Interesting Independents with new ideas
Throughout the ages all communities have centred social interaction around markets. The internet is the latest threat and change but it doesn’t provide an experience to purchases. Town centres will survive but must adapt by providing more experiential offerings.
Retailers themselves are adapting but landlords too must provide variety and interest to shopping centres with a greater emphasis in introducing interesting independents to sit alongside and complement the established brands. Pop ups provide opportunity for new ideas to be trialled , vintage clothing, street food, food markets and themed events all provide reasons to visit.
The Avenue has recently been bought and Verve Properties have considerable experience in regeneration and place-making, most notably with Paintworks in Bristol. Work is now underway with the first phase of the re positioning and improvement of the Avenue. The existing tenants will remain but all efforts are being made to improve the environment and widen the appeal of the centre to create more interest and diversity to increase the reasons to visit the Avenue.
A shopping centre re invented
Inside the new iconic frontage the mall is being re worked with pop ups inside a tug boat , a container and a vintage 2 CV . The atrium is opened up again and has giant hanging trees which give a sense of a gallery that compliments the escalator art installation . Upstairs on floors left empty for 20 years offices are being created with views over the gardens . The former Loading Dock and service yard are being transformed into a Shoreditch style multi function event space and an application has been lodged for consent for a roof top bar again over looking the Gardens
Biophilia
Biophilia isn’t even a word yet on predictive text yet but is the innate tendency of humans to seek out connections with nature and other forms of life. In the countdown to save our planet we must celebrate nature and change our behaviour accordingly.
The Avenue has uncovered the original buildings which had been covered for decades behind black glass cladding. The fabric that could be restored has been and that which has been lost is covered by a living wall which is changed seasonally. The introduction of green living plants in Commercial Road provide an attractive calming effect to the main shopping street but also provide a living connection to Terrace Gardens behind and accessed through the mall. An art installation inspired by Climate has been installed in an abandoned escalator area by local art creators Syrup Room. Giant Kokodamas (suspended Japanese trees) will hang from the atrium.
Within the mall cosmetic improvements and interventions have been made such as a pop up outlet in a vintage 2 CV.
Connecting to nature
A hoarded off and abandoned escalator area has been uncovered and dressed as an art installation by local designers Syrup Room . The area provides a seating area and book exchange adjacent to the new cafe/bike shop . In the atrium 3 giant hanging trees ( kokodamas) will be suspended from the ceiling.
For General Information,
retail Opportunities and events
The Avenue
Commercial Road, Bournemouth
BH2 5RP
Opening Times
09:00 to 17:30 Monday to Saturday
10:30 to 16:30 on Sundays