Decline And Evolution Of The Shopping Centre Species

There are countless definitions of a shopping centre. One must only do a google search to come across a plurality of summaries that have gradually been enriched over time, adapting to the format's evolution and regulatory and authorisation provisions.

Definition of Shopping Centre

"Buildings designed and constructed according to unambiguous criteria, size and merchandising mix commensurate with the catchment area (which unfortunately is not always the case), presence of a plurality of common services, unified and coordinated image, unified management", are the descriptions most frequently found.

After decades of an evolutionary (and in many cases regressive) cycle of the 'shopping centre species', there is, at present, significant heterogeneity. Consequently, it is increasingly difficult to give general, all-encompassing definitions.

Shopping Centre Species

I have devoted my professional activity to studying the various 'shopping centre species' for over 25 years. Yet, when I visit a shopping centre, I have reached an almost trivial distinction, all related to the emotional sphere.

This method of emotional evaluation (a far cry from a 'professional' analysis) is about feeling relaxed and happy to be in a specific place, rather than wholly indifferent and focused solely on the need to buy one product rather than another.In the…