IS BIG BEAUTIFUL?

Trends & influences are moving faster than ever and this year's ICSC European Conference held in Berlin, 18-20 April, provided the ideal platform for 550 attendees to learn from thought provoking panel sessions, knowledge share with industry peers and colleagues and network with key industry figures from the shopping centre industry.

The theme "IS BIG BEAUTIFUL," looked at ‘Big’ from every angle: From Investment ambitions, retailer strategy, retail development goals and the industry’s success in having its critical role within the European economy acknowledged.

Secondary shopping centres fight against newer and larger competition, but can secondary centres reinvent themselves to fight back?

Other Conference topics included:

THE IMPORTANCE OF DEPARTMENT STORES

GLOBAL OUTLOOK FOR REAL ESTATE

HARNESSING DIGITAL, MOBILE & SOCIAL MEDIA TO BOOST FOOTFALL

Patrick Delcol (Chair of the ICSC European Conference 2012 Planning Committee and Country Head of Poland for DTZ real estate consultancy) says, "Thanks to ICSC, the industry now speaks with one voice within the European Parliament. As a result, European directives on issues such as sustainability and planning strategies are changing in our favour as the EU acknowledges the huge investment and employment the industry delivers across the region.”


Here are some of Patrick's closing remarks and conclusions on the Conference theme 'Is Big Beautiful?'...


"Designing a big shopping centre is more difficult and the risks are bigger, according to our panel of architects. We heard that Clients will be more concerned with their investment, planning is more difficult and most importantly from a design and use point of view, the building must integrate into its environment.”


There is an appetite and demand for big centres, but it’s difficult, if not almost impossible to get planning consent for such buildings in Western Europe. Big shopping centres are now much more likely to be built in Russia, China and South America.


It’s not so much about size anyway – it's about the relevance of a centre, it’s location and what makes it run successfully. He added that the wrong size centre is more likely to blight, not benefit, the market.


Going large might be the ambition for developers seeking to provide a true leisure destination which has across-the-board customer appeal, there is also a definite trend for shopping centres back in the city centre, where architects must build to a scale which matches the surroundings. Such centres benefit their environment by being more than just commercial, but offering residential and office space too.  Centres such as these can revitalise city centres – because there is just as much challenge for high streets to be relevant and accessible as there is for out of town shopping centres.


Whilst in Berlin I hosted a roundtable discussion ‘Mapping International Trends to stay one step ahead of the competition’ which was well received if you would like a copy of these trends feel free to email me jayne.rafter@rli.uk.com

On the Friday morning Chris and I met up with Filipa Fernandes, SES Spar European Shopping Centres; Wilner Anderson, Steen & Strom and Charles Larsson, Steen & Strom to visit a few shopping centres...I will post a new blog shortly with pics.

Bye for now!