1:300 model
1:300 model
1:300 mode
1:300 model
1:300 model
Crisis of the mall // 2024
Shopping malls, but not as the physical embodiments of capitalist economic structures and overconsumption, but rather as potential resources. The spaces of consumption have historically reflected the social structures and needs of their eras, influencing and being shaped by consumer behavior.
Do shopping malls have the potential to reinvent themselves and function as genuine community centers as they were originally intended to?
Enhancing this potential by incorporating functions that promote active community engagement is worthwhile. It is not necessary to wait for buildings to become vacant before rethinking their use. By conducting detailed analyses and considering current social and environmental needs, architects should aim to define and preserve values that promote better space utilization and resilient function integration.
In my project, I focused on the Budagyöngye Shopping Center in Budapest. Built in 1994, this third-generaton mall is located on the edge of the city’s green belt, yet it is disconnected from its surroundings due to the presence of a parking lot and gas station. My proposal seeks to reintegrate the mall with its environment by reclaiming these spaces for public green areas and connec:ng the building with the surrounding landscape. A key part of the project was opening up the enclosed, inward-facing structure, which is typical for shopping malls, by relocating circulation cores and introducing an open arcade, allowing for improved pedestrian flow and creating opportunities for outdoor social interaction. Additionally, I redesigned the underground market and food court, revitalizing the space to reflect its historical significance as a former open-air market, supporting both functionality and community value and adding in-place production and distribution. The new functional additions also include a public rooftop area that can be accessed by an exterior spiral staircase, connecting it to the public park below. This level would also house spaces for cultural and educational activities, such as workshop spaces, exhibition areas, leisure activities and a reading room—a “living room” that provides a quiet space, free from the pressures of consumption. By incorporating these active functions into the mall, the project tries to transform it into a socio-cultural community space reflecting the needs of the local communities and institutions.