dead
mall
city
(2021)
The shopping mall is the epitome of the American dream; a dream-scape of possibility and promise. Beyond its shinny mall marble lies much more. Pioneer and inventor of the shopping mall, Victor Gruen, established a number of organizational strategies for these shopping mall, including designs that often integrated landscaping and areas for social gathering. Among them was the use of a radial strategy that funneled pedestrians towards one main center of activity, a strategy reminiscent of a city or town. Gruen’s strategies and design kick started an interesting phenomena; the shopping mall became a magnetic force, a hub for social gathering. The shopping mall held incredible allure and possessed the ability to attract hundreds of people at the peak of its popularity. Yes, the shopping mall as we know it today is the epitome of junk space, but this dying typology offers a new perspective on how to approach the design of city sub-centers that likewise can be applied to the rejuvenation of existing neighborhoods. Dead Mall City grew out of my love, fascination, and curiosity for what can become of the mall typology. That being said, I introduce to you Dead Mall City. And like the mall before the Internet, it’s the one place to be.
Dead Mall City can be accessed across a variety of transportation modes, with a primary focus on pedestrians. Access points extend out to reach the surrounding area, creating safe paths through and across the site. Included is a direct connection to the pedestrian bridge, located south-west of the site, that enables pedestrian traffic to reach nearby amenities. Sectionally there is a transition of spaces that range in scale. The periphery provides a scale closer to that of your typical hallway, and as one moves towards the center the space opens up, making the presence of town center known as the main area for activity, establishing a clear readable hierarchy of space. Entrances and pedestrian streets feature arches that serve as way-finding and circulation tools, becoming less dense as one reaches the town center. Towers are also found throughout, one type can be found at the entrance of each block while the other takes the role of landmark but can also be used to navigate towards town center.
