Better Together As hospitality, retail and office spaces evolve, could mixed-use developments drive consumers back to the city centre? Words: Ben Thomas
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Mixed-use developments have been rising
that mixed-use developments – as opposed to
up over cities around the world for decades,
those that rely on a single-use – are better
bringing together hospitality, retail, residential,
positioned through times of uncertainty.
entertainment and office space at a single site,
One of the capital’s largest mixed-use projects
the idea being that it becomes a neighbourhood,
is Olympia London, set to undergo a £1.3 billion
where people can live, work, rest and play
regeneration over the next four years to become
without having to travel too far.
a new cultural hub. Led by real estate investment
But with the onset of the pandemic, hotels,
firms Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance
restaurants, shops and cinemas have been
International, the redevelopment is set around
forced to close their doors, effectively turning
the existing Grade II*-listed Grand Hall and Pillar
once-bustling city centre streets into ghost
Hall, which have played host to countless trade
towns. Given that forecasters predict the use
shows and consumer exhibitions over the years.
of online-based services will continue to grow,
The project includes the addition of two luxury
and the current tendency to avoid crowds, some
hotels, a four-screen ArtHouse cinema, and two
have questioned whether such spaces still have
new artistic venues – a 1,000-seat performing
a place in society. Developers however are taking
arts space and a 1,500-seat theatre. Celebrating
a long-term view, and strongly believe that
its heritage while serving the next generation of
their schemes – often spanning vast swathes
Londoners, the Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC-
of underutilised land – will bring a sense of
designed complex will also comprise 10,000ft2 of
community that so many big-city dwellers crave.
free performance and rehearsal space for local
In London, there’s a number of projects in the
charities; restaurants, shops and cafés including
works, with the pandemic serving to demonstrate
a new jazz-club style venue; 550,000ft2 of office
