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mixed-use

credit: Kaufland

SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN: HOW KAUFLAND IS FUTUREPROOFING ITS STORES WITH EDGE CERTIFICATION

EDGE certification is a key part of Kaufland’s bold plan to slash CO₂ emissions across its vast real estate portfolio. From triple glazing to heat recovery systems, Dominik Uhe, Head of Investor Relationship Management at Kaufland International describes how a data-driven approach is transforming Kaufland’s properties into models of green retail – and why Kaufland believes sustainability starts with the building itself.

SOLAL AWARDS 2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT AN INNOVATIVE GALA EVENT IN WARSAW

The winners of the 2025 Solal Marketing Awards were announced at an outstanding gala event at fashionable leisure venue Fabryka Norblina in Warsaw. The live event was the first celebration of the most effective and innovative marketing campaigns in the shopping center industry since the pandemic. A record-number of entries in eleven distinct categories were received, with finalists joining the event from countries right across Europe, Canada and South Africa.

NO ROOM FOR MEDIOCRITY: HOW RETAIL POLARIZATION IS RESHAPING THE SHOPPING LANDSCAPE

A quiet but profound shift is transforming the retail industry across Europe: while luxury and discount segments thrive, many mid-tier retailers—once considered the backbone of the high street and shopping centers—are struggling to stay afloat. This growing polarization is not merely a passing trend; it is a structural shift that reflects changing consumer behaviors, economic realities, and the need for clear market positioning. But if you take a closer look, you will see that it is not the middle that is dying, but only mediocrity. What is emerging is a new middle ground between luxury and discount, determined by one thing alone: relevance.

credit: Takko Fashion

TAKKO FASHION: “WE DELIVER RELIABILITY FOR CUSTOMERS AND LANDLORDS”

The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, has shown retail real estate operators who is a reliable rental partner, says Oleg Krüger, Senior Director of Expansion at Takko Fashion. The discount fashion retailer is growing against the market trend and is pursuing ambitious growth targets. In an interview with ACROSS, Krüger explains the new role of discounters in European retail and how Takko is positioning itself strategically in a polarized retail landscape.

credit: IPH/BBE

THE “MID-RANGE SEGMENT” AS SUCH IS NOT DYING – BUT “MEDIOCRITY” IS

Consumer behavior is changing: Price awareness meets experience, and higher quality is in demand. Between premium concepts that offer high levels of experience and the successful formats found in the discount sector, there is less and less room for what has long been known as the “mid-range segment”. ACROSS spoke to Lars Jähnichen, Managing Director of the IPH Gruppe, and Dr. Johannes Berentzen, Managing Director of BBE Handelsberatung, about the causes, effects, and opportunities associated with this development – with a focus on consumer behavior, space requirements, and the impact on locations and the real estate industry.

Silvio Kirchmair, CEO of umdasch The Store Makers (left), "Kämmerei" in Düsseldorf, Germany (right). /// credit: umdasch The Store Makers, Art-Invest Real Estate

REDEFINING PLACEMAKING: INSIDE THE KÄMMEREI’S VIBRANT MIXED-USE CONCEPT

In “Kämmerei”, Düsseldorf has a prime example of how retail space can be combined with other concepts in a sustainable way. The former administration building is being carefully revitalized by umdasch The Store Makers to become modern mix of office, retail, restaurant and event space.

Priscilla Tomasoa, Head of Marketing & Communications at Redevco (left), Beats per Minute (BPM) development project at Rue de Rivoli, Paris. /// credit: Redevco

126 RIVOLI – THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT LANDMARK OF PARIS

Redevco is transforming the iconic 126 Rivoli in Paris into a vibrant 13,000 sq m mixed-use space. Located on one of Paris’s main shopping streets, Beats Per Minute (BPM) aims to be a modern urban development landmark, combining environmental and societal goals and revitalizing the city.

Recommended reading: A look at ‘Modern Retail Management’

With the book Modern Retail Management, Dr. Johannes B. Berentzen and Dr. Philipp Hoog present an outstanding collection that takes an in-depth look at the pressing issues of today’s – and tomorrow’s – retail landscape. Featuring 24 thought-provoking chapters by 36 leading experts, the book offers a rare blend of academic insight and practical guidance. From digital transformation and omnichannel strategy to sustainability and AI, this forward-looking volume equips readers with the tools and ideas needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector. Essential reading for anyone looking to shape the future of retail.

Ian Sandford, President of Eurofund group (left), NUGA Castellana, Spain (right). /// credit: Eurofund Group

NUGA CASTELLANA: MADRID’S NEW LANDMARK DESTINATION

NUGA Castellana will be designed for “work, live and play”. The goal is to unify all spaces which are managed by PIMCO Prime Real Estate — Paseo de la Castellana 200-208, Félix Boix 4-8, Doctor Fleming 39-41, and Carlos Maurrás 7 (five residential units out of the 14 that make up the asset, alongside commercial spaces) — into a single block that blends cutting-edge design with the most advanced technology.

credit: SES

Modernization of Innsbruck’s (Austria) first city-center mall begins: SILLPARK to become more modern, brighter and healthier

The approval of the planning permission has paved the way for the large-scale modernization of SILLPARK Innsbruck, to be implemented by fall 2026 while the center operates as normal and without impacting shop opening times. The construction work on the mall began a few days ago, with no restrictions for visitors. SILLPARK, Innsbruck’s first city-center shopping mall, opened in 1990 and will now also gain a completely new health park. The investment of EUR 30 million will make SILLPARK the most modern location in Tyrol for socializing and shopping.

Aerial view of Stureplan in Stockholm, Sweden. /// credit: nya Sture

Place Of The Week — Stureplan, Stockholm, Sweden

Stureplan is an extraordinary quarter, currently undergoing a major redevelopment. The work on revitalizing the neighbourhood is now in full swing, which, once finished, will house Stockholm’s most exclusive offices and international top-tier shopping locations, along with 20 new restaurants and expanded services. Sture’s new refurbishment project is set to finish in 2026.

credit: ACROSS, Wonderwoods, Milan Hofmans

Place Of The Week: Wonderwoods, Utrecht, The Netherlands

The recently opened Wonderwoods in Utrecht, the Netherlands, stands out for its unique combination of living, working and leisure in a unique urban green oasis, setting a new standard for urban development. This mixed-use project in Utrecht’s Beurskwartier district brings nature and urban dynamics together in two iconic towers with 75,000 plants and shrubs and 300 trees forming a one-hectare vertical forest.

credit: rock&stars digital, URW

The Opening Date Of Hamburg’s Most Awaited Shopping And Lifestyle Destination Is Rapidly Approaching

Hamburg is preparing for its new shopping highlight with the opening date of the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier on April 8 being just around the corner. In combination with a wide range of gastronomy, entertainment and cultural offerings, the official opening of the center will establish a new shopping and lifestyle destination that is unique in northern Germany and offers exceptional experiences for both the local community and all visitors.

Fuzja mixed-use development in Łódź, Poland. /// credit: ACROSS, Archicom

Place Of The Week: Fuzja, Łódź, Poland

Designed by Medusa Group and developed by Echo Investment Group and Archicom, the mixed-use development Fuzja (Fusion) in Łódź, Poland, is an outstanding project that has most recently won the prestigious MIPIM Award for Best Urban Regeneration Project, as well as its Special Jury Award for the revitalization of a former factory area.

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Shaping Spaces: Top Placemaking Projects of 2025
Across the globe, developers and architects are reimagining what it means to create “retail space.” The projects featured in this special edition, selected by leading industry experts, represent more than just successful developments; they are blueprints for the future of how we live, shop, and connect.
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