From the pages of Images Retail (July 2009)

Luxury - gets a new address
By Nishi Roy

The four-storeyed shopping centre, located at the upmarket Khader Nawaz Road in Chennai, plans to house only premium international luxury brands. The luxe mall is going to be built along the lines of classical Italian architecture and replicates the buildings of Bergamo (a city of northern Italy in the foothills of the Alps, northeast of Milan).

Grand Design A grand imposing entrance to the structure will lead into a landscaped atrium, which will also house an aromatic fountain. The double-height lobby finished in ornate vaulted roofs and the double-height mall-passages add to the feeling of spaciousness of the mall. The centrally airconditioned mall with indoor quality management system will house various brand shops. These shops will have a minimum height of 14 feet on all floors, and will be accessible/ serviced by an imposing glass-style elevator. The four floors of the mall are expected to be done up with Italian marble and will sport engraved flooring and skirting.

On the second floor, the Victorianstyle Irish lounge with its ornate ceiling and classical dome will help the discerning customers to enjoy the ambience of the mall. The styled roof-top restaurant will add ot the complete the whole shopping experience. To satisfy the taste buds of the well-heeled customers, the mall will also house a gourmet food outlet (multi-cuisine) and a gourmet retail food outlet offering gourmet cheese, chocolates, candies, breads etc.

“Worldwide, luxury retail thrives in exclusive environs created especially for the purpose. Brands desiring to set shop in India have limited options and therefore seek out five-star hotels to house their boutiques. Some of the brands have not entered India due to lack of the appropriate spaces. The situation is acute in metros such as Chennai where brands, which are already present in other Indian cities, are hesitant to set shop due to lack of appropriate infrastructure despite knowing that the market offers good potential. Our aim is to create a viable alternative for such brands to offer their exclusive services,” says Ajay Agarwal, MD, Bergamo & KKA Buildtech Pvt Ltd.


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