These centres consist of one or more relatively large buildings used for both retail and leisure activities, making them ideal places for entertainment.
Although their initial appeal was the concentration of retail outlets that allowed people to walk from shop to shop without long car journeys, today they offer much more, such as children's play areas, amusement arcades, cinemas and dining areas with a wide variety of cafés, restaurants, etc.
However, given the wide choice of shopping centres, they need to reinvent themselves with more pleasant environments for consumers, opting for projects that combine indoor and outdoor spaces.
Indeed, one of the strengths of open-air shopping centres and the outdoor areas of enclosed shopping centres is their appearance and comfort. Shopping centre surfacing is one of the elements responsible for both.
Characteristics of shopping centre surfacing
Surfacing for the outdoor areas of shopping centres was created to inspire through colour, mixed formats, texture and countless combinations, conveying a sense of well-being through its pleasant feel underfoot and harmony with its surroundings.
Performance is paramount when producing specialist surfacing for the outdoor areas of shopping centres or for open-air centres. These products are designed to offer intuitive solutions to common problems in public spaces.
Most of this type of surfacing is characterised by its excellent ability to manage water by reducing surface water and allowing it to drain away, without the need for additional drainage systems.
In addition, tactile paving is often added to provide vital directional guidance for pedestrians with visual impairments, using textures to alert users to a change in the ground surface, an upcoming crossing or a staircase, creating a safer pedestrian flow.
Types of flooring for shopping centres
The main types of flooring used in shopping centres include the following:
Epoxy resin
Epoxy resin flooring prevents people or goods from slipping. It is a very safe and reliable flooring option that is easy to clean and maintain. Likewise, in shopping areas, seeking to minimise impact noise from passing traffic is essential to creating an atmosphere of confidence among users.
Microcement
Microcement allows everyone to move appropriately along shopping thoroughfares. It also offers certain advantages that reduce noise and disturbance caused by excessive movement of people and machinery.
Decorative flooring
Decorative flooring is the most sought-after option for shopping areas thanks to its dual benefits: practicality and appearance. Its variety of styles makes it easy to find the desired design.
Indeed, the aesthetic aspect of this flooring cannot be overlooked, as it must be functional and have an impeccable, visually pleasing appearance, as well as being quick and easy to maintain.
It is essential to recognise that appearance is a cornerstone of shopping centres, as shiny, flawless flooring attracts potential customers and shoppers, who are highly likely to return to the space.
Byond, specialists in flooring for shopping centres
Choosing flooring for a shopping centre might seem like a simple task, but it is not. In fact, advice from experts such as Byond is needed to guarantee maximum safety and reliability when choosing the most suitable flooring for shopping centres.
