Behind the scenes of Mahogany Shopping Promenade

Situated in Beau Plan Smart city we dive into a one-of-a-kind shopping centre that is the product of the hard work and dedication of a close-knit team and promises to offer an “off the beaten track” experience. Discussion with Sarah Ah Hong, Center Manager at Mahogany, Ratnesh Rajcoomar, Operations Manager, and Emeric Vigier de Latour, Communications Manager at Terra.

What is it really like to open a shopping mall?

Sarah : It’s like we’re building our own house. We know every nook and cranny of this place and have put all our efforts into making it as pleasant as possible. We have focused on the customer service aspect because we wanted to provide visitors with a unique experience.

Emeric : The idea behind this project is to offer a wide range of products and services that will improve the lives of residents and users of the Smart City. We see things in big and to achieve this objective, we must continuously improve ourselves.

What is the secret to a successful collaboration?

Ratnesh : Good communication, good understanding, and the ability to listen! Our tenants have become our partners. They never gave up, despite the two lockdowns.

Emeric : We want to establish a collective vision. To achieve this objective, we must be attentive to the market to deploy the right strategy at the right time. The success of this project is in our common interest.

How would you describe this new adventure?

Sarah : It's hard, to sum up this project in a few words! It was above all a dynamic, authentic and responsible adventure. Responsible, because in addition to promoting sustainable development, we also wanted to enhance the natural and historical heritage of the region, as well as the industrial heritage through contemporary and thoughtful architecture. We wanted Mahogany to be an experiential and inclusive place.

What is a ‘’ responsible’’ shopping centre?

Ratnesh : We really wanted to use Beau Plan's urban development codes by implementing a waste management strategy and reducing our energy consumption, while capitalizing on the city's wastewater treatment centre.

Emeric : We want to adopt a sustainable approach, by having a common charter for the centre and the tenants. In fact, it will encourage tenants to pay attention to their energy consumption and the choice of materials for their packaging. It will also promote social integration through the creation of jobs, as well as the sorting of wastes.