The largest (71,500 m2) shopping and leisure centre in the Mediterranean region
On 28th October 2007 Multi Turkmall and Union Investment opened Forum Mersin Shopping and Lifestyle Centre, the largest retail project of 71,500 m2 in the Mediterranean region in Turkey. It will be a landmark in the city of Mersin. The Hamburg based Union Investment Real Estate AG fully funded the development of the scheme through its open-ended real estate fund Unilmmo Global and along with Multi Investment B.V. will own Forum Mersin.
The VIP opening was held on October 28th with the participation of Faruk Nafiz Özak; Minister of Public Works and Settlement; Macit Özcan, Mayor of Mersin; Ahmet Büyükçelik, Deputy Governor of Mersin; members of the Management Board of Union Investment Real Estate and the Board of Multi Corporation and Multi Turkmall.
Forum Mersin opened its doors to the public today at 10:00h. Throughout the day visitors will enjoy various performances of live statues and international show groups like Maracatu Percussion Group, Acousteel Gang and Herbert’s Dream.
The Project
Located in Mersin, Turkey, one of the most modern cities of the Mediterranean and the capital of many civilizations throughout history, Forum Mersin offers 71,500 m2 of shops, restaurants, leisure and cultural facilities.
Forum Mersin opens with all of its 200 shops fully let including various national and international brands, restaurants and leisure units. The Centre is anchored by Migros hypermarket (4,000 m2), Koçtaº DIY shop (5,500 m2), Media Markt electronics store (5,800 m2) and a 9-screen Cinemars (2,500 m2) cinema complex. Forum Mersin offers a parking space of 2,000 cars.
Forum Mersin will introduce brands like Zara, Media Markt, Cinemars, Marks&Spencer, Douglas, Bershka, Pull&Bear, Stradivarious, Oysho, Steve Maden, L’occitane, Kitchenette, Guess and Cafe Crown for the first time in Mersin on the local retail market.
With its inner streets decorated with palm trees, open squares, modern bridges, restaurants and cafes and leisure units like the 9 screen cinema complex and Bowlland bowling saloon, Forum Mersin will not only become a centre of shopping but a social meeting point in Mersin.
Designed as a part of the city
Forum Mersin’s Masterplan was developed by T+T Design, Gouda, the Netherlands, and the architects are Chapman Taylor, Madrid, Spain and MM Project, Istanbul, Turkey.
The Centre’s design is inspired by the beautiful boulevards, the people, the sea, the harbour and the unique history of Mersin. Combining Mediterranean and Anatolian architecture with Turkish and modern elements, Forum Mersin represents a unique concept in the city of Mersin. Separated by a boulevard into two parts, Forum Mersin offers an open street and a covered shopping area, while connecting the two with an outstanding bridge.
The many squares, streets and bridges create an atmosphere for people to meet, watch and enjoy life in a unique setting. The water elements, tents, pergolas and trees give opportunity for visitors to find a nice place to sit and just relax. A pedestrian area where all the people, young and old, can connect with is created with Forum Mersin.
Commercial contributor to the region
Forum Mersin is a distinctive project in terms of scale, investment, employment and location. The Centre is the largest retail project not only in Mersin but also in the Mediterranean Region. Forum Mersin will create job opportunities for 2,500 people directly.
The Centre is strategically located in between the inner city and the outer-inner city by-pass road and is embedded in a high-density residential neighbourhood with a strong purchasing power. The total catchment area covers a population of 1,8 million people. Due to its favourable coastal location the scheme will benefit in summer from the many holiday visitors. Mersin is a city with a fast economical growth providing perfect opportunities, with a retail market shifting from the traditional retailers to the modern retail sector. The Centre is expected to attract 10 million visitors each year.
For further information: www.forummersin.com
About Multi Turkmall
Multi Turkmall is the Turkish subsidiary of Multi Corporation, a leading company in Europe in the field of developing, owning and operating shopping centres, offices and mixed-use projects. Multi Corporation is active in more than 20 European countries like Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium, with its head office in the Netherlands. Multi’s projects have achieved international recognition for their innovative nature, architectural flair, and urban connectivity. Multi’s projects often act as the engine for the regeneration of an entire city or a region. The company’s respect for local culture and style is
paramount, and this enables people to connect with its projects with a sense of place.
Istanbul based Multi Turkmall has established its prominent position on the Turkish commercial real estate market with its extensive portfolio of “Forum” projects. Following the openings of Shopping and Life Style Centres in Izmir in 2006, and in Mersin in 2007, there are 25 more Forum Shopping and Life Style Centres under construction or in progress in Denizli, Trabzon, Ankara, Aydın, Istanbul, Antalya, Kayseri, Diyarbakır, Nevşehir and Gaziantep. Multi Corporation, aiming continuous development, operates its activities in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia and Macedonia through its office in Istanbul.
www.multiturkmall.com
www.multi-development.com
About Union Investment Real Estate AG
Union Investment Real Estate AG is a leading international investment management company specialising in open-ended real estate funds for private and institutional investors. Assets under management amount to € 13.1 billion. The portfolios of Union Investment’s open-ended real estate funds comprise some 150 properties and projects in Germany, Europe, the Americas and Asia. Within the commercial real estate sector, the Hamburg-based company is active as an institutional investor, developer and landlord. Active in the property investment business for over 40 years, Union Investment Real Estate now operates in 20 countries around the world, with approximately 50% of property assets located in countries outside the domestic market. The Turkey portfolio of Union Investment comprises the Forum Mersin, the Forum Kayseri development and the “Media Markt” development in Istanbul.
www.union-investment.com/realestate