CapitaMall Skyview is a 100,000-square-metre community shopping centre located in Chongqing’s Ranjiaba district, within the city’s inner ring road. Designed by CLOU architects, the project was conceived as both a retail hub and a local gathering place, offering a mix of shopping, food and edutainment experiences aimed at meeting the evolving needs of nearby residents.

The interior design draws on Chongqing’s distinctive urban character – defined by its layered topography, staircases and alleyways – to create a spatial experience that mimics the cinematic quality of the city’s streets. A palette of monochromatic materials and bold colours, particularly Klein Blue, is used in contrast to neutral backgrounds to create visual identity and orientation throughout the space. Interior features such as bridges, lifts and balconies connect the mall’s multiple levels, forming a dynamic network of walkways that encourage exploration.

The project uses design as a subtle but functional wayfinding strategy. Instead of relying heavily on signage, it integrates spatial cues – from textures and lighting to ceiling patterns – to intuitively guide movement. Signage, when used, aligns with the overall design language and features clean typography and colour-coded levels to reinforce navigation without disrupting the visual rhythm. Materials such as silver anodised stainless steel and white aluminium support a consistent and modern aesthetic.

CLOU’s design treats the mall as a continuous urban streetscape, populated by small shops, cafés and kiosks. These elements transform corridors into informal public spaces, blurring the line between circulation and congregation areas. The result is an interior environment that is deliberately layered, easy to navigate and reflective of Chongqing’s built environment.

Related: The Yoohoo Museum by Aedeas

Additional collaborators on the project include LEOX (lighting design), WAA+ (landscape design) and CTDI (local design institute). The signage was also developed by CLOU.

CLOU Architects
clouarchitects.com

WAA+ (Landscape Design)
waa-ap.com

Photography
Archexist

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