Retail malls as Common Public Space in a Post-pandemic Era
Nowadays, shopping malls serve as the glue that holds everything together instead of being purely malls. They become a series of public access platforms connecting various functionalities within spaces and facilities. These retail malls are like social platforms where a lot of things can happen, such as shows, brand launches, musicals and art festivals, all hosted in flexible spaces to attract people to visit repeatedly.
In the past, malls used to create entertainment platforms to attract visitors. Today, we activate the space through the use of LED displays, moving stages and holograms instead of traditional black box theatre. This not only enhances the visitor experience but also vitalise the shops and restaurants by facilitating circulation. The grouped components create a social hub that provides visitors a fun and vibrant ‘shoppertainment’ experience.
Retail was the conventional wisdom and was usually characterised by a one-dimensional approach. With a modern mixed-use development layout, there is a much less defined boundary. Spaces have become flexible and functions are spread within the building to create a complex three-dimensional roofscape. The socialisation of retail removes the division between office, hotel, SOHO and retail. Both office and retail spaces are integrated and connected. It is essential to design with layout flexibility in order to fully utilise the space while adhering to new regulations such as fire safety and capacity calculation. With the new model, both retail and office areas can be mutually converted.
Watch the video to join the discussion with Keith Griffiths and Christine Lam
