Relevance and Efficiency in the blurred sector world

The Property Council’s second retail series breakfast for 2015 examined the blurring of the lines between shopping, technology and lifestyle activities, to foster customer affinity.

The breakfast featured a key note presentation from Frank Alvarez, Global Retail Leader – Woods Bagot. Frank Alvarez is a leader in retail environments, having contributed to the evolution of the shopping experience via the design of some of the world’s most highly regarded retail property assets, in particular during his time in the senior design leadership team for Westfield.

Frank provided a detailed look at the evolution of successful public spaces, citing the changing and diverse lifestyles of its users, the need for personalisation and interactivity and the influence of technology as major drivers.

Frank also focused on the developing concept of ‘pixilation’, that is, blurring the definitive lines between single activities in our day to day lives. This concept provided a fascinating backdrop to consider when designing the public realm.

Finally, Frank showed a number of examples of effective retail-led mixed use projects from around the world, discussing the value add proposition for these sites.

Frank was joined on the panel by Catherine Malady, Creative Director of POD (Point of Difference), a creative consultancy based in Australia specialising in retail food, branding, visual communications and merchandising.  

Catherine began the panel discussion by talking about current trends in food categories and menus, before moving on to the trends in design and place making, in the context of mixed use retail developments.

Catherine localised her presentation, finishing on a discussion of the recent refurbishment of Garden City, and the success of the various food precincts they have developed.

The Property Council would like to thank Frank and Catherine for traveling to Brisbane for this event and for their insights during the breakfast. Special thanks must also go to our panel moderator Andrew Hogg, National Director – Retail of Savills Project Management and Chair of the Property Council’s Retail Committee, as well as joint sponsors Yardi and Urbis.  

Joint sponsors

  

Andrew Hogg – Chair of the Property Council of Australia’s Retail Committee and Savills Project Management

Frank Alvarez – Woods Bagot

Catherine Malady – Point of Difference (POD)

Frank Alvarez – Woods Bagot, Andrew Hogg – Chair of the Property Council of Australia’s Retail Committee and Savills Project Management & Catherine Malady – Point of Difference (POD)

Peter Hyland – Urbis

Peter Hyland – Urbis, Frank Alvarez – Woods Bagot, Catherine Malady – Point of Difference (POD), Andrew Hogg – Chair of the Property Council of Australia’s Retail Committee and Savills Project Management & Chris Mountford – Property Council of Australia

Casey Shea & Lorraine Malloch – McVeigh Consultants & Fiona McDougall – ISPT

Miranda Wilson & Jason Buchanan – QIC

Jo Dillian & James McCormick – Charter Hall & Travis Frew – Brisbane City Council