The change I am proposing for the future scenario in regards to the retail sector isn't based on how the shops actually work, but rather how they are experienced through circulation. Retail spaces, particularly in shopping centres such as the Meyer Centre act as tightly enveloped spaces, with a linear path surrounded by rows of shops. The user feels completely disconnected from the outside environment, which I feel is a failure in a design sense. Though it was pointed out in the tutorial that shopping centres work this way in order to maintain focus on the shops for greater profits, I feel that by inverting this experience, the user will be provided with a much greater sense of place, encouraging them to return.
The lower diagram depicts this reversed relationship, where the shops are located on the interior of the floor plan, with a glass exterior wall surrounded by the balcony / exterior circulation space and perforated facade. By having the glazed walls able to remain wide open during business hours, free circulation is encouraged and the line between inside and outside is blurred. I believe that as cities continue their trend towards urban densification, managing the connection with the natural environment is crucial, especially when "inside" a building. As the future scenario includes an immense increase in greenery and natural environmental elements to the former roadways, this floor plan layout can be extremely successful in creating that continuous contact with nature for the building's users.
Seen below is a comparison of a typical modern day shopping centre with an outdoor market. Although the market is open and organic (similar to my inverted proposal), the stalls are successful and busy, and the users avoid the feeling of being trapped in a massive, lifeless structure.
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