Shopping, working, watching movies and watching the Berlin monkeys groom each other: Bikini Berlin has many different facets. The former “Bikinihaus“ (Bikini House) from 1955 was recently remodeled into the world’s first concept mall. Exclusive retailers take advantage of its box concept, which they can use creatively for a set timeframe. In this interview, Dionys Ottl of the architecture firm Hild und K describes how the building complex could be designed in an ultra modern fashion despite monument protection issues and initial structural problems.

Within every consumer is primarily a human being: when architect Christoph Lay talks about his ideas for store design and concepts, you quickly realize that a store doesn’t just have to visually need to keep up with the times, but that a personal relationship with the customer should be crucial. For the past two-and-a-half decades, he has been designing stores; among them also stores for the drugstore chain dm-drogerie markt. Now he spoke with the iXtenso editorial staff about ideas that are out on the streets and ready for the taking and gives tips on how even large chain stores can permanently attract customers with an individual design.

Just like all other retailers, shopping center owners today are facing the challenge of offering customers a special shopping experience in order to stand up to the increasing competition by online retailers. This is why the architectural design also needs to improve the feel good factor and thus extend the customer’s length of stay at the center. In this interview, Dr. Karl Reinitzhuber, Co-CEO of mfi AG talks about the role architecture plays in the success of a shopping center and integrated services for customers.