More than a mall, The Avenues is an exercise in placemaking that redefines the retail experience in Kuwait, where shopping is a social activity, according to Oxford Business Group. In total, four new districts have been added and three existing ones have been extended. Grand Avenue, the retail center’s signature promenade, has been lengthened to over 700 meters (765 yards). Characterized by a mix of local, Western, and contemporary architectural influences, it binds The Avenues’ districts together. The bustling retail street funnels shoppers into the center’s new Grand Plaza—an open and flexible area for events and celebrations that also serves as the gateway to the center’s new multiscreen cinema.

To enhance the project’s appeal to a young generation, the design team introduced a new district called Electra, where digital and electronic retailers are clustered. The centerpiece of Phase 4 is The Forum, an 80-meter-wide (260-foot) domed space that encourages shoppers to linger. A new Gensler-designed hotel, scheduled to open in early 2019, will expand the center’s appeal as a world-class destination and meeting venue.