Chinese transition to a consumer society and its reflection on the urban iandscape

摘要

China's newly constructed shopping malls in the urban areas have greatly changed citizens' shopping and living habits, altering the fabric of the urban space, and modifying the social scene. The citizen's initial reaction to this development is hot pursuit that eventually gives way to boredom. This paper discusses the relationship between the shopping mall and the urban environment, from the point of view of public space. It shows public space ruled and controlled in the shopping mall. It shows that urban shoppmg malls do not respond to the citizens expectations and demands for public space, and that the citizens' need for social public space is irreplaceable. Ultimately, this paper points out that to the need for further research in the area of public space, it must to fulfill the needs of city dwellers.