On 31 December 2024, the grand opening of Shanghai EXPO Place, for which Benoy provided the interior design services, marked the beginning of a new chapter for Shanghai’s commercial and cultural sectors. This landmark event injected new vitality and charm into the city, setting the stage for the year ahead.
Benoy Director and Head of Shanghai Studio, Qin Pang, and Associate Director of Interior Design, Louise Ma, were honoured to join the opening ceremony at the client’s invitation, along with representatives from the team to celebrate this memorable occasion.
Shanghai EXPO Place is located in a district where deep historical heritage meets modern innovative vitality. This unique setting imbues the project a sense of mission and significance. With its extensive urban links, the development seamlessly connects the surrounding cultural and tourist venues in the Expo area, transforming it into a hub for vibrant, contemporary lifestyles.
The entire EXPO Place project spans 320,000 square meters, including the newly opened 50,000-square meter shopping mall. Benoy also provided interior design and soft furnishing concepts for the two high-rise Grade A office buildings, each 94,000-square meter, which achieved LEED Gold certification and were completed earlier this year.
The project further includes two multi-story commercial buildings and two high-end hotels, both of which have leased, with one designed in the traditional Haipai style.
EXPO Place serves as a vital addition to the Expo area’s commercial landscape and is set to play a key role in revitalising the area’s commercial potential. Its innovative “mall + neighbourhood” concept combines sunken plazas, rooftop dining options, and terraced seating areas to create a diverse spatial experience. Retail offerings include an array of concept stores and flagship stores, while the operational strategy fosters a welcoming and engaging experience for business travellers, cyclists and enthusiasts alike.
Centered on innovative brands, exceptional service, and customer emotional resonance at its core, the project aims to create a new benchmark for modern living in Pudong — a place where beauty, comfort and delightful surprises converge.
From the project’s inception, the Benoy team delved deeply into the historical heritage of the EXPO Place site and the needs of the local community. Their goal was to create cutting-edge commercial and office interiors that honour the past while embracing a forward-looking vision of diverse lifestyles.
The interior design draws inspiration from the site’s legacy, including the Shanghai No. 3 Steel Mill, integrating its clean, linear structure and bold spatial industrial contrasts into the project’s design. The spatial language extends the ecological and cultural narrative of the surrounding Expo area, bringing the interior spaces to life visually and physically.
Benoy leverage its extensive experience in designing the large-scale commercial and office complexes to harmonize the relationship between this mixed-use development and the surrounding cultural and recreational projects.
Smooth lines and flexible partitions connect functional spaces seamlessly, while curated artwork enhances the commercial areas with vibrancy and creativity. From fashionable shopping zones and fine dining areas to cultural exhibitions to leisure and entertainment spaces, the design ensures a seamless interplay of diverse functions.
The grand opening of Shanghai EXPO Place represents a pivotal moment in the cultural and commercial development of the Expo district. It signifies a milestone in post-Expo development and introduces a premium destination for retail and cultural experiences, designed for both locals and visitors.
As Shanghai moves into the new year, this project is poised to serve as a model for the integration of culture and commerce and the harmonious coexistence of space and experience in development projects, exuding its unique charm and influence.
Congratulations to SSR Foundation, China Resources Land, as well as the Benoy team, and all consulting partners for their dedication and collaborative efforts in bringing this vision to life.
