|
|
|
Written by Jerry Large, MCT
|
|
Monday, 13 August 2007 |
|
|
|
|
In the Northwest, even a shopping mall can yield to the call of nature.
Malls and nature do not seem to go together, but Westfield Southcenter's huge expansion aims to embrace the local environment. Many of the Seattle area's urban spaces pay homage to the wilderness they sprang from. But a mall that invokes nature invites a critique.
A colleague sent me a link to Westfield's vision. You should have a look: www.thenewwestfieldsouthcenter.com/vision/transformation/.
It might lighten your day.
There are illustrations with insets of the parts of nature that inspired them.
The entrance, we are told, blurs "the barrier between Northwest landscapes and innovative architecture." It is supposed to suggest a cove, with land rising from the water and wave-worn stones.
The entrance actually looks quite nice, but nothing like a cove to me.
In the mall expansion, "75 new specialty stores stream into an expansive corridor creating an open valley. Natural elements such as stone and timber convene as shoppers explore winding passageways, discovering sweeping views of new retailers around the next bend."
Be sure to bring some trail mix.
The "dining terrace" evokes forest and clearings. But the illustration is full of people dressed as if they were attending a business conference. I think they are all from Utah.
None of them is eating.
How will the space look when it is full of real people and messy trays? More natural, I suppose. There is always detritus on the forest floor and people do not hike in business attire.
The best aspect of this space is that diners will have a view of Mount Rainier — the real one.
I know some may not find it as intellectually stimulating as a nonrepresentational suggestion of mountainness, but I think it's pretty cool.
The large space where old and new mall meet is intended to recall the orchard.
One of the inset photographs shows a tulip field, which may explain why I didn't see the orchardy thing in the illustration.
Or maybe it's just hard to build nature into a mall.
The illustrated mall looks pleasant, just not like coves or forests. Some of the over-the-top descriptions of what I was supposed to be seeing made me chuckle.
The instinct to make the mall more inviting makes sense. If you're going to build a mall, why not put a little extra effort into connecting it with the larger environment?
The REI store on the edge of downtown Seattle creates a natural setting around itself and incorporates materials and designs that feel outdoorsy.
They sell some expensive stuff there, too, but most of it has some connection to the outdoors.
A mall occupies a different place in our mental landscape.
What if Westfield had incorporated some real nature into its expansion? Real trees, a pond, a small open space would have felt like a gift rather than a marketing tool.
The new design might make Southcenter a better mall, but you won't be mistaking it for a forest.
___
Contact Jerry Large: 206.464.-3346 or
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
| Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
