Chinese Transition to a Consumer Society and its Reflection on the Urban Landscape

Abstract:

China’s newly constructed shopping malls in the urban areas have greatly changed citizens’ shopping and living habits, altering the fabric of the urban space, and modifying the social scene. The citizen’s initial reaction to this development is hot pursuit that eventually gives way to boredom. This paper discusses the relationship between the shopping mall and the urban environment, from the point of view of public space. It shows public space ruled and controlled in the shopping mall. It shows that urban shopping malls do not respond to the citizens expectations and demands for public space, and that the citizens’ need for social public space is irreplaceable. Ultimately, this paper points out that to the need for further research in the area of public space, it must to fulfill the needs of city dwellers.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 243-249)
• Pages: 6457-6460
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.243-249.6457
• Online since: May 2011
• Authors: Ming Xiao
• Keywords: Collective Space, Public space, Shopping Mall, Urban Fabric

References

[1] Colin Rowe, Fred Koetter: Collage City, Beijing, China architecture & Building Press (Beijing), 2003.9

[2] The Ghent Urban Studies Team: The Urban Condition: Space, Community and Self in the Contemporary Metropolis, Beijing, China Water & Electricity Press，2005.1

[3] Mike. Jencks, Elizabeth. Burton, Katie. Williams: The Compact City: A Sustainable Urban Form, Beijing: China architecture & Building Press, 2004.6

[4] Quote from Diane Ghirardo: 1996, Architecture after Modernism. Singapore, Thames and Hudson.

[5] Wang Hui, etc: Cultures and Publicity, Beijing: Sanlian Bookstore, 2005.3

[6] Lewis Mumford: The City in History: Its Origins, Its Transformations, and Its Prospects, Beijing: China architecture & Building Press, 2005.2

[7] Habermas: Structural Transformation of Public Sphere. Shanghai: Xuelin Press, 2002.9