Disseminating the Malls in Chennai
- Krithikaa Kathirvel
- Feb 20
- 4 min read
In the current scenario of rapid urbanisation and globalisation shopping malls play an integral role in acting as multifunctional urban public places that help in bringing people together under one roof for shopping, eating, entertainment, playing games etc. Mall culture is gradually becoming a necessary part of urban life. It is perceived as an instant chill out place among the youngsters and as a place where we can get everything under one roof.
If we jog our memories 15 years back, it can be witnessed that fewer malls existed when compared to the present and it was not visited by people from all walks of life. Due to the variety of shopping experiences and services malls provide, at the present visiting a mall has become a leisure activity for many. Nowadays people from all walks of life can visit a mall, they emphasise the social and economic inclusivity that has evolved over the period of time. Apart from shopping and entertainment, malls are used as a public place of rhapsodic and ecstatic experiences.
Image 1: Interior view of Express Avenue mall located in Chennai
Listing up some of the famous malls in Chennai: Express Avenue Mall (Thousand Lights), Phoenix Market City (Velachery), VR mall (Anna Nagar), Marina Mall (Old Mahabalipuram Road), Palladium Mall (Velachery), Nexus Vijaya Mall (Vadapalani), Chennai Citi Centre (Mylapore), Ramee Mall (Teynampet), Aerohub East (Meenambakkam), Bergamo Luxury Mall
(Nungambakkam), Ispahani Center (Nungambakkam), Grand Square Mall (Velachery) etc.
A mall is generally designed as a mixed-use building with a central atrium space for aesthetic appeal and as the visual focal point with shops surrounding it. This allows you to get a view of all the shops around from the atrium space. It also acts as a light well by providing natural daylighting and the high ceiling helps the hot hair to rise up and the cold air to take its place, hence providing thermal comfort. The central atrium space is also used for various activities like conducting exhibitions, music concerts, bazaars, art installations, advertisements etc, thus serving as an ambient space for placemaking. Adding facilities like mall directories, parking facilities, kids play areas, gaming zones, elevators, escalators, wheelchair facilities, car washing, transport connectivity etc help to provide visitors a more pleasant and friendly user experience. Malls with movie theatres and food courts tend to attract more footfall.
Image 2: The central atrium space used for placemaking in Express Avenue Mall located in Chennai
People prefer to go to shopping malls that are located near their residence or workplace. Most shopping activities are carried out during the evening and the weekends when people have leisure time and they want the mall spaces to relax and rejuvenate them. Families with kids prefer malls that have special attractions for kids like kids play areas, indoor playgrounds, train rides, jumping balloons etc. More visitors can be seen during school holidays and occasions like Diwali, Pongal, Christmas, New year etc.
Aerohub East located inside the Chennai International Airport premises introduces the concept of combining Airport, Metro Rail and Mall, acting as an important nodal point in Chennai city. The shops located inside the airport can only be visited by the air passengers, but the concept of airport combined with a mall helps to encourage more shopping, leisure and travel activities for people who are not travelling but want to experience the place. The integrated complex has changed the dynamism of the place and has made the location a very busy landmark for Chennai. It will also attract more people to settle near them, provide more job opportunities, more infrastructures and help to set an everlasting image of Chennai for the travellers.
Spencer Plaza mall located on Anna Salai is Chennai’s oldest mall and it serves as a comparative to know how malls existed during the 1860s and now. Chennai Citi Centre is one of the famous malls in Chennai and its architecture reflects the Neoclassical architectural style. Phoenix Market City is also another famous mall in Chennai and I personally like the display of art installations around the mall and one can experience the mall transforming into a public art gallery just by strolling around the art installations. The multipurpose use of the atrium space in Express Avenue mall for fairs, exhibitions, advertisements etc, as always made me think about the diverse and flexible uses the space can be utilised for.
Image 3: Spencer Plaza Mall located in Chennai
Thus, at the present, malls have evolved into important public places and they are the most preferred public place in a city life. Looking through a futuristic vision, more malls can be expected to be built in the coming years and they will help to harness and shape the economic and recreational activities of Chennai. They will also act as an instrument in creating more job opportunities, increasing property values and shaping urban lifestyles.
Let’s imagine an urban transformation in our Chennai where it takes only 20-30 minutes to reach a nearby mall from any location in the city.
About the Author:
Krithikaa is a budding Architect and Urban Researcher. She completed her
Master's degree in Urban Planning in Singapore. She is fond of research and
writing about urban-related topics. Having been born and brought up in Chennai she
has always had many aspirations for the city since her childhood.
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