Synopsis on Shopping Mall

Synopsis on

SHOPPING MALL FOR ENUGU STATE
The role of mall as a cultural hotspot

A seminar course
Submitted by -------------------------
REG NO: ----------------------

LECTURER: Dr. J.A
DATE: APRIL 2012
Enugu state, popularly known as “Coal city state” is the capital of the South-East Nigeria, has a population of approximately 5.6million people is in dire need of a state of the art world class shopping centre where its cultural heritage, the ibo’s and Nigerians in general will be showcased, promoted and for socializing. Shopping centre or shopping mall can be defined as a building or set of buildings having different retail units, linked walkways making it easy for visitors to walk from one unit to another.
STATEMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL PROBLEMS Here, attempts will be made to state the architectural problems inherent in designing a shopping mall that plays the role as a cultural hotspot-
 Proper planning and design consideration to promote social activities and interaction.
 Designing a mall that will give identity to our culture without losing in-touch with international realities.
 The architecture of the mall should be edifying and a symbol of commercial power and tourism for international visitors and to the locality in which it is located.
 The problem of accessibility: for mall to function effectively and valued, it should be easily accessible to all and sundry, both in terms of visual accessibility and other forms of accessibility. Attention will be paid to the disabled.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aims and objectives of this study are as follows:
 To create a state of the art architectural masterpiece in Enugu that will promote the cultural heritage of our people.
 To design an economically viable center.
 To provide an adequate facility which will enable travelers to relax while waiting to commence their journey or after arrival.
 To create a complex of retail stores and related facilities planned as a unified group to give maximum shopping convenience to customers. The aim is to make shopping entertaining.
 To install a forum for maximum exposure to merchandise. In this place, a customer will have the privilege of seeing all he is looking for by a single sweep of the sight.
 To instill in the inhabitants and visitors alike, a more organized and civilized shopping attitude.
 The shopping mall will serve as an international market to show case our made in Nigeria goods.
 And finally, to generally contribute to the architecture of shopping centers by trying novel and innovative ideas.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The sole reason of embarking on this study is to design a shopping centre that will promote the culture of the people. In addition, the study seeks to create avenue for creating employment opportunity and boost the economy of Enugu state and Nigeria in general.
SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY Failing to state to define the scope and limitation of the project at the onset of the design will result to the design of non viable shopping centre that is beyond the projected economic budget or fall short of it, which may result to the total failure of the project. The scope of the project will be based on the proportion of the intended population it will serve, and it will be limited to the design of:
 The department store
 Retail stores
 Service stores
 Supporting facilities
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 Data collection through published and unpublished works in printed or electronic formats.
 The use of case studies of existing shopping malls/centers in Nigeria and abroad.
 Site and field visit of the proposed site.
 Consultation with persons with expert knowledge on the field, ministries and agencies for statistics, information, maps and advice.
 Reference to textbooks, journals and newspapers, personal observation of the general commercial behavior of the people including the general physical planning of shopping facilities.
 Direct interviews and enquiries from people.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 How can shopping mall promote social activity and interaction?
Will shopping centers become definitely outmoded or will they be able to respond to the changing social and cultural trends? Is it coherent and legitimate to integrate such diverse functions as retail, culture and leisure within malls?
Is this mixed-use approach effective to reinvent the shopping center model for the future?