Author Paco Underhill's new book looks at the effects of psychology on the shopping experience.
In his latest work, anthropologist Paco Underhill examines how consumer centers both dictate and follow shopper's desires. In terms of mall design, the author discusses the role of the private sphere as a public space, the selective exclusion of 'unwanted elements' through transportation, and both the liberating and confining aspects of merchandizing. As for the future, Underhill thinks American malls are trailing Japanese models, which feature libraries, galleries, and wide scale access. As baby-boomers age, the author says that "malls are not going to be the slam-dunk proposition...they were 25 years ago."
Thanks to Jeffrey Goodman
FULL STORY: Malls thrust under a microscope

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
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Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
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