retain and reconfigure key elements of
Charter Place, namely the multi-storey car
park which was to remain operational
throughout the works. This concrete framed
building underwent significant structural
alterations to accommodate a number of
retail units including a Debenhams
department store over three floors. In
addition to the car park, a grade 2 listed
building fronting the High Street was
retained and refurbished, creating an ideal
new venue for a Côte restaurant.
Project architect at Leslie Jones Cos
Constantinou explained to ADFthat this
project exemplified intu’s brand values: “We
were working on this scheme just as intu’s
brand was in its infancy, developing a new
destination which looked at the brand and
tried to build on it.”
He adds that the key drivers for the client
were to bring “joy, fun and excitement.”
Constantinou continues: “That gave us a
really good brief to work with, it allowed us
to bring some little bits of excitement in
wherever possible.”
He says that while retail development
trends are seeing “a lot of repurposing ofexisting buildings, projects are tending to
add in a range of elements beyond retail.
“People want to have an experience when
they go out, they don’t just want to shop,
they want to grab something to eat, watch a
film; it’s more of a day out, so bringing in
restaurants and leisure facilities is really
important.” As well as 11 restaurants and
retailers such as Hugo Boss, Hollister and
Uniqlo, the new extended intu Watford
includes a nine screen Cineworld cinema –
complete with an Imax screen – and a
Hollywood Bowl 10-pin bowling facility.
Hi-tech mini-golf concept Puttshack will
also open there next year.
The scheme comprises the extended intu
centre – arranged along the high street, a
triangular central public events space with a
dynamic curving glass roof, and beyond it
the remainder of what had been Charter
Place, namely the car park building with
two levels of retail below. This has been
fully refurbished, including the Debenhams
store which takes up a large part of the
basement, ground and first floor.
“It’s so important that schemes relate to
their community,” says Constantinou.FIRST FLOOR PLAN
The bowling and cinema begin at the first floor level of
the two new volumes within the design, which flank a
new entrance from the high street
38PROJECT REPORT: RETAIL DEVELOPMENTSWWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK ADF NOVEMBER 2019
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