LITERATURE STUDY

Commercial Mall

Viplove Singh
B.Arch III yr (Day)
HISTORY AND URBAN PLANNING

• The story started in 1950s. Economic boom. Middle

class had much more money. People could drive to
the jobs in cities and lived in new kind of settlement,
the suburbs.
• They lacked "third places." - Ray Oldenburg
• Third places are vital places where people go to
exchange ideas, for relationships. They could be a
park, a bar, or in today's world the social media.
• Enter Victor Gruen, 1956. king of retail. Designed
boutique shops. He wanted to create an indoor
townhall aka the mall.
• October 8, 1956, first indoor mall, south dale. No
building ever created before. It had shops, but
fountains, bird sanctuary, a courtyard in single roof.

Ray Oldenburg
HISTORY AND URBAN PLANNING

• It was compared to disneyland, 1955.

• Malls became springing. By 1960, 4500 large shopping
complexes were opened. By 1975, malls accounted to
33% of all reatial.
• Cheap foodcourts in place of courtyards.
• Instead of Communites activities, developers
surrounded malls with suburban housing projects and
enoumous parking lots. Exactly opposite of what
Gruen wanted.
• In 1980s was the golden age for malls. The final
evolution in 1992. the mega mall. A mega malls in
2020 has a theme park, a wedding chapped, a sking
complex, a water park!
• But the mega malls gargantuian size coupled with an
unsustainable rate of contruction will lead the collapse
of malls in 2000s.
• With so many malls in close proximity, the brands
would hop from old to new one because newer will be
better. Victor Gruen
GLOSSARY

GROSS LEASABLE AREA (GLA): total enclosed floor area occupied by a retailer. This is the total rented space and includes
stockrooms, staff facilities, staircases, preparation and support areas. It is usually measured to outside of external walls and
centre line between premises.

NET SALES AREA (NSA): internal floor space of a retail unit used for selling and displaying goods and services. It includes
areas accessible to the public, e.g. counter space, checkout space and window and display space. Net areas are used to calculate
the density of trading turnover (sales per m2 or ft2 ).

• The ratio of sales to ancillary space ranges from about 45:55 in small shops and departmental stores to 60:40 in
supermarkets.

MAXIMUM MERCHANDISING POTENTIAL: means the giving to each tenant in the project of a reasonably equal
opportunity to capture a portion of the customer's trade . The means of achieving this is normally based on the concept of
"anchors," or "pulls," that is to say, those merchandising units that have maximum appeal to the customer
DEFINITION
These are planned as a shopping complex under one central management which has a high degree of overall control, leasing units to
individual retailers. Shopping centres may be:

• Open, in terraces, squares, piazzas or village-style groupings

• Partially covered, with canopies over frontages (3.6 m high for clearance) or setbacks creating arcades
• Fully covered, single-level or multi-level shopping malls, converted warehouses, etc.

LOCATIONS PLANNING
New centres Commercial and operational considerations
• in new towns and expanding residential areas • Number, size and locations of large space users and other
• out-of-town regional shopping centres Integrated centre attractions (magnets) which will increase pedestrian flows
• in existing high street areas, to • Distribution, number and size of small shop units, numbers of
• open up backland for commercial use shopping levels
• provide linkages with other developments, carparks, etc. • Servicing needs and access for goods vehicles
• extend pedestrianised areas. • Entrances and links with parking, public transport and other
shopping areas
• Focuses and features to provide an identity and sense of place
• Environmental control in the mall and individual shops
• Fire regulations, safety and security requirements.
PLAN FORMS

• Shopping units are mainly one or two levels.

• Upper levels are usually required to join multi-storey variety and department stores and form galleries around a central square or atrium. Gross
leasable areas vary, many infilling centres fall within 25 000 and 50 000 m2 GLA providing 40 to 100 units.
• New regional centres may provide up to 100 000 m2 GLA with 40 per cent allocated to large space users (magnets).
• Magnets are sited near the ends of malls and branches to attract flows of shoppers past individual shops and have an effective range of 90 to
120 m.
• It is not practical to extend a mall more than 350 m and large developments calls for more than one level with concentrated plan forms. L, 13.16,
T, 13.17, C and Square plans are common but out-of-town centres may use cruciform, 13.18, pinwheel 13.19 and figure-of-eight, 13.20 layouts
extending out from a central concourse.
DETAILS FOOD COURTS

• In the UK mall widths have progressively increased from • Food Courts and focuses Large atria and glazed courtyards provide
5.4 m to 8 m or 9 m. activity spaces which are often landscaped and used as revenue-
• The average French centre uses a 16 m mall while North generating open restaurants or food courts.
American malls vary from 12 to 27 m. • Features such as water fountains, kiosks, planted containers and
• Galleries around central courts are often 4 m wide. children’s play centres also create focuses for interest and direction.
• The preferred frontage for small shops is 5.4 m to 7.3 m
with a depth of 13 m to 39 m but smaller units (1.8 3.6
m) are often required for service outlets and specialised
trades. FIRE PRECAUTIONS
• Glazed frontages are necessary when the mall remains
open to the public at night but otherwise Continental • The design of shopping centres does not conform with conventional
(fully or partly open) frontages are more convenient compartmentation arrangements and specific requirements will be
with latticework shutters or fire barriers (if required) to stipulated by each fire authority.
secure the shop at night. • Fire control Fire separation walls are required between shops in
different tenancies, 13.21.
• Malls must be of non-combustible construction, with incidental
combustible material controlled, and have an automatic sprinkler
system installed.
• Specific requirements apply to adjoining or facing frontages of large
space users (more than 2000 m2 ).
SMOKE CONTROL

• Smoke reservoirs, 13.22, are created by downstand

beams on fascias at shop frontages and intervals along
the mall.
• Smoke detectors activate exhaust fans in the reservoirs
and lower fresh air supply fans to ensure clear escape
routes.
• Further smoke ventilation and smoke control facilities
are shown in 13.23 to 13.25.
• Escape routes Maximum occupancy levels are
estimated on the basis of: • Shops, showrooms,
supplementary areas – 7.0 m2 /person • Supermarkets,
department sales floors – 2.0 m2 /person No more
than 50 per cent of occupants should be assumed to
escape through the rear of a shop, the rest using the
mall.
• Escape routes from the mall must be provided at
intervals with exits to open streets directly or via
separated structures.
• Controls Automatic fire alarm and indication systems
must be installed.
• Access Requirements of the fire authority for appliance
access into the mall must be adopted together with
positions for hydrants, hoses and extinguishers.
CIRCULATIONS

• Vertical circulation between storeys requires escalators, featured lifts and stairs designed to stimulate interest.
• These are usually located in a spacious central concourse or atrium, at junctions or corners and within the large space users.
• Servicing shops Vehicular access is required to loading docks and waiting bays directly accessible to each of the larger stores, with service
roads, goods lifts and tunnels extending to the rear of shops. Service entry is usually at basement and street level but may be at an upper
level on sloping sites. 10.09

ENGINEERING SERVICES

• The landlord is normally responsible for installing mains and providing the communal services of the mall including comfort cooling and
heating or air-conditioning, lighting, cleaning, fire control and security systems.
• As a rule, individual tenants instal their own services and equipment subject to agreement.
• Food preparation areas, public toilets and plant areas require the installation of specific ventilation, drainage and electrical services.
• Access to a public car park is often a primary consideration in letting units.

The major principles of schematic planning, in addition to conforming to the leasable area recommendations of the economic survey, are
(1 ) convenience and comfort for the customer, and
(2) maximum merchandising potential for the tenant stores Customer convenience demands ease of vehicular access to and from the site ;
ease and adequacy of parking ; reasonable walking distances ; simple, direct pedestrian shopping routes with minimum obstructions and
inconveniences . It is axiomatic that a shopper rarely goes where there is inconvenience of any sort .
GENERAL DESIGN AND PLANNING CRITERIA

COLUMN SPACING
Significant dimension is along the mall as this involves the widths, i .e ., frontages, of stores Often used spaces are 20, 25 and 30 ft, with the last the
roost flexible . Dimension from mall to rear of store can be set by the most economical structural system . It is essential to arrive at the most
economical structural system, as the roof is a major cost factor .

STORE DEPTHS
For one-story stores in America, buildings are usually 120 to 140 ft deep, sometimes more to accommodate larger stores . If there are basements or
mezzanines, the depth dimension usually can be reduced 20 to 25 percent . In European centers and others with many very small stores, there is a
problem in how to achieve shallow depth without incurring higher costs from greater mall lengths in relation to floor area . One often used and
desirable device is to "dog leg," or "ell," a larger store around a smaller store

CLEAR HEIGHTS
These vary from 10 to 14 ft or more, with 12 ft a good average . Above this clear height, there must be adequate space for air-conditioning ducts,
recessed lights, structural system, etc .

DUCTS AND SHAFTS

The shells of the buildings must be flexible enough to accommodate any reasonable tenant requirements It is essential that the mechanical
engineer set up a schedule of the location and sizes of the principal duct runs and shafts to avoid serious future space problems. This requirement
includes special exhaust ventilation through the roof and all other mechanical items that can be anticipated .

CENTRAL PLANT VS . INDIVIDUAL HVAC SYSTEM

Regardless of which method is used, the space to be occupied by all equipment must be determined, both in size and location, in the earliest
planning stages . Central plant equipment can be in a separate building, on the project roof, or elsewhere so long as it is 71 6 economical as to
design and length of runs . Individual plants in each store require roof space, cooling towers, etc .
MALL AMENITIES

• With the advent of the pedestrian mail came the need to give it interest and glamour as an enhancement to the overall
customer appeal of the center .
• This interest or glamour is normally non-income producing ; but, in the case of small retail kiosks for such items as keys,
stockings, photo supplies, and soft drink facilities, very high rents can be obtained because of the conspicuous and high-
exposure locations .
• Mall amenities generally include, in addition to landscaping, which will be elaborated on in another section, most of the
following items : " Trash and ash receptacles, a mandatory aid in preventing litter . " Directories of one sort or another to
facilitate finding specific stores . " Public telephone installations . " Seating groups and individual benches for resting, although
many planners believe it is better to have frequent coffee stands both for better control and to produce income .
• Many also believe that, in downtown areas, it is often better to avoid benches so as to discourage loitering by undesirable
elements . " Fountains, properly designed for public protection from water hazards . (Water seems to have a universal appeal
.) " Kiosks of various sizes and shapes, generally less than 250 sq ft, though there is a trend to larger ones . " Lockers
(occasionally) for storing purchases while continuing to shop .” " Sculpture or other art forms as major design features "
• Miscellaneous items occasionally used to catch the public interest, such as birdcages, kiddy mazes, fashion mirrors, closed-
circuit TV, clocks, continuous music, fashion platforms, exhibit areas, etc . I
• t is noted that in the case of exhibit areas, it is necessary to provide adequate Mall-access doors for bringing in large items to
be exhibited.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC

• In suburban areas where almost all the trade comes by automobile, a ratio of between 5
and 6 car spaces per 1,000 sq ft of leasable store area is mandatory In the central
business district, where mass transportation and walk-in trade can be counted on for a
substantial part of the clientele, the ratio can go down to as low as 2 .5 to 3 cars per
1,000 sq ft In strip centers, customer parking is generally between the roadway and the
line of storefronts .
• In regional suburban centers, the parking normally is on grade and completely
surrounding the shopping complex where land costs approach the cost of parking decks,
it is coming more frequent to deck at least a portion of the site area, often where
topography aids the situation
LANDSCAPING

• There are literally hundreds of shopping centers that are surrounded by barren oceans of monotonous asphalt- The primary reason for this
situation is that the landscaping is installed last, is not related directly to the building construction operation, and consequently is vulnerable
to "corner cutting" by the developer, especially if the project cost is running over the budget.
• The landscaping in the regional, that is to say, suburban center usually has two components : interior, i .e ., the landscaping in the mall, and
exterior, i .e ., that outside the buildings and in the parking areas.
• Because of the climate control in the typical enclosed mall, tropical planting can be maintained provided that adequate light, water, and
drainage are supplied and there is proper maintenance.

• For the exterior landscaping of the project, the principal problems are
(1) the budget ;
(2) proper scale and effect in relation to the buildings ;
(3) suitable maintenance, including the problems involved in snow removal;
(4) the necessity for obtaining maximum visual impact the first year of the center's operation.

• The major principles of schematic planning, in addition to conforming to the leasable area recommendations of the economic survey, are
(1 ) convenience and comfort for the customer, and
(2) maximum merchandising potential for the tenant stores Customer convenience demands ease of vehicular access to and from the site ; ease
and adequacy of parking ; reasonable walking distances ; simple, direct pedestrian shopping routes with minimum obstructions and
inconveniences . It is axiomatic that a shopper rarely goes where there is inconvenience of any sort .
SOURCES

• Time Savers Standards for All Building Types

• Metric Handbook Planning Design Data
• Neufert Architect’s Data

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