EXPLORE PLACES
Places that make us pay attention
A place tells you a lot about what its creators believe about people.
We look at streets, neighborhoods, shopping districts, hotels, airports, restaurants, cultural destinations, stadium districts and mixed-use developments, to admire them, be inspired, and understand them.
DESTINATION RETAIL
When shopping becomes a reason to travel
The world's leading retail destinations are increasingly behaving less like shopping centers and more like cultural destinations.
The most interesting examples combine flagship retail with dining, hospitality, art, architecture, wellness, entertainment and public space, creating environments where the transaction is only one part of the experience.
Dubai, UAEDubai Mall
Dubai Mall, situated at the heart of it all in Downtown Dubai, is the most visited retail and lifestyle destination in the world - welcoming over 100 million visitors every year.
A mall like no other, Dubai Mall has more than 1,200 retail outlets, including two anchor department stores, along with over 200 international dining experiences and a wide range of entertainment and leisure attractions for families to enjoy.
Tokyo, JapanGinza Six
GINZA SIX, a large-scale urban redevelopment project, is the largest commercial complex in the Ginza area. The site merges the former site of the Matsuzakaya Department Ginza Store and a neighboring block for integrated development. In addition to a large-scale retail complex, offices, and cultural exchange facilities, the site includes a bus terminal, and rooftop garden, The site offers local convenience, improved comfort, and leading disaster preparedness.
London, UK
Westfield London
Westfield London is a massive 2.6 million squre foot shopping and lifestyle destination locateed in White City, West London. Opened in 2008 and expanded in 2018, it features over 400 stores, ranging from high-street favorites to luxury brands in "The Village", plus dozens of restaurants and entertainment venues.
London, UKHarrods
Harrods is a world famous luxury department store located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London. Spanning 1.1 million square feet across seven floors with over 300 departments, it is the largest department store in Europe and a major international tourist destination known for high-end fashion, fine food halls, and grand architecture.
What we're asking“If consumers can buy almost anything online, what makes a physical retail destination worth leaving home for?”
MIXED-USE DESTINATIONS
The most compelling mixed-use developments aren't collections of uses. They're ecosystems.
Retail + residential + office + hotel doesn't automatically create a destination. The magic happens when those uses reinforce one another and create an environment people want to inhabit.
When the destination is the product
Seattle, USASeattle Waterfront
The transformation of the Seattle Waterfront began with the decision to remove the aging Alaskan Way Viaduct, paving the way for a revitalized and people-centered space. Today, the central waterfront flourishes with vibrant public art, inviting gathering areas, recreational opportunities, and dynamic cultural programming, creating a destination that truly puts the community first.
Atlanta, USAPonce City Market
In 2020, Jamestown announced Ponce City Market’s Phase 2 expansion, which will add 500,000 square feet of office and living space, including 400 “hospitality living” units, which are somewhere between a hotel and an apartment, with amenities like housekeeping and laundry service. By 2023, Signal House, a 21-story, 162-unit residential rental community, featuring 155,198 SF of living space with 3,331 SF of BeltLine-facing retail welcomed the first residence.
Singapore, Singapore
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands is a massive integrates resort in Singapore featuring a luxury hotel, a giant rooftop SkyPark with an infinity pool, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands mall, an ArtScience Musuem, and a casino.Opened in 2010 and designed by architect Moshe Safdie, it is a major global landmark.
London, UK
Kings Cross
King’s Cross is one of the largest and most successful redevelopments in London. Over the past 20 years, what was an underused industrial site has been transformed and rejuvenated with new streets, squares and parks, homes, shops, offices, galleries, bars, restaurants, schools, and even a university.
What we're asking“When does mixed-use become more than the sum of its parts?”
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People
PEOPLE WORTH LISTENING TO
The people shaping our thinking about leadership, behavior, experience, cities, brands and growth.
We're interested in people who challenge assumptions, connect seemingly unrelated ideas and make us see familiar things differently.
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Research
EVIDENCE WORTH EXPLORING
We follow research that helps us understand changing consumer behavior, economic forces, technology, cities, culture, retail, hospitality and the future of work.
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Brands
BRANDS WORTH WATCHING
The best brands don't simply sell something. They create preference. They make an experience easier, more meaningful, more desirable or more memorable. -
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Culture
CULTURE IS COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE
Culture tells us what people are beginning to care about before conventional market research always catches up. -
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Futures & Foresight
A LOOK AHEAD & AROUND THE CORNER
We don't believe anyone can predict the future.But we do believe leaders can become better at seeing the signals. The futurists we follow help us distinguish between a passing trend and a meaningful shift.
