Melrose Square ( the existing Old House square ), the existing retail on High Street and the retail Precinct northwards , recharging and invigorating two high energy nodes .
“ Melrose Piazza ”, is a welcome addition to the mixed-use retail , office and leisure precinct , and together with the adjacent residential areas in Melrose Arch , it forms a genuinely integrated urban experience . The high fashion “ Slip Street ” intersects with “ Cross Walk ” which takes you from High Street into a two levelled “ Galleria ” which forms a traditional retail race track pedestrian route of shopping back towards the Piazza .
Focused on open air retail and natural light , the precinct adheres rigidly to sound retail principles in terms of access and the placement of various anchor stores . The new “ Galleria ” is not traditionally enclosed but is partly roofed
with glass to keep the rains out but allow for the natural flow of air . In line with traditional high street shopping principles , and current Melrose Arch philosophy , retail loading is from the front street .
The Piazza forms the nucleus of the new precinct . Whilst providing colonnaded retail edges for restaurant and entertainment use , it fulfils the additional function of a vibrant public meeting place in a traditional urban context . The subtly tiered Piazza forms an open air theatre for performing arts such as opera , music festivals and plays .
Architectural Resolution The natural fall of the site has been carefully manipulated to accommodate basement parking a minimum of two storeys below street level with street level retail creating a podium area topped
Melrose Piazza 251