3 minute read
Introduction
To understand the current phenomenon of declining shopping malls, the students first went back in time to create a timeline of the evolution of shopping malls. They explored the key drivers that have contributed to the rise and fall of this unique development type. Students then analyzed the physical typologies of existing shopping malls. Lastly, the students mapped the large shopping malls across the Bay Area to understand their location, relationship to the larger systems of the built environment, and the possible opportunities they offer to address the present day urban challenges.
Introduction
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Why shopping malls? Why now? And why here?
Austin Community College (Previously Highland Mall), Austin, TX
Bay Area cities are facing numerous colossal challenges. Climate change impacts—resulting in sea level rise, wildfires, water scarcity, food insecurity, and unhealthy air quality—are compounded by the ever-growing housing affordability crisis, transportation inequities, and systemic social inequities. The need to reset our urban model to enable a better paradigm is urgent.
One set of quintessential and rapidly declining component of the existing urban model is the insular, automobile-oriented, nondescript retail malls and shopping centers that dot our built fabric. It is not a coincidence that the proliferation of shopping malls overlapped with the mass expansion of suburban areas and the growth of the auto-centric culture. As a product of demographic, economic, and behavioral shifts, as well as the convenience of e-commerce, shopping malls have recently suffered as those trends shifted. Could these huge swaths of land and underutilized buildings serve a more meaningful purpose that would help address the pressing challenges faced by cities and counties? How could the transformation of the retail mall/shopping centers trigger a new way of thinking about the future of urban communities and exemplify environmental, and social responsibility? What forward thinking urban design strategies would future-proof our communities? The students’ outside the box explorations throughout this studio suggest new approaches to these issues.
Overleaf is listed the three key urgent issues that the Bay Area is grappling with. Through the course of the semester, students identified the key issues that they would like to tackle and articulated their individual perspective and approach through manifesto graphics that are presented in the next chapter.
Historically, some planning and development practices have disproportionately impacted communities of lowincome, minority, and people of color. Planning and design profession has been working to meaningfully reverse the disparities created from these practices. Failing shopping mall sites in these underserved communities are an immense opportunity for introducing places of health, learning, community life, besides offering diverse options for living and good quality jobs. Closely tied to social equity, housing affordability has been an urgent issue in the region. Producing housing at all income level, while especially focusing on increasing the supply of affordable housing is a critical need. The Association of Bay Area Governments forecasts that transforming underutilized Bay Area malls and office parks into mixed-use neighborhoods could produce upwards of 155,000 new homes—a viable strategy to address the region’s severe housing shortage. Global warming and climate change impacts have adversely affected every Bay Area community. Traditional reliance on private vehicles for travel led to sprawling development pattern, suburban shopping malls, and represented an unhealthy and unsustainable lifestyle. As students explored the design responses in the comunity of the selected sites, they discovered a multitude of ways to interpretate net-zero carbon lifestyle, and 15-minute neighborhood living.
Introduction
Timeline
In this task, we try to understand the evolution of retail in the country. We set up some examples to demonstrate the difference of markets with or without caps. Then transition to understand the impact of vast investment on highway infrastructure by the US government after World War 2. It had a booming effect on automobile and the rise of suburbs and the development of regional retail malls. These regional malls were initially places of social life, leisure, and entertainment. They were replaced by big box stores such as Costco and Walmart in the 1970s. Over the years, the rise of internet and online shopping has slowly taken the revenues away from these regional malls and stores. They have rapidly started declining. We are now faced with the issue of blight that needs to be reimagined for a better future.
Timeline: Evolution of shopping mall
