Unibail-Rodamco to build France's 1st open-air mall

Unibail-Rodamco is joining forces with the Chambon family's Socri Group to develop Polygone Riveria, the first open-air shopping centre in France.

The scheme, planned to open on the French Riviera near Nice in autumn 2015, will represent an investment of €350 mln.

Europe's largest listed property group said the 'green and open-air centre will offer to take visitors on a real journey around art, shopping and leisure'. It will offer a total of 75,000 m2 of retail space, restaurants, art and culture, organised around four districts; Art de Vivre focusing on interior design; Lifestyle focusing on entertainment; Premium offering a collection of iconic brands and fashion and Luxury, offering an array of prestigious brands.

The scheme was designed by José Ignacio Galán Martinez, the architect behind Unibail's La Maquinista mall in Spain. It will target a BREEAM environmental certificate.

Polygone Riveria is located in a region with 1.1 million inhabitants, and with 14 million tourists per annum.