Design International, an innovative architectural practice with vast experience on a global scale, is showcasing some of its innovative projects at Mapic, an international retail real estate show, being held in France.

The event, being held at Palais Des Festivals, Cannes in France, concludes tomorrow (November 16).

Originally founded in Toronto, Canada, in 1965, Design International is now headquartered in London, with offices in Milan (Italy), Shanghai and Dubai. It works across six integrated divisions: architecture, master planning, interior design, lighting design, landscape design and graphic design.

During the event, the company will be showcasing the journey from retail to hospitality in the digital era and the importance of technology as both common denominator and driver of change in consumer behaviour.

One of the world’s most prolific architects with a vast experience in tailoring unique designs on a global scale, Design International said every design has its own individual story; bespoke spaces are created to trigger a unique experience for entire communities, residents and guests alike.

The success of DI lies in the ability to shape a story that transforms the physical experience, said a company spokesman.

"For example, we were instrumental in the design of the first food courts in North America and Europe, some of which have been so successful that they continue to operate to this day," he noted.

Design International, he stated, will this year join a new initiative, Space Vision, collaborating with Acqua Group, Dedem, and Spazio Futuro, who will join forces to create innovative and contemporary products of a high technical quality.

The top architect said the key projects on display at the Cannes expo include Ferrari Centro Stile, a recently opened project directed by the Ferrari Design team led by Arch, Flavio Manzoni and design in co-operation with Design International London studio, led by Arch Davide Padoa and with Planning engineering studio and Reem Towers in Abu Dhabi, with a promenade dedicated to dining and an innovative façade digital system.

The expo will also see its landmark project, Izmir, a striking mixed-use centre located on Turkey’s Aegean coast and the Linkong Mall in Shanghai with its minimalist and modern design which will provide a green and fresh haven for people to appreciate and encounter, it added.

The UK-headquartered architectural practice had recently launched its coffee table book, Motion Buildings Meeting Places, at the d3 Dubai.

The move is an outcome of Design International’s philosophy that is deep rooted in the belief that every design has its own individual story; "these bespoke spaces are created with the aim to trigger a unique experience for guests. The success lies in its ability to shape stories to transform experiences."

The book highlights key take-home design messages by the partners at Design International which takes the reader back down memory lane when Design International began its journey and how over the years the founding partners have transformed the standard design of shopping malls and buildings into functional and yet unique immersive environments.-TradeArabia News Service