Shopping centres: Difference between revisions

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The Planning Analytical Materials of 2008 recommend that no more land is dedicated to big shopping centres except for newly proposed district centres.
The Planning Analytical Materials of 2008 recommend that no more land is dedicated to big shopping centres except for newly proposed district centres.


== Problems connected to commercialization – urban, environmental and social aspects  ==
== Problems connected to commercialisation – urban, environmental and social aspects  ==
The existence of shopping centres definately brings several benefits to society. These can be employment, shopping availability, economic growth. However numerous unpleasant consequences of the contruction of shopping centres have been observed. A list of the most important ones follows.


1. The question of population decline in the city centre emerges as more and more buildings are loosing their residential function and used for office or retail areas instead.
The existence of shopping centres definately brings several benefits to society. These can be employment, shopping availability, economic growth. However numerous unpleasant consequences of the contruction of shopping centres have been observed. A list of the most important ones follows.  
2. As a result, people move out of the centre but commute there to work or for shopping, which causes traffic congestions. Suppliers contribute as well. 


<u>1. The question of population decline in the city centre emerges as more and more buildings are loosing their residential function and are used for office or retail areas instead. </u><br>


<u>2. As a result, people move out of the centre but commute there to work or for shopping, which causes traffic congestions. Suppliers contribute to this congestion as well.&nbsp;</u>
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{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" width="300"
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" width="300"
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! scope="col" | trafic increase  
! scope="col" | trafic increase  
! scope="col" | number of retail units  
! scope="col" | number of retail units  
! scope="col" | rate  
! scope="col" | rate
 
|-
|-
| &lt; 5%  
| &lt; 5%  
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|-
|-
| 5,00-9,99%  
| 5,00-9,99%  
| 67
| 67  
| 26,90&nbsp;%
| 26,90&nbsp;%
|-
|-
| 10-19,99&nbsp;%
| 10-19,99&nbsp;%  
| 65
| 65  
| 26,10&nbsp;%
| 26,10&nbsp;%
|-
|-
| 20-29.99&nbsp;%
| 20-29.99&nbsp;%  
| 28
| 28  
| 11,20&nbsp;%
| 11,20&nbsp;%
|-
|-
| &gt; 30%  
| &gt; 30%  
| 23
| 23  
| 9,20&nbsp;%
| 9,20&nbsp;%
|-
|-
| total
| total  
| 249
| 249  
| 100&nbsp;%
| 100&nbsp;%
|-
|-
| average  
| average  
|  
| <br>
| 11&nbsp;%
| 11&nbsp;%
|}
|}


'''Fig. 2: The impact of retail construction on traffic, NESEHNUTÍ''' <ref name=nesehnuti>NGO NESEHNUTÍ http://nesehnuti.cz/publikace/vyzkum_2003-2009.pdf</ref>  
'''Fig. 2: The impact of retail construction on traffic, NESEHNUTÍ''' <ref name="nesehnuti">NGO NESEHNUTÍ http://nesehnuti.cz/publikace/vyzkum_2003-2009.pdf</ref>  


''This chart provides a dividing of retails units by the precentage of traffic increase that appeared after the opening. The good perception might be than 1/4 of the cases registered an increase of 5% in maximum. On the other hand the same number of cases reported an increase of up to 20%, which might be a horour for infrastructure in case it was often congested already. Increased traffic is a burden not only for the air quality, but also worsens noise pollution (currently one of the worst problems of the Czech environment) and throttles pedestrian comfort and safety too.
*''This chart provides a dividing of retails units by the precentage of traffic increase that appeared after the opening. The good perception might be than 1/4 of the cases registered an increase of 5% in maximum. On the other hand the same number of cases reported an increase of up to 20%, which might be a horour for infrastructure in case it was often congested already. Increased traffic is a burden not only for the air quality, but also worsens noise pollution (currently one of the worst problems of the Czech environment) and throttles pedestrian comfort and safety too.''
''


3. At the expense of new construction investments the already rare greenery is diminishing in the city centre.
<u>3. New construction investments are being made at the expense of diminishing greenery that is already rare in the city centre.&nbsp;</u>


[[Image:Envis vlastni.jpg]]  
[[Image:Envis vlastni.jpg]]  


'''Fig. 3: The development of different types of land in Prague, ENVIS'''<ref>ENVIS, 2007: [http://envis.praha-mesto.cz/%28cvvouk454exf1gmszo5zjmia%29/zdroj.aspx?typ=2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;Id=79433&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sh=-1015397439 available on-line]</ref>
'''Fig. 3: The development of different types of land in Prague, ENVIS'''<ref>ENVIS, 2007: [http://envis.praha-mesto.cz/%28cvvouk454exf1gmszo5zjmia%29/zdroj.aspx?typ=2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;Id=79433&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sh=-1015397439 available on-line]</ref>  
 
''Eventhough politicians like to pride themselves with numbers of newly planted trees or hectares of newly set up urban greenery, this chart shows that in total the nature-like land (forest, water, agricultural and other areas) has more or less stagnated, whereas the built-up area has increased has risen significantly since 1990.''
''Eventhough politicians like to pride themselves with numbers of newly planted trees or hectares of newly set up urban greenery, this chart shows that in total the nature-like land (forest, water, agricultural and other areas) has more or less stagnated, whereas the built-up area has increased has risen significantly since 1990.''  
 
<u>4. Construction of suburban shopping centres occupies even more land, because roads and parking lots have to be built too. Traffic increases again. A Research from EIA 2003-2009<ref name="nesehnuti" /> shows that</u>


4. Construction of suburban SC occupies land even more, because roads and parking lots have to be built too. Traffic increases again. A research from EIA 2003-2009<ref name= nesehnuti/> shows that
<br>  


* 72% of SC in the Czech Republic have been built in the suburbs  
*72% of shopping centres in the Czech Republic have been built in the suburbs  
* Buildings take up 30% of the construction lot, roads and parking lots 45%  
*Buildings take up 30% of the construction lot, roads and parking lots 45%  
* 92% of parking sites have been designed as surface types, the rest as underground or inside
*92% of parking areas have been designed as surface types, the rest as underground or internal
* One half of SC have been built upon green fields, 10% of that land being the I. category agricultural soil intended to be built upon only in the most special cases.
*One half of shopping centres have been built upon green fields, 10% of that land being the I. category agricultural soil intended to be built upon only in the most special cases.  
* 46% of SC have had a negative effect on landscape (soil degradation, tree cutting, endangering ecological stability etc)
*46% of shopping centres have had a negative effect on the landscape (soil degradation, tree cutting, endangering ecological stability etc)


5. Small, former retailers are threatened and see SC as “unfair rivals”.
<u>5. Small, traditional retailers are threatened and see shopping centres as “unfair rivals”.</u>


6. The design of new SC often omits local urban patterns and so interrupts the landscape or even the historical values. A study<ref>J. Temelová (2004): The Reflection of Globalization in non-housing estate in Prague after 1990. In M.Ouředníček: Social Goegraphy of the Prague Region. Charles University in Prague, 2006</ref> on this topic claims these factors:
<u>6. The design of new shopping centres often omits local urban patterns and so interrupts the landscape or even the historical values. A study<ref>J. Temelová (2004): The Reflection of Globalization in non-housing estate in Prague after 1990. In M.Ouředníček: Social Goegraphy of the Prague Region. Charles University in Prague, 2006</ref> on this topic claims these factors:</u>


*A trend of globally active artist creating international images of cities has emerged, buildings are designed to show global success as a part of the marketing strategy of their owners. This means that the architecture is becoming rather unified, local specific manners are omitted often and so one can observe the same designs worldwide. Example images, both from abroad and Prague are shown to prove the theory (pictures taken from Wikipedia Commons):
*A trend towards globally active artists creating international images of cities has emerged and buildings are designed to show global success as a part of the marketing strategy of their owners. This means that the architecture is becoming rather unified, local specific manners are omitted often and so one can observe the same designs worldwide. Example images, both from abroad and Prague are shown to prove the theory (pictures taken from Wikipedia Commons):


[[Image:240px-Downtown of Rio de Janeiro.jpg]] Rio De Janeiro, Brazil&nbsp;  
[[Image:240px-Downtown of Rio de Janeiro.jpg]] Rio De Janeiro, Brazil&nbsp;  
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[[Image:240px-Toronto.jpg]]Toronto, Canada  
[[Image:240px-Toronto.jpg]]Toronto, Canada  


[[Image:240px-Praha Pankrac mrakodrapy.jpg]]Praha Pankrác, Czech Republic
[[Image:240px-Praha Pankrac mrakodrapy.jpg]]Praha Pankrác, Czech Republic  


[[Image:240px-Villagecinemas cernymost.jpg]]Entertainment centre Černý Most, Prague, Czech Republic
[[Image:240px-Villagecinemas cernymost.jpg]]Entertainment centre Černý Most, Prague, Czech Republic  


*New projects engage foreign investors, which reflects in their names (Anděl Bussiness Center), in the similarity of financing (the developer designs the exterior x the client chooses the interior composition) and in construction similarity. A new type of construction occurs, it is the so-called groundscraper model. A grounscraper takes the american way (skyscraper) of construction but adjusts it to european conditions. It is a horizontal building fulfiling a whole block and besides offices it includes other functions - shopping, entertainment, food. The concept can be illustrated by pictures from Wikipedia Commons:
*New projects engage foreign investors, which is reflected in their names (Anděl Bussiness Center), in the similarity of financing (the developer designs the exterior whereas the interior composition is chosen by the client) and in construction similarity. A new type of construction occurs, it is the so-called groundscraper model. A grounscraper takes the american way (skyscraper) of construction but adjusts it to european conditions. It is a horizontal building fulfiling a whole block and besides offices it includes other functions - shopping, entertainment, food. The concept can be illustrated by pictures from Wikipedia Commons:


[[Image:240px-AON WAKAMATSU SHOPPING CENTER.jpg]] Shopping centre Wakamatsu. Fukuoka, Japan
[[Image:240px-AON WAKAMATSU SHOPPING CENTER.jpg]] Shopping centre Wakamatsu. Fukuoka, Japan  


[[Image:240px-Galerie Butovice.jpg]] Galerie Butovice, Prague, Czech Republic
[[Image:240px-Galerie Butovice.jpg]] Galerie Butovice, Prague, Czech Republic  


[[Image:240px-Praha-letnany.jpg]] Shopping centre Letňany, Prague, Czech Republic
[[Image:240px-Praha-letnany.jpg]] Shopping centre Letňany, Prague, Czech Republic  


[[Image:240px-Praha Chodov Centrum Chodov a okoli.jpg]]Centrum Chodov, Prague, Czech Republic  
[[Image:240px-Praha Chodov Centrum Chodov a okoli.jpg]]Centrum Chodov, Prague, Czech Republic  


*Especially suburban stores and SC express rationality and purpose of machines of mass consume and create an atmosphere of a placeless city
*Suburban stores and shopping centres in partcular express the rationality and purpose of machines of mass consumption and create an atmosphere of a placeless city


<br>


== Conflict ==
== Conflict ==
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