America is a Mall
"...Junkspace has to swallow more and more program to survive; soon, we will be able to do anything anywhere. We will have conquered place" - Rem Koolhaas
As I read through a million metaphors in "Junkspace", Rem Koolhaas enveloped me in a blanket of images as I created a picture in my mind of the spaces he was describing. My mind eventually jumped to scenes from "Mallrats" and my experiences in the Mall of America (MOA), both stories that emphasize the crazy combinations of spaces and activities that can be experienced in Junkspace.
So let's talk about the largest Junkspace in the United States for a second:
As I read through a million metaphors in "Junkspace", Rem Koolhaas enveloped me in a blanket of images as I created a picture in my mind of the spaces he was describing. My mind eventually jumped to scenes from "Mallrats" and my experiences in the Mall of America (MOA), both stories that emphasize the crazy combinations of spaces and activities that can be experienced in Junkspace.
So let's talk about the largest Junkspace in the United States for a second:
- 487 million square feet
- Over 520 shopping stores, an amusement park, movie theater, aquarium, hotels, waterpark, mini-golf, ice skating etc.
- direct connection with the airport and city by metro (tourist barely have to go outside)
- visited by 40 million people annually
- allegedly, 1 in 3 visitors comes from at least 150 miles away, while 4 out of 10 visitors are tourists of some kind
- In 1992, it cost more that $650 million to build the mall...$325 million worth of expansion has already occurred, and a $250 million water park addition is in the works.
All of these crazy activities mixed together create a strong draw for tourists, making the mall a constant nightmare for people who don't like large crowds, the struggle to avoid being run over at all times, or the sound of screaming children. My family and friends in Minneapolis have a strong opposition to all of those things listed above, yet somehow, we still ended up at the MOA three times over Christmas Break.
The first trip consisted of ice skating, a nice dinner, and some last minute shopping for New Years attire. The next a few quick Christmas gift returns or exchanges, lunch, and a nice warm place to walk around a baby in a stroller. The final trip was brought about by free passes to the Moose Mountain Mini-Golf that were going to expire, and was followed up with a lunch and a spontaneous decision to ride a few roller coasters with some friends who had never been.
Sometimes even people who despise the busy and insane nature of the MOA still use it as a meeting place under certain circumstances. If the above statistic is accurate, 6 out of 10 visitors are actually not tourists at all.
While this type of conglomeration of spaces is enjoyed by millions of people every year, should we as architects be sitting back and criticizing this type of Junkspace, or do we need to accept the fact that a huge chunk of our society demands and adores these types of experiences. Can we find a way to embrace this Junkspace culture, but design in a better way that can still satisfy our architecture history, theory, and aesthetic demands? Or is there really no hope left and we should direct our focus to other markets in architecture or find new careers?
It's hard for me to decide what to do with these type of spaces. The MOA is very functional and can be quite enjoyable. It's nice to be able to go somewhere where everything you need is under one roof. The whole movement of indoor arcades and malls has really created an alternate way of living. It is easy to completely immerse yourself inside without any connection to weather or even time of day.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, are these all-in-one places enhancing our experiences as people or just accommodation us in the name of convenience? Does it really matter?
ReplyDeleteYou're right, junkspace is embraced by the american culture. There is a demand for multiple experiences and options to all be under one roof for the convenience of the consumer. The MOA is a great example of this, a wide range of activities are all under one roof. One doesn't need to worry about the weather messing up their plans because the MOA has it all indoors.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right to say that a huge part of our society demands these types of experiences, therefore they're inevitable! They're tacky (personal opinion), but inevitable! But to me the negative connotation doesn't come from the tacky nature of the space. I'm sure I could go to the Mall of America and have a grand ole time! I think the real negative connotation that comes from an architects perspective is that this is a part of "design", whether we like it or not that we have completely lost control of. And unfortunately with Junkspace being as consumer driven as it is I don't think we can have that control.
ReplyDeleteThis post reminds me of the ridiculous examples of indoor extremes where you could go to a beach regardless of outdoor conditions. While the idea of creating unnatural environments indoors seems completely absurd and tacky, the normal person visiting these spaces gain an experience that they otherwise might not have had. And after all, as designers we should be creating human experiences and not focus solely on a pretty building. In that sense, I think the Mall of America is an incredible thing. The amenities offered keep people entertained, and although it is massive and outlandish, I would personally rather see people spend their time there than sitting on the couch looking at a screen. So, to your point, I agree that maybe instead of going against Junkspace, we should be designing to improve Junkspace.
ReplyDeleteYou brought up an interesting point when you mentioned how the Mall of America is overcrowded, loud and chaotic, but you and other people still go and enjoy the experience. I personally don't like crowds but still enjoy going to malls, theme parks and other crowded places. This makes me wonder what role the architecture of these spaces can play or should play in these situations. If people who don't like crowds still go, there has to be something drawing them in, and I think architecture can be that driver.
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