BUILDING A SHOPPING CENTRE WITH OPEN ARCHITECTURE

REQUIREMENT

Shopping centre with flexible usage and high quality user experience

A new shopping centre was to be created for the Shopping Mile Nordstrooss in Marnach, combining different uses in one building. The brief called for a flexible building concept for retail, catering and office space that combined regional appeal with efficient construction. The aim was to create an open, light-flooded building with a clear architectural identity and a high quality user experience.

In addition to the architectural effect, the focus was on short construction times, cost control and a sustainable overall concept. The shopping centre was to be energy-efficient, have low operating costs and remain adaptable in the long term. At the same time, a construction method was required that would enable large, connected sales areas and flexibly accommodate different spatial concepts.

RESULT

Transparent architecture with self-supporting steel construction

A shopping centre with a total area of over 10,000 m² was built using modern steel construction methods. The self-supporting construction creates maximum flexibility for the interior layout and enables large-scale utilisation without disruptive subdivisions.

The two-storey, glazed façade, which allows daylight deep into the building and creates an open, bright atmosphere, is a defining feature. Dark sandwich elements on the sides create a clear contrast between light and dark and emphasise the architectural effect. The roof, which is raised towards the car park, reinforces the inviting, three-dimensional appearance of the building.

Inside, a mix of uses was realised with clear space parameters: large shop areas including Cactus Supermarché with 4,150 m² and a clear height of over 7 m, plus a two-storey restaurant with 330 m² and a spacious terrace as well as other retail and ancillary areas. Thanks to the modular design, the building can be extended and utilised efficiently over its entire life cycle.