The Evolution of the Shopping Mall
Commercialized spaces have evolved over the years. Through the transformation of society, shopping malls have adapted and shape shifted to meet the needs of the buyer. As discussed in class, this idea branched from arcades. While this was more of a European idea, the basic idea made its way to the states. What started out to be a space allocated for pedestrians with a plaza space, turned into the strip malls we know today. When cars rose in popularity, it forced towns to accommodate for the users needs with parking and added streets. This took away pedestrian plazas and made outdoor seating minimal and gave shopping a new meaning. It used to be a place to stroll and meet up with friends, but it transformed into a quick in and out stop to grab what you need and leave. This pattern continued until COVID. Businesses started building platforms in parking spots in front of their entrance to add spaces for additional seating and started turning these streets into a pedestrian plaza once again.
What’s next? Do cities have the infrastructure to give the pedestrians
back plaza spaces in commercial centers? How can we design to make these spaces
more impactful and beautiful while also being sensitive to what is functional
for users now and the future?
The outdoor dining phenomena during COVID is something that wasn't easily replicated by other experiences. For example, stores did not bring their produce and merchandise out to the street. Rather, they implemented order-and-pickup systems to encourage people to remain in the car. Now, the order and deliver systems seem to be used to their capacity, eliminating the need to leave your house. Even if we have the infrastructure to bring public spaces back to the centers, will the public spaces be used, or will people resort to the comfort of their homes or vehicles?
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting you bring up the point that these outdoor gathering spaces were reintroduced during Covid. Despite the intentions of "spacing people out" it rekindled the idea of what it's like to have a designated space outside a business to gather, enjoy fresh air, and support a consumer's need.
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