Bicester Shanghai Village: An experiential destination created with rigor and research
“To be away from home and yet to feel oneself everywhere at home; to see the world, to be at the centre of the world, and yet to remain hidden from the world.”
--Charles Baudelaire
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Although e-commerce comprises more than half of commercial transactions, there is no replacement for fresh air and social activities. Retail spaces with outdoor plazas and pedestrian streetscapes provide a welcoming environment for families and friends. Online shopping cannot replicate the sensory experiences of arrival and anticipation that artful spaces and product engagement provide. Building a curated place that facilitates exhibitions, human interaction and social activities cannot be replicated in the digital realm.
PLAT Studio creates memorable retail experiences by understanding a client’s goals, digging into history, analyzing site conditions, and building an immersive environment. Working closely with architects, the team researched Shanghai history and zeroed in on the 1930s, where western styles merged with Shanghai culture and created a new style, Haipai. This period saw a vibrant and inclusive culture where immigrants and westerners mingled with Shanghai culture. Haipai was known for innovation in fashion, culture and commerce.
Architecturally, Haipai was influenced by Art Deco from Europe and America. This geometric style symbolized modernity and refined elegance. The invention of cars and telephones sped the spread of information, where global cities became more accessible than ever before. Fashions from Paris, New York, Vienna and Milan could arrive to Shanghai in weeks rather than years.
Project Background
Today, Shanghai remains a thriving metropolis with world-renowned destinations. Easily accessible to the region by train and car, Shanghai Village is just a short tram or boat ride from Shanghai Disney destinations.
Guests enter an immersive environment where style, comfort and quality are in every detail. Art Deco and Haipai style permeate the space—from street furniture and lighting to paving elements, details complement and enhance the architecture. Unique retail exhibits and experiences allow visitors to relax while creating memories with their loved ones.
Shanghai Village was built with rigor and expertise to ensure an immersive guest experience. PLAT researched style, fashion and lifestyle elements that are essential to the design. This in depth understanding allowed designers to produce authentic and meaningful spaces, grounded in history and place. By translating the grand boulevards of Europe and New York to arterials and connecting those with Haipai style alleyways, visitors move through a variety of scales. Designers utilized site restrictions and spatial expertise to create a realm for both expansive and cozy experiences.
Design Concept
Rooted in the 1939 Exposition ‘Pageant of the Pacific’, this World’s Fair connected nations bordering the Pacific Ocean through art and architecture. This era of modernization and the bridge between east and west is evident throughout the design.
Art Deco itself is an international style, created when Europeans encountered Asian, African and Native American designs and synthesized these to symbolize progress and sophistication. Shanghai was a primary point of contact for Europeans within China and this cultural milieu created unique fashion and architecture.
Shanghai Village represents this convergence of cultures—it remains distinctly Chinese while recognizing European influences. By placing Art Deco and Haipai architecture side by side, guests enjoy a variety of experiences from grand plazas to intimate side streets.
