Plans to approve updates to the rules for the design of shopping and entertainment centers in Russia are moving forward, with a target to finalize by year’s end. The updated standards are expected to help businesses reduce construction costs and foster more original building concepts. News outlets cite the Ministry of Construction as the source of these developments.
Over recent years, the needs of visitors to shopping malls for content and experiences have shifted markedly. Alina Strelkova, who leads the management and development arm of the Shopping Center Management Group, noted that more space is now devoted to entertainment and leisure, and that planning solutions must be more creative and varied to match this demand.
Oleg Voitsekhovsky, the General Director of the Russian Council of Shopping Centers, commented that updating the rule set is timely given the evolution of shopping centers toward multifunctional public spaces. He underscored the importance of conserving space in densely built areas and suggested distributing food outlets evenly across all floors rather than concentrating them solely in dining zones.
The forthcoming edition introduces a flexible planning framework. It will enable the relocation of electrical outlets and the organization of seasonal rooftop cafes for shopping centers. New comfort requirements have been established for restrooms, mother and child rooms, and other consumer spaces that matter most to visitors.
Changes also address unloading and delivery zones. While current regulations limit these operations to indoors, the updates will permit outdoor unloading and delivery after approval.
Sergey Muzychenko, Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation, remarked that shopping and entertainment centers play a vital role in modern cities. He emphasized their core strength lies in the diverse design and planning approaches that blend retail floors, entertainment facilities, and dining areas into cohesive complexes.
The amendments will align the rule set with updated sanitary and epidemiological standards, known as SanPiNs. This alignment will allow developers to design projects more quickly since separate adaptation to SanPiNs for each project will no longer be necessary.
Additionally, the new rules will permit the creation of parking facilities with charging stations for electric vehicles and the deployment of automatic information systems in mall car parks.
Alina Strelkova summed up that the average age of shopping centers in the country exceeds ten years, highlighting the need for changes to support ongoing development in this sector of the economy.
Previously published information noted the Russian market’s largest pickup truck named KingKong as a notable development in the sector.