An urban mall for South Bend, Indiana

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Authors
Panzica, Philip E.
Advisor
Meyer, Bruce F. (Bruce Frederick), 1946-
Issue Date
1977
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B. Arch.)
Department
College of Architecture and Planning
Other Identifiers
Abstract

The South Bend urban center, like other American cities, has been hard hit economically by the migration of shoppers to the suburban malls which offer a bright, clean and new enclosed shopping area. At the same time the downtown loses activity, retail stores and revenue at an alarming rate. Unless vital steps are taken to stop this cycle, all hopes of an active urban center will die. The urban mall is an attempt to change the cycle and draw people to the downtown area.Basically the downtown has much more to offer than any suburban mall can. The urban center is located at the heart of government, theatre, business and the new cultural center. The design of the mall should take advantage of these factors, explore and exploit the potential for filling this mall with people, projects and excitment. This report is a program which starts to do just that.This program investigates and identifies users, activities, goals, needs, and other pertinent data. Issues discussed are not the end, but rather the beginning from which new issues, ideas and needs will be identified. Concepts are discussed from which the designer can start to organize the actual physical environment, but as he organizes this "structure" he must be aware of the user and the users needs.After writting this report it became apparent that the user is the primary concern. The user must be able to arrive and depart in an orderly and pleasing mode. Once inside of the mall the user must be stimulated visually, by odor, touch and sound. The user should almost receive a "sensory overload" which makes him or her want to return to try and experience the excitement again and again. The user should not be isolated from other urban activities, he should be integrated and given an experience that no other mall can offer.