Gruen’s idea transformed American consumption patterns and much of the environment around us. At age 60, however, the enclosed regional shopping mall also appears to be an idea that has run its course
— theatlanticcities.com
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Gruen also left a legacy to SCI-Arc; his library. When SCI-Arc was going thru the accreditation process the school was told the library needed more books, At first the SCI-Arc library was books donated by the faculty but to be accredited the school needed more volumes, The library of late Victor Gruen filled that quota.
I remember carrying dozens of boxes, unloading books on shelves, very happy,knowing that this was the last piece to complete the new school SCI-Arc; a building, a faculty, students and now a library. Forget the malls; Gruen;s greatest gift was his part in building SCI-Arc.
Eric, I remember those lots.. There were a lot of rejects from those boxes you and I went through... Those Japanese magazines for example. Jacob Mans has them. You forgot to mention those books also came with their librarian, Mary Ann. She was great.
I omitted Rose Marie Rabin so you you correct. LOL. The late Rose Marie was part of the package that the library came with. Actually Rose Marie Rabin was not a librarian, she was Mr. Gruen's personal secretary, or assistant , I dont recall. Rose marie ran the library and hired Nancy Smith (nee Nancy Aquafresca -- a most beautiful surname) who really was a librarian and I remember Nancy not happy that her boss wasn't. But that was the deal then; Gruen's books plus Rose Marie.
One thing I am very proud of came out of the SCI-Arc Library. I had a student whose name I forgot. Her class project was to create an architecture version of Scientists for Social Responsibility, Rosemarie set it up and It became Architects and Desigers for Social Responsibility. (ADSR) Rosemarie was their first president with meetings at her condo in Santa Monica.
But we are not talking that long of a time span from Crystal Palaces to shopping arcades to shopping malls to television shopping network to online virtual shopping.
It is the ongoing internalization of the consumer/comsume-it all experience that is the trajectory of this point . ....shopping is the drug of choice and the The Victor Gruen consolidation as mall just makes the ease of delivery more efficient. I never felt at ease in a mall. I never wanted to be that comfortable in that crowd. I wanted to resit.
I love shopping malls. It is a good place to verify one's thoughts on consumerism and trends. In fact, I am on my way to Glendale Galleria to meet my friend Aram who has done some studies on that particular mall. He tells me residents living on upper floors (it's a mixed use mall) hear the same muzak everyday. I am going with my recorder. Very science fiction.. You'd like and laugh if we go together.
Not a moment too soon, I just saw this relevant article about malls offering things and experiences you can't get from internet shopping. This mall in the article is in Scottsdale, Ariz., where money is no object. One of the businesses offering crafts lessons and activities is called Make Meaning is so ironic.. Also somewhat related to Sci-Arc's Making + Meaning summer program. Now the whole thing on sciarc, malls, libraries etc.., finally comes together.;.)
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Gruen also left a legacy to SCI-Arc; his library. When SCI-Arc was going thru the accreditation process the school was told the library needed more books, At first the SCI-Arc library was books donated by the faculty but to be accredited the school needed more volumes, The library of late Victor Gruen filled that quota.
I remember carrying dozens of boxes, unloading books on shelves, very happy,knowing that this was the last piece to complete the new school SCI-Arc; a building, a faculty, students and now a library. Forget the malls; Gruen;s greatest gift was his part in building SCI-Arc.
Eric, I remember those lots.. There were a lot of rejects from those boxes you and I went through... Those Japanese magazines for example. Jacob Mans has them. You forgot to mention those books also came with their librarian, Mary Ann. She was great.
I omitted Rose Marie Rabin so you you correct. LOL. The late Rose Marie was part of the package that the library came with. Actually Rose Marie Rabin was not a librarian, she was Mr. Gruen's personal secretary, or assistant , I dont recall. Rose marie ran the library and hired Nancy Smith (nee Nancy Aquafresca -- a most beautiful surname) who really was a librarian and I remember Nancy not happy that her boss wasn't. But that was the deal then; Gruen's books plus Rose Marie.
One thing I am very proud of came out of the SCI-Arc Library. I had a student whose name I forgot. Her class project was to create an architecture version of Scientists for Social Responsibility, Rosemarie set it up and It became Architects and Desigers for Social Responsibility. (ADSR) Rosemarie was their first president with meetings at her condo in Santa Monica.
Sorry Rose Marie, not Mary Ann.. How could I forget..? I also remember you making the old lady "smoke" the rainbow revolution. You bad boy you..
This is a total hijack! Just like shopping malls hijacked the public space world over.
Rose marie, mary anne, mary jane what's the diff?
But we are not talking that long of a time span from Crystal Palaces to shopping arcades to shopping malls to television shopping network to online virtual shopping.
It is the ongoing internalization of the consumer/comsume-it all experience that is the trajectory of this point . ....shopping is the drug of choice and the The Victor Gruen consolidation as mall just makes the ease of delivery more efficient. I never felt at ease in a mall. I never wanted to be that comfortable in that crowd. I wanted to resit.
eric chavkin
I love shopping malls. It is a good place to verify one's thoughts on consumerism and trends. In fact, I am on my way to Glendale Galleria to meet my friend Aram who has done some studies on that particular mall. He tells me residents living on upper floors (it's a mixed use mall) hear the same muzak everyday. I am going with my recorder. Very science fiction.. You'd like and laugh if we go together.
Not a moment too soon, I just saw this relevant article about malls offering things and experiences you can't get from internet shopping. This mall in the article is in Scottsdale, Ariz., where money is no object. One of the businesses offering crafts lessons and activities is called Make Meaning is so ironic.. Also somewhat related to Sci-Arc's Making + Meaning summer program. Now the whole thing on sciarc, malls, libraries etc.., finally comes together.;.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/business/malls-take-on-the-internet-by-stressing-the-experience.html?_r=2&hp
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