How to weave spell of shopping mall magic
Print Edition
Architect Chris Lanksbury is the designer behind many big projects, including Shanghai’s largest commercial shopping complex, Global Harbor in Putuo District that opened recently.
He is the director of the London firm Chapman Taylor, which has many high profile projects in China, including Citic Square on Nanjing Road W., Infiniti Plaza on Huaihai Road M., a Hangzhou office building in Zhejiang Province, and Changxing Island City Center in Dalian, Liaoning Province.
Not only in China, Lanksbury has designed projects in more than 50 countries, including London Heathrow Terminal 5, MediaCityUK and Trafford Centre in Manchester, UK; and Centennial Hall in Wroclaw, Poland.
The palatial structure in Putuo district is gigantic, domed, shaped like a ship, and opulently decorated in red and gold.
It is also a cultural venue for standing exhibitions, new art openings and performances.
Shanghai Daily talks with Lanksbury about what it takes to build a successful commercial project.
Q: How do you bring life to a commercial building?
A: The shopping experience has to be more varied. A major difference in China is the quantity of restaurants, cafes. The Chinese stomach is very important, so that in itself creates enormous vibrancy. The basic (non high-end) shopping environment is all about variety.
Q: What are some current projects?
A: We’re working all over. We’re doing big master plans in China, in the south and Beijing. I like to work in the Philippines. There’s a lot of work in Russia. We’re working in the center of Rome, regenerating the old market hall. We are also doing the biggest residential project in India.
Q: Is there a dream project?
A: I like big city center projects — which creates a sort of new focus for the city — multi-use, everything, residential and hospitality. And very importantly, something which is not just a building or series of buildings but is also very landscape and urban realm — that would be the dream project rally. You could really play with a big part of the city.
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