— Kazan – Shopping Center

What were your main aims in creating the shopping center in Kazan?

Quite simply the main task of the shopping center was to provide the people of Kazan with a good place to go shopping and have fun. It’s located in the center of the city, near a popular recreation zone - Millennium Park, central plaza, and the Lake Nizhny Kaban embankment. This place is also important for the locals as it’s very close to the residential part of the city, so it was important to create a place that they would want to visit there. The goal was to connect of all these elements into one enjoyable space.

That makes perfect sense. Tell us more about the actual shopping center, what is there and how did you make it appealing to the local population?

We integrated a lot of different aspects into the center; it’s not just a shopping center, there is of course a shopping mall, but there are also entertainment and recreation spaces. These different areas are all cohesively integrated, so visitors will feel comfortable spending a lot of time there.

How did you make it aesthetically appealing to visitors?

We made careful use of the façade of the building to both draw more natural light into the interior and create some visual interest. The façade composition is based on the long horizontal lines of the elevations, and shows the smooth shape of the building. These long elevation stripes are completely glazed and it is this which provides the natural light. Thick white cornices emphasize the smooth shape. The façade is also covered with thin colorful slabs, which means the appearance is different depending on the angle from which it is being looked at it. This creates some visual excitement as the façade looks original from all different sides and is constantly changing as you walk along the shopping center.

It sounds interesting. What about the interior, how is the building laid out?

The layout of the building is clear- one closed gallery and two lines of boutiques – one inside and one outside. The main atrium and galleries have an open roof, which provides more natural light to the whole building. It also has two entrances – one main entrance for visitors, and a separate entrance for the parking.

What are the parking facilities like, how do most visitors get to the mall?

We noticed that many of the shopping center’s visitors arrive by car, so we placed a big parking area in front of the main entrance. This means it’s more comfortable for visitors to leave the car near the shopping center.

Very sensible. Can you tell us more about the exterior, how is it landscaped?

The landscape was partially designed near the main entrance, where there are “islands” with greenery and trees, pedestrian infrastructure, and some places where people can rest, such as benches and other places to relax. Also the roof of the center has a recreation zone which can be used on warm days as an open terrace.

It sounds as if you fulfilled your brief of creating a space appealing for local visitors, what has been the outcome of the project?

We successfully created a unique public space, focused on a family audience and that provides opportunities for children to play. Not only is the shopping center appealing to the visitors and capable of making a strong impression on the them, but it was also designed in a way to attain maximum profitability.

So you achieved your aim of providing the residents of Kazan with somewhere they want to spend time and shop.