Rest and recharge between shopping sprees
Craiova, Romania
In projects, Picnik, Hopper, Virus, Acacia, Gargantua, Pantagruel

In Central and Eastern Europe, the trend of shopping in malls has skyrocketed in recent years. The new Promenada mall in Craiova is a prime example, standing as the largest in the region. It has attracted numerous international brands, with demand from retailers so high that the mall was 99.9% occupied on opening!
The first Promenada mall opened in Bucharest at the end of 2013, with construction soon starting in other major cities, including Craiova. An expansion of Promenada Bucharest is also underway, highlighting the immense popularity of these malls in Romania. Promenada Craiova perfectly illustrates a key trend in the current retail markets of Central and Eastern Europe, where ultra-modern and attractive shopping centers play a central role in local economies and communities. This could be attributed to the fact that high streets in these countries do not have the infrastructure and facilities needed today by international retailers.
Promenada Craiova is not only ultra-modern, but also sustainable. From the outset, the mall was designed with renewable energy in mind. Its photovoltaic installation, with a capacity of about 6 MWp, is primarily installed over the parking area and covers approximately 70% of the energy needs of the center and its tenants.

Semi-public space
For this massive mall in Craiova, Extremis was called in. They asked us if we could provide our furniture – or rather, our Tools for Togetherness – both inside and outside the mall as relaxation spots for enjoying drinks and snacks. Of course! And could we propose robust furniture that would last for many years? Absolutely! Designing public or semi-public spaces is in fact one of Extremis' specialties.



Hit the pause button
Upon completion of the brand-new project, the unity of these relaxation areas is striking. The client chose repairable and easy to clean Extremis products in a recognizable color palette that aligns with their brand identity in this area of intense traffic. You'll also find identical furniture in various locations: both outdoors, inside the mall, and in several covered outdoor areas, you'll encounter clusters of Hopper, Picnik, Virus with Acacia shade, Gargantua or Pantagruel. Visitors unconsciously mark these zones as places for a moment of rest between shopping.



Part of the shopping experience
Such zones are truly essential for an enjoyable shopping experience. This atmosphere helps determine whether major brands open a store in the Promenada malls or not. Unlike online shopping, the shopping experience in a mall should be a moment of togetherness. People deliberately choose an outing of a few hours with family or friends and want to take occasional breaks to admire each other's purchases or simply catch up. Hence the choice of furniture with a friendly appearance and a fun factor. Visitors are encouraged to take their time and enjoy each other's company, before heading recharged into the next store. From a commercial perspective, it's downright brilliant! Take that, online shops!






