Designing Experiences in Latin America:

Transforming Retail and Mixed-Use Spaces

At D3i, we believe in designing experiences, not just places. Our projects across Latin America are a testament to this commitment, transforming spaces into vibrant, interactive environments that resonate with the cultural tastes and preferences of their users.

Our design philosophy revolves around creating engaging spaces that serve as commercial and social hubs. Through a blend of innovative strategies and deep cultural understanding, we design environments that are both functional and iconic.

Our Design Values

1. Integrated Mixed-Use Development At the heart of our projects is the seamless integration of various uses within a single development. We combine retail, residential, office, and entertainment spaces to create multifunctional environments that attract a diverse range of visitors and customers. This approach maximizes space utility and ensures a steady flow of people throughout the day, enhancing the financial success of the project.
2. Community-Centric Spaces Our designs prioritize community engagement by focusing on the public realm—incorporating central gathering spaces such as plazas, parks, and pedestrian-friendly streets. These areas serve as social hubs where people can meet, interact, and participate in community events. By fostering community spirit, we create destinations that resonate with the local culture and lifestyle.
3. Focus on Experience Every element of our design aims to enhance the experience for customers, guests, visitors, and workers. From the layout of circulation patterns to accessible amenities and aesthetic considerations, we create spaces that are functional, appealing, and memorable. This focus on user experience ensures high satisfaction and repeat visits, which are crucial for the success of any development.
4. Flexibility and Scalability Our designs are inherently flexible and scalable, allowing them to adapt to changing market conditions and future expansions. This foresight is particularly important for developers investing in long-term projects that can evolve with market demands. By planning for the future, we ensure that our developments remain relevant and valuable over time.
5. Cultural Sensitivity Understanding and respecting local culture is essential to our design approach. We incorporate local architectural styles, materials, and cultural elements into our projects, creating spaces that reflect and celebrate the unique identity of each location. This cultural sensitivity ensures acceptance by the local community and enhances the overall authenticity and appeal of our developments.

Project Examples Latin America

These values are exemplified in several of our projects across Latin America:

• Bombolí Shopping, Santo Domingo, Ecuador: This project showcases our ability to create comprehensive commercial environments. With 120 local and international stores, unique dining and entertainment offerings, a state-of-the-art cinema, and a 100-key hotel, Bombolí is designed to be the commercial core of the area. The integration of public spaces and sustainable features enhances the visitor experience, creating an engaging atmosphere tailored to the Santo Domingo lifestyle.
• Quicentro Shopping Renovation and Expansion, Quito, Ecuador: By adding 42,773 sq. m. of new space and incorporating international brands such as H&M and Zara, we created a modern shopping experience that ensures the center’s continued appeal in a competitive market. The design focuses on creating a contemporary shopping experience with abundant greenery, keeping Quicentro as one of Ecuador’s most popular shopping centers.

• Aleste Village Center, San Jose, Costa Rica: This project features retail, office, residential, and medical spaces with sustainability at its core. The pedestrian-friendly layout, use of sustainable materials, and integration of green spaces create an environment that supports a balanced lifestyle, fostering community interaction and environmental stewardship.

• Mall Miraflores Renovation and Expansion, Guatemala: The renovation and expansion of Mall Miraflores complemented the existing mall with contemporary design and new spaces. Adding new retail, dining, and entertainment options has reinvigorated the center, making it the preferred destination for locals and tourists alike.

• VilaFlor, Guatemala: This ambitious new mixed-use development in Lomas de San Rafael spans 492,378 sq. ft. Despite the site’s steep slope, we successfully re-envisioned the master plan to create a cohesive, multifunctional space. Featuring a fashion mall, central plaza, office buildings, entertainment mall, and residential towers, VilaFlor exemplifies our ability to design experiences that are seamlessly integrated into the site and surrounding community.

Additional Notable Projects

• Escazu Village, San Jose, Costa Rica: This upscale mixed-use district features office, residential, and retail/restaurant spaces, unified by landscaped streets with shade trees, sidewalks, benches, and other landscape amenities along Avenida Central.

• Santo Domingo Town Center, Managua, Nicaragua: A new urban town center featuring retail, entertainment, a Marriott hotel, and residential spaces, designed to create a vibrant community hub.

• Quito Airport Center, Quito, Ecuador: This mixed-use project offers Class A office space, specialty retail, and dining options directly attached to the Quito International Airport terminals.
• Estadio Independiente del Valle, Sangolquí, Ecuador: A modern 12,000-seat stadium designed to meet FIFA standards, serving as a community and cultural hub.

• EKO Park Corporate Offices, Quito, Ecuador: This corporate center integrates national and international companies with academic institutions, promoting innovation and collaboration.

Benefits to Real Estate Developers

Our contribution to designing experiences in Latin America and beyond demonstrate how thoughtful design can create value. By transforming spaces into experiences and destinations, design generates interest, traffic, and significant returns, validating the entire architectural design industry.

D3i provides real estate developers with several key benefits:

• Enhanced Marketability: Our integrated, multifunctional design solutions create vibrant, attractive destinations that draw a diverse range of users.
• Sustainable Investment: Our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship ensures long-term value and appeal.
• Community Engagement: By prioritizing community-centric spaces and cultural sensitivity, we foster strong community ties and local support.
• Future-Proof Design: Our flexible and scalable designs allow for future expansions and adaptations, ensuring developments remain relevant over time.

For over thirty years, our team has specialized in creating mixed-use environments that go beyond architecture. Looking to the future, Design 3 International remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of architecture, planning, and design. By continuing to integrate commercial, residential, and entertainment elements into cohesive and dynamic urban spaces, we are committed to designing experiences in Latin America and creating environments that inspire and uplift communities.