It’s interesting you start the conversation from Vancouver which, like most major Canadian cities, has a pretty decent mall culture. Pacific Centre, Richmond Centre, Metrotown, Coquitlam Centre, Guildford, Park Royal, etc. More healthy malls than your average American metropolitan area.
I’m from Edmonton, which is actually most famous for a mall. West Edmonton Mall, the first megamall, and the world’s largest from the ‘80s until 2004. Built by the same people who’d later do Mall of America and resuscitate American Dream in New Jersey. With WEM, I grew up with an exaggerated sense of what malls could be like, and although I have a nostalgia for the changing themes that the mall has, it’s still a pretty popular sight, with a waterpark, amusement park, ice rink, European-style promenade, large lagoon, and more. Despite (or in some cases because of) WEM, many Edmonton-area malls have failed, either being demolished, turned into big box centres, or just lying increasingly comatose. But there’s still a few other thriving malls, and a couple further malls that are more local in scope but are still a vital community hub.
It’s interesting too how much Victor Gruen came to despise his invention and decamped back to Europe. His total vision was never truly realized in post-war Canada and the US. They took the original prototype from suburban Minneapolis, which was meant to only be the beginning, and only contained the indoor shopping concourse were used to, and rolled with it. Malls were actually meant to be more like mixed-use downtowns or community centres for suburban areas, a remedy against the bland sprawl rather than an extension of it. But it seems like, at least here in Canada, we’re edging closer to that reality, with plans from Vancouver to Winnipeg to Toronto to Montreal for turning the parking lots and underutilizes spaces of mall properties into mixed use urban villages. I think Oakridge in Vancouver might be the furthest along in realizing this, though it’s still under construction. You can see the beginnings of it too in the renovations of Brentwood and Park Royal. Or the way that downtown Bellevue outside Seattle has developed around Bellevue Square.
To get to the crux of what your asking... malls still have a place. Even in the US, where the dying mall phenomenon is most obvious, major centres still have thriving malls. They’ve just evolved from being neighbourhood necessities into regional hubs for quadrants of a metro area. In Seattle, you have Bellevue, Alderwood, Southcenter, and Tacoma.
I also think there’s a benefit to having enclosed community spaces for people to gather in miserable weather but I also share Gruen (and others) critiques of the mall as a hyper-commodified place that perpetuates overconsumption, racism, classism, and sprawl. Having them redesigned into public spaces and around more walkable urbanism I think is the way forward.
I've been at it for a couple of months! I got a beige toned sketchbook and it has led to all kinds of interesting rabbit holes, curiosities, and answers.
Beautiful trivia about Malls coming to America and then to the world..... And beautiful capture of lost and selfie at mall..... Today ECom has taken away shopping from malls- and they are increasing their role as public places- hosting events/ fairs/ flea market/ & celebrating festivals....
In Kuwait malls are big places for health walkers too
This sketch is so cool! It's linear but one can tell which tiny people are on the higher floors and which ones on the ground floor are close or far from your view.
It’s interesting you start the conversation from Vancouver which, like most major Canadian cities, has a pretty decent mall culture. Pacific Centre, Richmond Centre, Metrotown, Coquitlam Centre, Guildford, Park Royal, etc. More healthy malls than your average American metropolitan area.
I’m from Edmonton, which is actually most famous for a mall. West Edmonton Mall, the first megamall, and the world’s largest from the ‘80s until 2004. Built by the same people who’d later do Mall of America and resuscitate American Dream in New Jersey. With WEM, I grew up with an exaggerated sense of what malls could be like, and although I have a nostalgia for the changing themes that the mall has, it’s still a pretty popular sight, with a waterpark, amusement park, ice rink, European-style promenade, large lagoon, and more. Despite (or in some cases because of) WEM, many Edmonton-area malls have failed, either being demolished, turned into big box centres, or just lying increasingly comatose. But there’s still a few other thriving malls, and a couple further malls that are more local in scope but are still a vital community hub.
It’s interesting too how much Victor Gruen came to despise his invention and decamped back to Europe. His total vision was never truly realized in post-war Canada and the US. They took the original prototype from suburban Minneapolis, which was meant to only be the beginning, and only contained the indoor shopping concourse were used to, and rolled with it. Malls were actually meant to be more like mixed-use downtowns or community centres for suburban areas, a remedy against the bland sprawl rather than an extension of it. But it seems like, at least here in Canada, we’re edging closer to that reality, with plans from Vancouver to Winnipeg to Toronto to Montreal for turning the parking lots and underutilizes spaces of mall properties into mixed use urban villages. I think Oakridge in Vancouver might be the furthest along in realizing this, though it’s still under construction. You can see the beginnings of it too in the renovations of Brentwood and Park Royal. Or the way that downtown Bellevue outside Seattle has developed around Bellevue Square.
To get to the crux of what your asking... malls still have a place. Even in the US, where the dying mall phenomenon is most obvious, major centres still have thriving malls. They’ve just evolved from being neighbourhood necessities into regional hubs for quadrants of a metro area. In Seattle, you have Bellevue, Alderwood, Southcenter, and Tacoma.
I also think there’s a benefit to having enclosed community spaces for people to gather in miserable weather but I also share Gruen (and others) critiques of the mall as a hyper-commodified place that perpetuates overconsumption, racism, classism, and sprawl. Having them redesigned into public spaces and around more walkable urbanism I think is the way forward.
Also, no pressure, but if you’re curious I did a deep dive into the history and ideology of malls last year: https://open.substack.com/pub/nostalgiakills/p/atomized-utopia?r=kuyx1&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I'll check it out. Thanks for your other comment, that was illuminating! 🙌
No problem! Cheers!
I love the touches of color now appearing in your drawings. Is that a new thing? Or am I your least attentive fan? If new: what brought it on?
I've been at it for a couple of months! I got a beige toned sketchbook and it has led to all kinds of interesting rabbit holes, curiosities, and answers.
Isn't it interesting how a new key can unlock new doors?
💯
Beautiful trivia about Malls coming to America and then to the world..... And beautiful capture of lost and selfie at mall..... Today ECom has taken away shopping from malls- and they are increasing their role as public places- hosting events/ fairs/ flea market/ & celebrating festivals....
In Kuwait malls are big places for health walkers too
That's another great point, Mridu. In so many parts of the world, malls are a cool indoors spot when outside it is too hot for physical activity.
This sketch is so cool! It's linear but one can tell which tiny people are on the higher floors and which ones on the ground floor are close or far from your view.