The functional connection between the building and the streetscape affects the city and its attractiveness. Stores located in shopping malls with their entrances facing internal walkways, creates segregation between the mall and the streetscape. This segregation implies that the shopping mall loses some of its attractiveness, which may result in a so-called Greyfield mall. The expression Greyfield mall is used for shopping malls that have lost its visitors. Competition from new modern malls and a lack of investments are examples of factors that influence the development of Greyfiled malls. To clarify the relationship between the building and the streetscape, Space syntax has been used. Space syntax can be explained as the order between the different spaces. A Space syntax analysis provides an intergration value that indicates how the streets are linked.
The pupose of this paper is to investigate and develop methods that will increase the attractiveness of shopping centers and malls in danger of developing into, or already classified as Greyfield malls. Improvements to these sites contributes to a better urban environment.
The question formulation has been focused on the streetscape- and building design, and the movement patterns of the visitors. The questions have been answered through literature studies within the areas of; Space syntax, Shared space and Greyfield malls. In addition, a new proposal for the design of the building and the surrounding streetscape has been done. Analyses using Depth map has been used in a case study of Rosengallerian.
Rosengallerian is located in the center of the city Husqvarna and has potential to act as a gathering place for city residents. By using Shared space, Woonerf-streets and axial analyzes with Space syntax a new proposal for mall and its surroundings has been developed. The new proposal is based on the prioritation of the pedestrians instead of the motor traffic. The streets surrounding the shopping mall has been converted into walking-speed areas, where the streets have been given a more narrow character. These changes creates a more attractive environment for the pedestrians around the mall.
The results of the studies shows that the problem mainly lies in the design of the building and the priorities of the surrounding street network. The planning and prioritations of a street network are important to city residents, when the traffic moves according to the terms of the pedestrians a center where people can move freely is created. The ability to move around freely along with the city's walkways being extended into the building means that people wants to come back to the shopping mall. The proposal increase the attractiveness of the shopping mall since people attracts other people.
The conclusion is that the mall is to be seen as an individual building being fitted into the existing surrounding environment. The shopping mall should be a natural part of the city's movement pattern, but also allowed to stand out architecturally.