Boxpark – Shoreditch

Boxpark is pitched as the world’s first “pop-up” shopping center, and it is due to open this August in the trendy Shoreditch area of London. Essentially the retail center will consist of over 60 converted shipping containers, staked on top of each other and interconnected by a labyrinth of walkways for easy access.

This is a refreshing change to the usual retail atmosphere in London, and seems like a creative way to ensure a personal shopping experience. It is located in a up-and-coming area which is known for being trendy and hip. What’s more, it won’t be open to high-street retail chains, only specially selected brands or young designers will be allowed to set-up shop.
The developer behind Boxpark is Roger Wade and he has consciously developed the project in contrast to centers such as Westfield, which although very nice and polished can seem overly corporate and manufactured.  According to Wade, Boxpark stands “at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. We’re not about the high street – but about small brands and local industries.” So not only is this an ultra-modern and cool concept, it also has the potential to stimulate the growth of small businesses  and start-ups!