What: After six years of renovations and a EUR 600 million investment, Berlin's grandest luxury department store, the KaDeWe, finally opened new fashion and beauty floors this week. The revamp comes alongside a more directional fashion buying philosophy.

Why it is important: With 700,000 square feet of floorspace and seen as the German equal of Galeries Lafayette in Paris or Harrods in London, KaDeWe is expected to generate more than EUR 1 billion in the next year.

Since 2015, the KaDeWe has been undergoing what local media have described as “once-in-an-era” renovations. This week the department store unveiled 150,000 square feet of the revamp, including the new men’s wear, women’s wear and beauty departments. The latter boasts lofty, 100-foot ceilings.

The building work was overseen by renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and his firm, OMA. According to Koolhaas’ plans, the department store would be roughly divided into four areas, with each getting a sculptural staircase.

Another factor that will make the KaDeWe fashion floors more enticing are the changes in fashion buying policies at the department store. More effort has gone into seeking out directional and new brands. Pop-ups are taken very seriously as another way of adding spice to the retail mix.

Before the pandemic, KaDeWe attracted a lot of tourists and customers were around half international and half local.

In Berlin, Spiral Staircase, Star Architect heralds New Era for KaDeWe