Plans for a significant expansion to Ashford Designer Outlet in Kent, UK, were given the green light by Ashford Borough Council. The new extension from architects Chapman Taylor, along with Applied Landscape Design, have designed a stunning ‘green’ wall cladding system to reflect the centre’s location in Kent, the Garden of England.The walls of many of the stores in the new extension will be ‘living’, clad in tens of thousands of plants, all stacked vertically.
The stores’ canopies will pick up on the pavilion theme of the canopy roof in the existing part of the centre. This will add around 100,000 sq ft, to the current 185,000sqft of retail space, to create one of the UK’s flagship designer outlets. This is Ashford Designer Outlet’s first extension since the centre opened in 2000 and it will add a further 38 shops to the 80 already there – plus restaurants, 725 extra car parking space, a new events space and children’s play area and more links to the town centre.
Nick Thursby, Director at Chapman Taylor’s Bristol studio commented: “Our brief from our client, McArthurGlen, was to create a world-class retail environment that linked with Ashford’s town centre. Kent is often referred to as the ‘Garden of England’ and this theme has been expanded upon by the use of ‘green’ facades throughout the new phases which will make it the longest living wall in Europe. The extension is due to be completed in 2018. Source and Images Courtesy of Chapman Taylor.