Bonyan for Development and Trade, Citadel Capital’s platform company for specialty real estate projects, has announced the launch of Designopolis, the first furnishings mall and design center in the Mena region.

The company also unveiled the first and second phase of its Designopolis furnishings, design and home accessories mall in Sixth of October City.

Several local and international brands have leased 100 per cent of the first two phases of the 116,824 sq m open air space at Designopolis, said the company officials.

The venue will feature local and international furniture and design brands as well as complementary services and attractions.

The list includes major international tenants such as TechnoGym, Artissimo, Archimedia, Madar and Reflection, besides Gemma (Al-Jawhara), Amr Helmy, 3 Brothers, Shatex and Taki.

Model flagship stores already welcoming customers include Bo Concept, Maison Coloniale, Roche Bobois, Alessi and Art of Form.

“Designopolis brings the best home-grown and international interiors concepts to Egypt in one location,” said Nader Lahzi, managing director of Bonyan.

“But in its form, Designopolis looks to be more than a retailer. From products to services and sources of inspiration, Designopolis honors creativity and vision. It is a destination for professionals and families alike, a place to explore ideas, find unique and world-class items or simply appreciate the possibilities of designed interiors.”

Designopolis was designed by the renowned architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and will be Egypt’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction project.

The indoor-outdoor site integrates the natural environment with 55,000 square meters of shopping space and capacity to host 220 brand outlets. It is located just off the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road mere minutes past the entrance to Smart Village.

“Egypt’s commercial and residential real estate market continues to expand on the strength of a rapidly growing population and increased earning power,” said Marwan Elaraby, managing director at Citadel Capital.

'Housing demand continues to exceed supply by some 350,000 units annually as Egypt’s population grows and the benefits of development find their way into the broader society.'

'Designopolis will showcase a wide range of brands at one location to capitalize on the highly fragmented industry that now serves this sector.'

The mall will include attractions such as art galleries, an auction house, exhibition hall, interior design school, amphitheater and public design library.

The mall’s complementary service offerings provide personal shopping and concierge services, a resources bureau, an interior design consultancy, movers and packers, mortgage companies and insurance services.

Bonyan is currently studying opportunities to expand Designopolis both to other locations within Egypt such as Katameya as well as internationally to Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Morocco, where growth trends support major real estate developments, he added.-TradeArabia News Service