Esplanade One Mall, Bhubaneswar (India)

A breath of enchantment

In the western world, boldness has become a priority in the design of commercial zones struggling to attract customers who prefer to shop online. In countries such as India, where shopping is usually spread among a network of small stores, the novelty of shopping malls is an experience in itself. Two different logics, one of which results in spectacular architecture, as is the case with Esplanade One, a large shopping centre constructed in Bhubaneswar. This is in fact a mixed-use programme combining offices, a shopping mall and a cinema in a complex with exceptional dimensions totalling 92,000 m2 of floor space on a plot measuring just 30,000 m². The imposing, cubic volume of the centre is reminiscent of the many Jain and Hindu temples built in the city from the 10th century onwards. Although its design is underpinned by globalised commercial principles, the project uses local systems directly borrowed from Vastu shastra, the Hindu equivalent of Feng-shui. The ovoid central hall is a transcription of the central chamber traditionally positioned at the heart of Vastu shastra buildings. From the outside, a horizontal fault line overlaps the block, tracing a clear border between work spaces and commercial leisure, the entrance to the centre is extraordinarily marked by an organic wave, more than 100 metres long and clad entirely with VMZINC® scales. Supported by several posts, it demarcates the surrounding pedestrian areas and gently guides them towards the heart of the centre. The architectural concept is strengthened by the malleability of zinc, which adjusts perfectly to the deliberate irregularity, enchanting visitors to the centre.