Architecture Concepts of Shopping Mall in General
About a half-century ago, Victor Gruen is believed to be the first architect to realize the idea of a shopping mall.
He solves the idea of strip-shops shopping along the highway which is deemed dangerous at that time by relocating the shopping activity into a huge complex with climate-control and corporate management.
Until today, mix-development although often privatized, is believed to come to be the closest dream of Gruen.
Here are some of the design concepts of the mall architecture in general:-
1. All in one with the same category of function
A big container of commercial retails for shopping activity
2. All in one with a mixed category of function
A big container of commercial retail, restaurant and entertainment hub such as the cinema, bowling center etc.
3. Connecting two or more points of interest
A defined route as opposed to a confused layout of one or more pedestrian paths with commercial shops along the route for shopping. Example: Bugis Junction, Singapore.
4. Climate-controlled
A big container or a defined and enclosed area of shops with mechanical HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) control.
5. Without climate-controlled
A big container or a defined and enclosed area of shops without mechanical HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) control. Example, an opened-air bazaar during Ramadan in Malaysia.
6. Partially climate-controlled
A big container or a defined and enclosed area of shops with a certain area with mechanical HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) control. Example, The Star Vista, Singapore.
7. Hybrid of functions
An enclosed area for shopping with other functions like recreation, sports, work, transportation, accommodation, and entertainment.
8. Transient
A temporary shopping area that can be assembled and dissembled. Example, the stalls along the stadium during and after a concert.
9. Contextual
A mall that is integrated with a related subject or object of a place such as a river, a lake, a historical site and so on. Example, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, The Mines Shopping Mall, Malaysia.
10. Creative acquisition
A non-linear approach in the land or shop lot acquisition that results in a complex composition to serve as a mall as a whole. This idea is similar to Concept No.3. Example, the idea of acquiring the shops surrounding a public square as a mall without the square.
11. Philosophical approach for cultural manifestation and placeness
An emphasis on the people and the local culture of the people through layout configuration of the mall in creating an actor and spectator relationship. Example, a conceptual proposal of Central Market extension, Malaysia