Rest and recharge between shopping sprees

Craiova, Romania

In hospitality

Four people sitting around a salmon-pink hopper picnic table outside a glass-fronted building, with matching pastel picnic tables spaced across the paved terrace.

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.

Wide view of a covered outdoor terrace with pastel green, pink, and blue hopper picnic tables, where small groups sit and talk beside a long glass façade.

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.

Young woman seated at a rust-colored outdoor virus table with integrated round stools, stirring a red drink garnished with an orange slice.

Overhead close-up of a woman leaning on a rust-colored virus outdoor table with a white acacia parasol pole through the center, beside a glass of water and pastries.

Three women gathered around a rust-colored outdoor virus table under a white parasol, with paved walkways, trimmed shrubs, and more seating behind them.

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.

Two round black pantagruel picnic tables with circular benches on a large open plaza, with tall light poles, planted borders, and apartment buildings in the distance.

Two women sitting at a light-colored round gargantua picnic table with slatted benches, drinking colorful beverages outside the mall.

Wide view of the Promenada mall entrance with a large red curved façade, paved forecourt, and several round picnic tables spread across the plaza.

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!

Bright interior food court with long wooden hopper tables and benches on white frames, large planters full of greenery, and a ceiling grid of square lights.

Four friends chatting around a salmon-pink hopper picnic table in front of tall mall windows, with coffee and drinks on the tabletop

Close-up of a salmon-pink hopper picnic table corner and angled leg, with coffee cups and seated people softly out of focus in the background.

Foreground view of pale pink picnik benches and tables on a brick terrace, with two women having coffee at a matching table behind them

Two women smiling across a copper-colored outdoor table with coffee cups, seated beside a large glass wall.

View from inside through tall windows onto the outdoor terrace, showing white acacia parasols shading pastel virus tables and chairs against an open landscape.

Rest and recharge between shopping sprees

Semi-public space

Hit the pause button

Part of the shopping experience

Featured products

Virus

Acacia shade

Pantagruel

Gargantua

Picnik

Hopper aluminum