Simones speaks to RetailWatch Magazine about Adana Town Center, Winner Best Shopping Centre at the 2021 MIPIM Awards
A LEISURE PALACE IN URBAN TURKEY
ISSUE 1 - 2021 | PROPERTYEU RETAILWATCH
Adana Town Center is an integrated retail and entertainment project combining a choreographic series of spaces designed by architectural firm Jerde. Diverse areas for shopping, leisure, entertainment and culture form an urban oasis, with the goal of creating the premier attraction for the City of Adana and the region. The project won Best Shopping Centre at the 2021 MIPIM Awards.
Says John Simones, design principal in charge: ‘The city needed an identifiable place of its own that blends historical reference and cultural archetype, and the idea of an urban oasis was really exciting. The project gives this sense of exploration, of walking, of discovering its blended uses – theatre, recreation, dining – while creating a neighbourhood that can accommodate everyone. Adana is a very family-oriented city and this project is made for all ages, with its sunken courtyard, grand arcades, the food hall, and various plazas.’
‘Retail schemes today have been transformed from places of pure consumption to places of experience. People want more. Local consumers need destinations that they can enjoy, browse, spend time; this is what Adana does. At the same time, you’re creating a place for people from around the region, a magnet for communal gatherings, as well as an important commercial hub for the region.’