Shopping Mall Design Review: Inside the Lagun Mall Project for Abidjan
Shopping mall design is shaped long before construction, in rooms full of drawings and screens. This short video from the Sagist Group YouTube channel takes you into a design review meeting for Lagun Shopping Mall in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The team gathers around a meeting table while 3D renders and CAD drawings of a sculptural feature for the project are shown and discussed on two large screens.
Key takeaways
Sagist Group published this video on its YouTube channel on 12 November 2022.
It shows a design review for Lagun Shopping Mall in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at the design stage.
The team compares a coloured 3D render of a sculptural feature with its CAD line drawing.
Reviewing visuals and technical drawings together keeps design intent and buildability aligned.
Modern mall design focuses on experience, landmarks and places to gather.
What the video shows
The one-minute video opens in a meeting room where members of the design team sit around a wooden table with laptops and notes. Two large wall screens show the project.
The upper screen displays a 3D render of a large, sculptural feature with flowing, colourful forms set against a city skyline. The lower screen shows the same shape as a CAD drawing. A presenter points to details on the screens as the team discusses the design, with the Lagun Mall, Abidjan, Ivory Coast name shown on screen.
Shopping mall design trends: experience first
Shopping mall design today puts experience ahead of pure retail space. Malls compete with online shopping, so they need reasons for people to visit, stay and come back.
Building Design and Construction's report on the mall of the future describes malls evolving into social places with dining, entertainment and flexible spaces. Floor Focus also notes in its January 2026 retail feature that experience is currency for brick-and-mortar retail. Landmark features, like the sculptural form reviewed in this video, help give a mall a recognisable identity.
How a mall design review works
A mall design review checks the proposal against the brief, the budget and the site, then records decisions so the next drawings move forward cleanly. It is where creative ideas meet technical reality.
Present the concept visually, usually with 3D renders that show scale, colour and context.
Check the same element in CAD for dimensions, structure and how it connects to the building.
Discuss materials, lighting and maintenance early, especially for large feature elements.
Agree actions and owners so revisions are tracked before the next review.
Keep renders and drawings updated together so the team always works from one version.
Why landmark features matter in malls
Landmark features matter because they make a mall memorable and easy to navigate. A sculptural facade or atrium piece becomes a meeting point, a photo spot and part of the brand.
Designing such a feature takes close coordination between design, engineering and fabrication, which is why it is reviewed in both visual and technical form, as this video shows.
From concept to construction drawings
A mall project moves through clear design stages: concept, schematic design, design development and construction documentation. Each stage adds detail and reduces uncertainty.
At concept stage, 3D visuals test the big ideas, such as the shape and colour of a landmark feature. As the design develops, CAD drawings define dimensions, materials and connections to the structure. Reviews at each stage keep the client, designers and engineers aligned.
For complex sculptural elements, early collaboration with fabricators helps confirm that curves, finishes and sizes can be produced and installed safely. The meeting in this video shows that early, shared review in action.
FAQ
What is a design review in a mall project?
A design review is a meeting where the team checks drawings and 3D visuals against the brief, compares options and agrees changes before the design moves to the next stage.
Why use 3D renders and CAD drawings together?
3D renders show how a space or facade will look and feel, while CAD drawings define exact geometry and dimensions. Reviewing both together keeps the visual idea and the buildable detail aligned.
What makes modern shopping mall design successful?
Successful malls now focus on experience: clear circulation, places to meet and dine, strong landmark features and spaces that work for events, not only for shops.
Where is Lagun Shopping Mall?
The video title and on-screen text place the Lagun Shopping Mall project in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Where can I watch the full video?
The full video is on the Sagist Group YouTube channel, @sagistgroup, and is embedded at the top of this article. Watch it on YouTube.
Plan your commercial project with Sagist Group
Founded in Istanbul in 1996, Sagist Group has 30 years of experience in bespoke furniture and turnkey interiors, exports to 73 countries and has its own companies and showrooms in 23 countries. Explore our Sagist Group turnkey projects or contact our team to discuss your project.
Watch the full video on YouTube (@sagistgroup) and subscribe to the Sagist Group channel.
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