Sustainable Design for Retail Spaces

Amit Singhal, director, GPM Architects and Planners, states that while the consumer experience plays a major role in commercial spaces, an integrated design approach that considers the rules of environmental sustainability is equally necessary

- Amit Singhal

The unprecedented impact of the pandemic on all industries has shifted our approach towards creating designs that are resilient and meaningful for the future. Particularly in the retail sector, sustainability concerns are taking predominance and the need for safer public spaces is changing its face towards an ingenious blend of traditional design principles with modern technology. As we have become more aware of our surroundings, physical commercial spaces need to step up and offer an optimized shopping experience to engage with the users.

Our approach towards the design of commercial spaces needs to go beyond the box-type monotony of modern buildings and provide a solution that is sustainable and connected to nature, while offering ample opportunities for engagement. One of the models to explore is the open-to-sky high-street ‘haat’ experience, as it offers the best of both worlds – access to multiple retail stores and safe open spaces for customers to engage with. The interesting aspect of this model is that it has all the facilities under one roof, along with multiple galleries, piazzas and landscaped courtyards that reinforce the users’ connection with nature.