revolution. It is a forum that examines the relationship between the Architecture and the natural world, the Architecture and the community, and the Architects and the city.

Concept i are honoured to be awarded GFDA 2020 for 4 of our projects. See below for further information:

Projects Name: Seacon Head Office | Whey Aye | Citystars | Spring City 66
Awards: Winner | Third Award
Project Link: http://www.architecturepressrelease.com/winner-seacon-head-office-by-concept-i/
Project Link: http://www.architecturepressrelease.com/winner-whey-aye-by-concept-i/
Project Link: http://www.architecturepressrelease.com/3rd-award-spring-city-66-by-concept-i/
Project Link:  http://www.architecturepressrelease.com/3rd-award-citystars-by-concept-i/

PHYSICAL DESIGN

Consumers still appreciate the ‘touch and feel’ experience of physical spaces – however, their role needs to be redefined. Now is a key time to capture attention from new customers. Communicating reasons to trust and ensuring a “first-time-right” encounter is more important than ever.

BREATHING SPACE

Shopping Centres should provide more indoor-outdoor areas where customers can enjoy fresh air, active recreation, green space, outdoor seating, pet-friendly areas and events, representing an intersection of physical and online shopping. These spaces will become the new lures to enhance customer engagement and confidence in safety.

PUBLIC SPACE

Historically there has been a drive towards greater density in our retail and leisure developments – however we now need less intensive planning strategies that balance both commerce and critical health. With each project typology, we are investigating new technologies, circulation patterns, people densities and pinch points, to help reduce risk.

RETAIL SPACE EFFICIENCY

Businesses are strategically adjusting their operating space as they do not require as large a service area. Retailers, especially F&B, fashion, cosmetics and personal care, are shifting their focus heavily towards e-commerce.  The fastest adapters will downsize their store & seating areas to have bigger fulfilment centres and delivery/pick-up areas.

‘Retail reimagined: The new era for customer experience’, Periscopes for McKinsey, August 2020

FEELING SAFE

Consumers now care more about in-store safety and prefer offerings that are healthy & locally sourced. Providing safe environments is critical to alleviating customers’ anxietiesm supporting a return to in-person leisure & retail visits.

HANDS OFF

Our overall spatial designs will be affected by the use of touchless technologies being accelerated to reduce direct surface contact. Customers will be drawn to use contactless payment, automatic toilets, door sensors, automated parking, and digital menus; which will be heavily relied upon due to social distancing.

MATERIALITY

We are researching materials to protect from & resist virus spread. For example, the value & properties of historic materials such as copper/brass; as well as new materials & technologies such as self-cleaning and anti-bacterial coatings. The use of materiality that is solid and cleanable will increase, such as those from F&B venues.

RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

Retailers should reveal what would usually be hidden and make it part of the overall experience. Proving the best air quality conditions, with systems as a focal point, could mimic an installation. We are exploring active and passive environmental techniques that respond to climate/change, air density and composition. Intelligent Adaptive Facades, Prediction Modeling, and Responsive Air Quality Control are at the forefront of new leading-edge architecture.

‘Retail reimagined: The new era for customer experience’, Periscopes for McKinsey, August 2020

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

The pandemic has changed consumer behaviours, some permanently; a consolidation of shopping trips and customers trying new omnichannel models, just to name a few. Many of these new engagement models are here to stay, however customers still want to visit physical stores to experience the environment and product offering.

THE CONVENIENCE REVOLUTION

Retailers that are nimble and innovative in their omnichannel approach will fare better and strengthen ties to customers. The pandemic has created a ‘convenience culture’, with online shopping, home-fitness, food delivery and home-cinema. Designers must strive to create a positive, social experience to bring these consumers out again.

Brand Engagement

Retailers now don’t need a physical space to sell things – they need them to offer experiences. Shopping Centres will be about place activation –  where customers can connect and strengthen relationships with the each other, products and brands.

Biophilic design

Concepts such as air, light, greenery, comfort and mental wellbeing need to be addressed in post-COVID-19 environments.  Spaces that anticipate a user’s needs and taps into their emotions, whilst engaging the senses, will fare best.

‘Retail reimagined: The new era for customer experience’, Periscopes for McKinsey, August 2020

HOW DO WE DESIGN FOR THE NEW NORMAL?

ACCELERATED NEW ERA

The COVID-19 health crisis has had a huge impact on Retail & Leisure design in terms of Customer Experience, Physical Design and Environmental Health & Safety. This is initiating the design industry to be more creative, think outside the box, and throw away old thought processes. Retailers, Operators and Designers must be innovative, agile, and resourceful in order to create successful and resilient future shopping and leisure environments.

Concept-i has been following the pandemic and emerging design trends. As Architects & Designers, rather than being passive participants in the matter, we have put together what we see are Key Drivers moving forward.

Follow i-News over the next few weeks to see more.

‘Retail reimagined: The new era for customer experience’, Periscopes for McKinsey, August 2020

VOTE FOR SPRING CITY 66! Concept i is shortlisted for the SBID International Design Awards 2020

internationaldesignexcellenceawards.com/…/spring-city-66

Concept i is among the impressive global design talent to have become a finalist in the SBID International Design Awards 2020, for its entry into the Retail Design category.

Considered as one of the most prestigious accolades in interior design and respected by the industry at large, success in this GOLD-rated awards programme is achieved purely for the quality of design, innovation, aesthetic and value-added to the project. The finalists in each category therefore demonstrate the highest standards of design excellence for interiors within their field, spanning commercial and residential design sectors.

Consistent in its quest to recognise, reward and celebrate global interior design, this year’s SBID Awards has been the most globally represented edition to date; receiving entries from 49 countries around the world. Entries from this category showcase talent from countries such as the UK, Poland, United Arab Emirates, China, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Macau S.A.R., United States, Brazil, Japan and Romania.

Each entry undergoes an exhaustive two-tier judging process, where leading industry professionals evaluate essential elements such as compliance with the brief, budget, health & safety and fit-for-purpose design. Concept i‘s project “Spring City 66” was shortlisted by this year’s revered international jury for both its technical content and aesthetic creativity.

The Judges decisions are finalised by the third and final stage of judging, where the public are now invited to vote for their favourite projects at www.sbidawards.com. Accounting for an influential 30% of the results, the public and ultimate end-users of design have the final say in which projects and products have what it takes to take home a prestigious SBID Award. With previous years seeing an astounding 225,000 unique voters, the voting will close on Wednesday 30^th September at 5pm (BST).

You can show your support and vote for Concept i‘s project by visiting https://www.internationaldesignexcellenceawards.com/finalist/spring-city-66/

The Retail Design category covers all commercial interiors created for retail outlets including shopping centres, shops, showrooms, pop-up shops and art galleries. Projects can be a complete refurbishment or smaller commissions within these buildings.

Founder and CEO of SBID, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE says: “Business has been disrupted for many designers during the pandemic, but I’m pleased to confirm that the interior design practice has remained relatively steady. The SBID International Design Awards received submissions from more countries this year than in any other year, demonstrating the strength of SBID and the industry as a whole. We are thrilled to be the award that designers want to win and for that, we are particularly proud and honoured, as an interior design body for trading standards, to continue showcasing the world’s best interior design during these difficult days.”

The winning entry in each category will be announced on Friday 23^rd October and be awarded with a bespoke crystal trophy designed by Sans Souci Glass Deco as this year’s prestigious SBID Awards Winners. An Overall Winner will also be awarded for the project that scored highest overall from both the judges shortlists and public votes combined!

Visit www.sbidawards.com for more information.

SPRING CITY 66

KUNMING, CHINA

PASSION FOR NATURE, CULTURE, LIGHT, AND SPACE

“….a magnificent journey into natural materiality, art, and cultural references, celebrating light and dancing with space”.

Richard Wood – Interior Director, Concept i

 

1. VISION / BRIEF

Spring City 66 is the single largest commercial complex in Kunming, China. It is the city’s latest landmark and the ninth Mainla­­nd project for Hang Lung Development.

Situated in the heart of Kunming’s city center Panlong District, Spring City 66 is a ‘Total Lifestyle’ shopping, work and play environment. It celebrated its soft opening in August 2019. With an investment of RMB12 billion (US$1.75 billion), the project comprises 432,000 sqm of commercial space including a 160,000sqm shopping mall, serviced apartments and a 66-level Grade A office tower (350-meter tall, which is currently the city’s tallest building).

In 2017 Concept i was commissioned to carry out the interior design for the public areas of the retail space covering a total of over 60,000 sq.m. Drawing inspiration from KPF’s architecture, the interiors celebrate the city’s rich cultural context and unique natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Concept i have designed a sinuous, material rich retail environment as a harmonious destination for nearly 300 top retail brands, dining, lifestyle, and entertainment experiences.

From the outset, the designers strived to capture subtle contextual and cultural emotions in the ambiance of the interior design. A minimalist design aesthetic was developed, suitable for 1st line brand retailing, streamlined in its simplicity, yet vibrant in its passion for natural materiality, art, and cultural references. The project celebrates light and dances with space throughout its vast interiors.

 

2. SPACE / PLANNING

“…a spatial language of serpentine lines, soft curves, and sculpted layers was established.”

From the outset, the 7level mall was conceived with large, urban scale atriums connected by smooth sinuous passages in a simple, and easy to navigate format. The prime location of the site and immediate connection to two MTR lines drove the landmark scale and character of the space. The vast central atrium bathed in daylight is the heart of the development. Its functionality is completely flexible for large scale activation. The retail passages and spaces were sculpted and honed to create a sense of soft angular spaces in harmony with the architecture. Angles and corners were transformed into a radiused form, and a spatial language of serpentine lines, soft curves, and sculpted layers were established. Key planning factors included:

1. Achieving a “planning efficiency” (leasable area ratio) of 55%. Mall corridors are planned to maximize customer flow and visibility. There is a minimum width of 6m between retail facades on double-loaded aisles.
2. Ensuring absolute effectiveness in the positioning and visibility of the vertical circulation (escalators and lifts). Optimize distance between escalators (50 – 70 m ideal) ensuring clear view lines and optimizing flow.
3. Planning seamless connectivity between the mixed uses (particularly at B1), MRT, surrounding streets, parking, underground urban links shaped the mall planning.
4. Creating synergy and interplay between interior/exterior spaces including sunken plazas and courtyards.
5. Leveraging main anchor opportunities and locating vertical anchors to draw the eye to high-level food, entertainment, and other leisure operations. Introduce unique retail formats such as double story shop frontages and multi-story display showcases along the mall facades.
6. Ensuring the utmost sense of quality, comfort, and convenience for shoppers throughout the mall with special attention to the design customer touchpoints, services, furnishings and comfort zones, information and wayfinding clarity.

 

3. INTERIOR CONCEPT

“…a journey rich in visual textures, natural tones, sinuous lines, and cultural accents, yet contemporary and simple.”

The Spring City 66 ‘Customer Experience’ is conceived as a journey rich in visual textures, natural tones, sinuous lines, and cultural accents, yet contemporary and simple. Utmost emphasis was placed on materiality and detailing. The interiors are designed as a luxurious showcase of stone, wood and art craftsmanship, to compliment the first-line brand positioning of the mall. Visitors meander through a simple network of natural spaces accented with cultural motifs, patterns, and comfort zones. Social hubs are located throughout the mall. Luxury furnishings, concierge counters, planters, bins, etc. are designed to reflect Hang Lung’s commitment to customer care.

Central Atrium

Inspired by local fields and markets, the handcrafted floor references field patterns in a modern and abstract way. A high technology louvered ceiling bathes the space in filtered daylight and dynamic illumination at night. The glass lift tower, atrium edges, and balconies are honed, curved, and softened. The cove, swept-back bulkheads mimic the elegant folding geometry of the retail exterior facades.

Entrances

The main entrances welcome visitors and give an immediate impression of controlled luxury. The eye is welcomed by sinuous floor and ceiling lines drawing people deeper into the mall. Illumination levels mimic daylight to enhance the large urban scale of the space. Graphics, furnishings, and concierge counters provide an enticing portal for customers to enter and explore.

Mall Corridors

Materiality is sumptuous yet restrained. Intricately patterned marble stone floors contrast with simple white ceilings. Gently curving metal-edged lighting coves accentuate the retail facades and draw the line of vision towards atriums and junctions.

Restrooms

The restrooms. The cool grey and white marble interior with wood accents adopt a theme of reserved luxury designed to pamper and relax guests. Ergonomic attention is given to concealed soap dispensers, tissue holders, and waste bins. Intelligently lit mirrors and careful placement of overhead light prevent glare and overly bright reflection.

 

4. ART/ CULTURE

Allegorical references are made to the region’s local handicrafts, colors, markets, and mountainous landscapes.

To celebrate Kunming’s unique culture and identity, and provide a meaningful experience, visitors journey through a carefully curated series of the story lined motifs, artworks, and mosaics. Allegorical references are made to the region’s local handicrafts, colors, markets, and mountainous landscapes. A curatorial art master plan was prepared for each level of the mall by the firm Debut. Artworks, crafts, motifs, local patterns were reviewed and selected by the design and client team. Various formats were integrated into the interior design on walls, in lifts, and in-floor patterns. For instance, the local camellia flower is abstracted into cast iron motifs embedded inside and outside the restrooms. The intricately designed lift cabins exhibit mosaic patterns portraying the terraced landscapes of Yunnan. The central atrium stone floor expresses rice terrace and market lane patterns in the style of a giant “patterned rug”.

 

5. FURNITURE AND MATERIALITY
   

With over 20 marbles and 8 finishes, infinite tones and textures subtly wash the surfaces of the space.

To contrast with the metal/glass language of the architecture and express the contextual emotions of Kunming, natural materiality was adopted in the finishes and furnishings of the mall. Following extensive research, a rich assortment of marble stones was selected. The soft-toned marble conveys a strong sense of local context and gives a refined natural aesthetic to the space. Stone detailing, grain matching, jointing, and patterning is meticulous. With over 20 marbles and 8 finishes, infinite tones and textures subtly wash the surfaces of the space. To emphasize the stone, other neutral materials were used, such as black hairline stainless steel for skirtings, simple grained wood veneers on lobby walls, and clean white gypsum ceilings. In voids, minor atriums, lift lobbies, and other transitional spaces, wood veneer finishes were used to differentiate the space and create visual features. In these zones, specially crafted ceiling features were designed, using fire-resistant metal in wood film finish.