Malls

@. pictured above, Arkadia, Jana Pawla 82
investor/developer. again for Arkadia, Cefic
finished. ditto, 2004

Ahh malls. So popular and so terrible. They are popping up all over the city following a very American model. They make sense in some ways. It's a cold climate, its nice to be able to walk around, meet friends and shop in a controlled, warm, dry environment. But WHY do they have to be completely cut off from the street? Why must I walk for kilometers to get to an entrance along a windowless brick facade with cars zooming past my narrow sidewalk? These monstrosities are huge and completely unintegrated into the streetscape. While perfectly accessible by public transportation these edifices shy away from the street and are ultimately designed with the car in mind. They all go into my hall of shame with the one exception of Galeria Centrum which is extremely well done (and the only one built under communism!!).