Rediscovering the shopping centre

Historical analysis of the shopping centre typology and its succes in the Netherlands 1950 - 1975

Student report (2021)

Authors

B.D. van de Water Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

J.C. Edens Teachers of Practice / A - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2021 Bram van de Water
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Published Date

15-04-2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

The ‘shopping centre’ undergoes significant changes due to new social demands and requirements of people. Where large American shopping malls face a consumerist crisis, neighbourhood shopping centres are on the rise in the Netherlands. A combination of complex urban planning concepts, and key building characteristic such as the ‘human scale’, ‘accessibility’, and ‘integration’ into a coherrent environment generate the success of these places. This history thesis provides a framework where the ‘bad name’ of the shopping centre can be rediscovered. It begins with an in depth research on urban planning to provide a foundation for understanding the idea behind the shopping mall typology. Next, it will discuss the history of the American Shopping Mall, since the origin of the Dutch Shopping Centre can be traced back to this typology. After the historical analysis of the American Mall, a spatial analysis will be made to Tunderstand the building characteristics of these typologies. Ending with the history and success of the shopping centre in the Netherlands.