Places / Retail destination concept

Elphistone Promenade

A place beyond the shell.

A retail destination concept connecting audience needs, tenant mix and arrival planning with a coherent treatment of an existing built shell.

Destination positioningRetail programmeArrival strategySpatial concepts

PROJECT GALLERY

Proposed completed Elphistone retail facade with arched glazing — 01 / 04Facade direction · concept visualisation based on the existing shell.

01 / 04Facade direction · concept visualisation based on the existing shell.

THE THINKING

A place beyond the shell.

The opportunity

Give a resort-linked retail promenade a clear reason to visit and a practical operating logic. Work within the supplied structure while considering hotel guests, local visitors, passing traffic and excursion groups.

The idea

Curate a complementary mix of everyday services, Red Sea discovery and destination anchors. Connect that mix to the central court, guest routes and coach arrival, while using a consistent frontage to make the place easier to recognise and navigate.

WAA’s contribution

Existing-condition and destination-positioning review
Audience and visit-purpose framing
Retail category mix and placement principles
Arrival, coach and pedestrian circulation concepts
Facade, materials and public-realm direction
Concept package for leasing and consultant alignment

STRATEGY IN PRACTICE

A retail place designed around reasons to visit.

The study connects the physical concept to a commercial programme. It considers who arrives, what they need, how long they engage and how different tenants can strengthen the destination together.

Different visitors, connected needs

Hotel guests, local visitors and excursion groups bring different priorities. The positioning brings convenient everyday services together with discovery, browsing and a more memorable stopping point.

A complementary tenant mix

Convenience, beach and activity-related retail, local crafts and food anchors serve distinct roles. Placement principles favour complementary categories rather than a repeated row of similar shops.

Arrival shapes the experience

The coach loop, parking and pedestrian route are considered as part of the visit. Clear access and an active central court aim to make short visits comfortable without disrupting other guests.

One place across many operators

Consistent storefront, material and lighting directions create a shared setting for individual tenants. The concept works with the existing shell so the commercial and physical proposition remain connected.

IN DETAIL