Mixed-Uses

The future does not necessarily mean complex new innovative design which revolutionise the way we look at cities. To quote the great man himself, Bjarke Ingels, evolution is the process underpinning our worlds so why not continue. Retail was the starting point to my study into the area. If you look at the region, it is predominantly retail mainly in the form of high street and shopping centres. Currently 5% of online sales comprise total sales. This is slowly increasing. An interesting notion to consider is the role of online and physical shopping in the future, 20 years perhaps. If we consider the current trend to be accurate, approximately 20-25% could make up online sales. It is impossible to predict. But this will definitely impact the role physical brick and mortar retail has upon society. I think the experience of physical retail will become a future persuit of architects as the comfort of the bedroom or household is better than going to an average public building, which is congested, tacky and uneventful.

I think that the future will present a more dynamic architectural typology which is based around more versatile spaces, but then core spaces integral to society will become hubs which nurture the primal human interaction and emotions. Nurturing spaces can be embedded within the earth to symbolise the unmovable characteristics of the buildings and then the street level and elevated spaces represent the ever changing, superficial and stimulating nature of society. They can present visual cues and insights into the operations of the building.

I envisage the site to become a 24/7 retail precinct integrated with public space, transport, accomodation/residential and hospitality. The goal of the project is to achieve 24/7 activation which in turn improves social, economic and through smart design, environmental aspects.

24/7 retail is an interesting concept which gives freedom to users just like online retail does. If the environments are safe and thriving during night time, it could become a viable idea. I would like to do some research on the integration of technology and retail, potentially allowing shoppers use the facility without the control of humans during night periods.

My intention is to encourage the stimulation of physical retail, but to not ignore the rise of internet shopping. I want to see how they can integrate together, potentially thriving off each other. How could the precinct possibly include ideas of internet shopping into the physical experience? People love to actually feel the texture of their items, purchase it instantly in the shop without having to wait long delivery periods which online shopping has. Some people try clothes or shoes on at shops but then go home and buy it online. This means that prices can often be lower than in store prices. But then again you pay for the expertise of the salesman. I am unsure just yet, but what can the physical store offer/ do to improve customer experience and potentially match the price of internet shopping?

Retail tenancies have to pay rent, electricity, payroll, fixtures, shrinkage loss, all contribute to the gross margin and overhead of doing business in a shopping center. (http://couponing.about.com/od/bargainshop/a/onlinecheaper.htm).