Retail: The Latest Architecture and News

Like many large scale projects around the country, REX’s Museum Plaza, in the city of Louisville, Kentucky, had just broken ground and had given light to many dreams for the downtown community when the nation’s financial crisis hit the city. Needless to say, financing came to a standstill and funding for the towers the city had been hoping for was no longer an option. Their current construction loan of $140.5 million, city contributions, bonds and funds already put forth by the team was not enough to proceed in their construction efforts until positive news came their way at the turn of the month. More images and description after the break.

Signaling the growing influence of China’s inland cities, global architecture, engineering and urban design practice RTKL, announced the groundbreaking of the first phase of Pearl River New Town, an 80-acre district in Chengdu that will form the heart of the city’s westward growth and modernization. More images and architect’s description after the break.

Hungarian architects Építész Stúdió shared with us ‘Red Rocks’, a residential and retail project for Budapest, Hungary. More images and architect’s description after the break.

[blip.tv ?posts_id=4151677&dest=-1]The Santa Caterina Market is Barcelona's oldest market, built in 1848. Nearly the entire market was recently renovated by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue of EMBT Associated Architects. The very expressive arc roof, mosaic tiled designed by artist Toni Comella, displays vivid colors and figures that represent vegetables and fruit.Video: Studio Banana TV

Five unique retail projects for the 5th selection of our previously featured projects. Enjoy them all after the break!

Uniqlo Megastore / Curiosity Curiosity has completed the design of the Uniqlo Megastore that has opened near Shinjuku station in Tokyo. The new design is strongly influenced by the Tokyo urban landscape and the large entrance, marked with three display towers, recreates a mini-Shinjuku city. As the lighting floor wraps the towers in a glow of light that illuminates the surrounding streets, the shop becomes an active element of the street: attractive, reliable, and secure (read more…)

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) recently celebrated the grand opening of its most recent retail project, Palace 66. Designed by KPF, the Hang Lung Property by Hang Lung Properties Limited covers 1.2 million square feet, and lies in the heart of Shenyang’s vibrant commercial and cultural center in the Shenhe District of Zhongjie Lu.

More images and full press release after the break.