The Jakarta skyline will soon having a stunning new feature as global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan has unveiled designs for a major mixed-use tower development.

‘7Point8’ will feature two towers with the tallest standing 298 metres in Jakarta’s central business district. It will combine office, retail, commercial, residential and public space within an integrated building style and contribute to the rejuvenation of Jakarta’s CBD, with the hub set to benefit from direct connections to the new Setiabudi Mass Rapid Transit station.

Broadway Malyan was appointed to the task by a joint venture between land owners and leading local developers. The resulting design is inspired by the ‘alun-alun’ or town squares of Javanse cities, where social, economic and leisure activities take place and buildings feature a square or rectangular walled exterior and a courtyard open to the sky – resulting in the centralisation of the proposed public space within the middle of the site and creation of a significant internal courtyard garden.

Ian Simpson, Director at Broadway Malyan, said: “This high-profile scheme is drawing on the diverse skills, expertise and experience of our global design experts, led by our Singapore-based team which is partnering closely with the client to deliver a world-class landmark development.”

When it comes to sustainability, every little bit really does count. Any resource diverted from waste into re-usability is a win, and Bayfair Shopping Centre has scored a big win with what it’s calling a New Zealand shopping center first: a rain water and greywater harvesting project.

It’s the latest of many sustainability initiatives launched by the center, and it’s sure to make a considerable difference. A bladder that holds an impressive 22,000 litres of rain will harvest otherwise wasted water, and tanks will capture and treat greywater from hand washing.

The center’s amenities currently use approximately 8,589 litres of water per day, and it is expected that the harvesting will capture and replace 35% of the potable water supply each year and capture and use 24% of the greywater, reducing the center’s consumption of potable water by 56% of what its amenities area currently uses. That’s nearly two million litres saved per year.

The center invited local students from Aquinas and Katitkati Colleges to switch on the the system and kick things off right.

Pictured: L-R Lauren Watson (Acquinas College) Celeste Calway (Katikati College) switching on the bladder

As part of its effort to rebuild the image of retail in America, the National Retail Federation has taken an unusual step: it handed the reins of its Instagram feed to a retailer.

Celebrity guest editors aren’t unheard of on social feeds, but this wasn’t your usual celebrity: Gap took over the this_is_retail feed to show off its stores, employees, and home town.

Margaret Case Little, NRF’s senior director of strategic initiatives, spoke about the move with Associations Now:

Little says the Instagram account is meant to play up the strategic elements of retail, as well as to push career-recruitment efforts toward the industry. “The retail employees that I meet on a daily basis love the strategic nature of their jobs and have found an outlet for their skill sets. This is the side of retail that doesn’t get enough time in the spotlight, and that’s what we’re doing with @this_is_retail,” she said, adding that this more creative side of things often takes a back seat to selling products, which she emphasizes is only part of the job.

Gap has close ties with the NRF as an often-highlighted member company, but it’s not the only brand that will be taking over this_is_retail. As Little explained to Associations Now, “[We're] always on the lookout for other brands to partner with that align with our goals of showcasing all sides of retail and challenging what retail careers, community, and innovation really look like.”

It’s a bit chilly in Adelaide as the deepest part of winter arrives, but shoppers found a great way to beat the cool weather last week: warming up at Rundle Mall’s Winterfest.

The heart of the event was the extremely charming Little Palais, a self-contained 100 seat theatre that showcased over 80 free, family-friendly performances of circus, magic, cabaret and comedy over the course of the week. A range of food stalls were arrayed around the tent so shoppers could stock up on toasted cheese sandwiches or piping hot coffee.

For the grown-up shoppers, Das Weinhaus was on-hand to offer mulled wine and warm spiced cider in the evenings. While warming up with a drink, they could watch live art being created by five local artists: Donovan Christie, Jake ‘Two’ Bresanello, Matthew Stuckey, Harry Thring, and Josh Searson. The artists were tasked with creating individual pieces showing just what Rundle Mall means to them.

If that wasn’t enough live art, the mall was also host to The Cube, an Australian Dance Theatre production staged inside a portable perspec performance space.

Want to see more of the charming event? We’ve shared a photo album on our Facebook page.

It takes talent to carve out a strong sense of style, particularly when you’re young. West Edmonton Mall was looking for young people with just that sort of talent for its Back to School campaign, and it found then with its #MyStyleWem competition.

Anyone over the age of 13 could enter by uploading a photo to the #MyStyleWem Facebook app or sharing one on Twitter or Instagram using that hashtag. Once they entered, the center sent them back four important questions:

• Describe your Style in 140 characters or less:
• What are your three favourite WEM Stores?
• Are you available between July 16 and 18 to come to WEM for an interview and, if selected, on July 25 for the photoshoot?
• Why do you want to be part of our Back to School Campaign?

Entrants that could answer all four questions (with, presumably, a “yes” for the third) were put up for public voting. It was quite the competition, with the top entries earning thousands of votes. Some kept it casual with simple selfies, others staged complicated fashion shots. And then the judges took the votes into account to pick the twenty top models of the bunch.

The judges weighed the entrants’ sense of style, answers to the above questions, votes and a full interview to come up with three top boys and girls to star at the center of West Edmonton Mall’s Back to School photoshoot and campaign. Along with that shot at fame, they each win an outfit and some of their favorite things from WEM retailers (to a value of up to $600).

Eager participants were also rewarded: the first fifteen qualifying entrants received gift cards for up to $100 at center retailers.