After three years of construction, the Shanghai Guohua International Plaza opened in early 2020, for which Benoy provided the interior design and customer journey strategy. The project is located at the heart of the revitalized business district of “Wujiaochang”, one of the four sub-city centres of Shanghai. Sitting at the intersection of Zhayin Road, Sanmen Road and Songhu Road, the plaza enjoys convenient transportation and easy access to the Sanmen Road station at Metro Line 10.
As a large commercial complex measuring more than 160,000 square metres in gross floor area, the Shanghai Guohua International Plaza seamlessly combines various sector offerings, including offices, hotels, retail, entertainment, dining, cinemas and family amenities.
The interior design gives prominence to a relatively compact mall space with a building volume of approximately 60,000 square metres. Benoy creates a multiplicity of visual contrasts by focusing on the passage of time and the interactions between contrasting elements — the past and the future, old and the new, natural and industrial, raw and refined — forming a unique style of interior design that comes together harmoniously. Natural materials are used to create a comfortable and refined business environment. Wide-ranging design features such as veneers with natural textures, industrial-inspired metal mesh, concrete feature walls with a modern touch, cosy and exquisite indoor lighting, as well as a skylight in the shape of a tree, are just some of the elements that lend artistic style and refinement unique to the retail complex.
The Guohua Plaza is branded in English as G‑Mall, wherein “G” not only stands for the initial letter of the Chinese pinyin “Guo”, but also connotes “Great”, “Gathering”, “Glamour” and “Gallery”, among other things. The design seeks to create a unique retail experience where customers can leisurely chat or read while resting against the balustrade or dine and relax in the central terrace of each floor, experiencing the passage of time as light and shadow penetrate through the skylight. The business elements of G‑Mall are incorporated into the shopping experience and add to the overall corporate atmosphere through the dynamically arranged dining areas, entertainment facilities, children spaces, retail stores and the food court.
The mall space is primarily divided into two areas: Section A featuring entertainment and community, and Section B with a theme centred on lifestyle. It is worth noting that in Section B there is an IKEA store in the atrium. Benoy’s overall interior design matches the “IKEA style” perfectly, creating an atmosphere that is unique to IKEA and also in harmony with the general decorating style at the business centre. The Nordic, minimalist IKEA trademark has become the unique interior design style for the plaza, adding to the plaza’s value as a retail complex, and opening up the new business model of the Wujiaochang hub. The IKEA store officially opened to the public early this month.
The phased opening of the Shanghai Guohua International Plaza elevates the living, shopping and entertainment experience of Wujiaochang’s residents. A pioneer of the rejuvenated business district in the New Jiangwan City, the plaza aims to establish itself as a leading commercial destination in the region.
