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China Resources Land Limited CR Land: Wuxi MixC Mall
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CR Land: Wuxi MixC MallWuxi, 2021–2023

The art of shopping

Exper­tises
Shopping Malls

CR Land: Wuxi MixC Mall

Shopping centres are changing because customers are changing. Particularly in China, urban shopping and leisure facilities are expected to offer maximum comfort, sophisticated design, interactive or customised experiences and spaces for social interaction. Shopping malls are increasingly being transformed into community gathering places, reconfigured as public spaces tailored to specific target groups. For developer CR Land in Wuxi, eastern China, we designed a mall that is much more than a shopping experience: it is an inviting meeting place for shared activities, a blank canvas that vividly displays a colourful mix of people, brands, fashion and artistic expression.

A city of art

With 360 shops, event spaces, a cinema, a food court, a rooftop garden and an extended Riverside Market integrated into the outdoor area, Wuxi MixC Mall offers a diverse range of attractions with a high quality of stay. Time spent here should become a cherished memory. Reflecting its surroundings - linking Wuxi's downtown business district with recreational areas such as Tai Lake, Huishan Forest Park and Meiyuan Hengshan Nature Reserve - the mall skilfully blends bustling activity with references to the region's natural and cultural heritage, presenting them like exhibits in a museum.

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The interior is designed as an urban space with architectural structures and distinctive facades, where functional elements such as balconies, bridges, escalators and signage are highlighted as sculptural works of art that appear to float within the cityscape.

This setting is accessed via three uniquely designed atriums that double as exhibition spaces. The result is a network of distinctive streets, squares and plazas that create strong emotional connections, inspire exploration and foster vibrant urban sub-centres where people interact and enjoy spending time.

Artistic highlights and natural light

To help visitors navigate the sprawling 70,500 square metre space, the three atriums are distinctively designed. While all share a neutral white architectural base, they are contrasted by vibrant red accents on the staircases and walkways, creating memorable environments.

The East Atrium, the main entrance, features dramatic escalators and bridges that dynamically draw visitors into the building. Like a city with narrow streets and towering facades, the entrance expands and contracts, offering intriguing views of the mall. The undersides of the escalators and bridges are adorned with faceted metal panels that mimic the shimmering water reflections of the nearby lakes.

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In the west atrium, the sculptural arrangement of the escalators draws the eye upwards. Branching out like the branches of a tree, they lead to different floors, with square metal tiles evoking the paved walkways of the lakeshore and historic alleyways. The central atrium, also illuminated from above, is inspired by the local waterways, with sunlight breaking into kaleidoscopic patterns on reflective surfaces. Here, red accents are concentrated on the balconies, designed as meeting spaces with seating and greenery. The balconies feature triangular metal fragments that create dynamic reflections when viewed from below.

A large integrated display acts as both an information screen and a backdrop for the major events that regularly take place in the main atrium. Like a marketplace, this space is constantly evolving, creating a flexible environment that can be adapted to different occasions and needs.

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Interactive stages

In addition to the spacious atriums, Wuxi MixC Mall includes a number of public spaces designed to encourage social interaction and collective experiences. One of the most notable is the "Yummy" food court in the basement. This area offers not only a diverse culinary selection, but also opportunities for personal interaction. A central space, framed by a distinctive ceiling installation - a playful adaptation of the red theme - features partial green seating islands and additional seating areas for communal dining and relaxation.

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On the upper floors, interaction and communication are at the heart of the open space concept. The two-storey 'Moon Garden' is a dynamic event space surrounded by restaurants, which hosts live music, exhibitions and other small-scale events. Its most striking feature is the ceiling design: a large semicircular light sculpture reflecting off a metallic surface, resembling the moon shining on water. Polished, mirrored columns rise like shimmering crystals and extend infinitely into the undulating stainless steel ceiling.

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A canvas for experiences

The mall promotes a gallery-like atmosphere, enhanced by dramatic spatial compositions and precise lighting design that contrasts the 'white canvas' with shimmering highlight installations in otherwise minimalist spaces. Major collaborations with renowned artists and brands regularly redefine the atriums, while even corridors and toilets are used as exhibition spaces.

Corridors and elevator lobbies display the work of emerging creatives, while toilets abstractly extend the holistic design concept. Natural stone surfaces are treated like paintings, framed by lighting to create striking, artistic impressions.

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Moments of "yeah"

By combining spectacle and commerce, we redefine the concept of the shopping mall. Our goal is to create multi-functional experiential spaces and unique moments that are real, not digital, and unforgettable. We want to create social spaces that are inviting and endlessly explorable.

The hybrid concept of Wuxi MixC Mall offers inspiring places with high quality environments, fostering a strong connection with the visitors who spend their leisure time here - and enjoy an exceptional shopping experience at the same time.

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Plans

China Resources Land Limited CR Land: Wuxi MixC Mall  Plans

Facts & Figures

Client
China Resources Land Limited
Status
Completed (2024)
Photo­graphy
Zhu DiCreatAR Image
Exper­tises
Shopping Malls
Team
  • Jacques Chan
  • Holiday Guo 郭亚丹
  • Shark Huang
  • Chenyu Huang
  • Peter Ippolito
  • Maggie Jia
  • Jose Miso
  • Olivia Weng
  • Zhao Xie
Partner
  • AICO AICO, Architecture
  • Design Republic , FFE designer
  • EAD, Signage design
  • HDA, Lighting Design
  • Pland, Landscape architecture
  • TIANHUA Architecture Planning & Engineering Ltd., MEP & LDI

Awards & Publications

Awards
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