There was a time, not too long ago, when anyone looking for total immersion gambling would have headed to the island of Macau, off the coast of mainland China, But Macau's vision of itself is evolving, and, with the addition of the Cotai Strip, the complete, beyond gambling, Las Vegas experience is becoming a reality in this part of the world.

Building on the directive of ultimate luxury, rkd retail/iQ developed a concept of progressive experiences. "Boutique" galleria comprises 18 of the worlds' top luxury brands, while "Beauty" showcases 24 of the best cosmetics, treatment and fragrance brands, In the "World of Luxury" There are three areas of luxury boutiques consisting of six of the very finest jewelry brands, an impressive line-up of watchmakers and leading brands in fashion accessories.

RKurt Durrant, president of rkd retail/iQ notes, "A further departure from the traditional DFS was the inclusion of significant neutral and non-selling architectural spaces, The introduction of 'palette cleansing' transition zones showcase artwork, offer the opportunity for periodic change and provide a positioning element for DFS to express their artistic personality to complement the luxury retail environment."

Award panels from around the world have taken note of DFS Galleria: it won first place in competitions run by both the Retail Design Institute and Chain Store Age. It also won Grand Prize from the Association for Retail Environments, Specialty Store over 25,000 sq.ft.