The reasons why people visit the Canal Walk shopping center could be various, in addition to shopping, an example of entertainment, eating and socializing, interacting with other people and so on. The average, not so wealthy person visits the center mainly simply because entry is free and open to all, it is a safe, pleasant and comfortable environment in which to spend time. Canal Walk seems to be open to all the public, but it is not a public place, it is privately owned and even today it is debated whether it is a public or private space, some might even call it a controlled space (Reyes, 2016). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThese things are planned, structured, and managed in a way that affects the lives of individuals. Shopping is a way of life around the world and the Cape Town city community is no excuse. Sociologists have gone so far as to compare these planned commercial spaces as "colonizations of other private spaces", because shopping is and has become a way of life for many people. The Canal Walk location was perfectly planned as a strategic beacon that would attract the target buyer. Clear examples of this can be seen at Canal Walk regarding the layout and selection of shops. You can easily see that they have put the larger, more common stores (Anchor Stores) on the outskirts of the centre, near the entrances, but it still gets you past a couple of other stores that appeal to your everyday needs (Woolworths and Checkers) . The types of retailers found in this center are usually high-end establishments specifically located there to attract tourists (H&M, TOP MAN). The tourist market is very advantageous as they are known to be big spenders, especially considering the current trend of our economy. Some may say that these retailers are for wealthy, upper-class citizens, a type of social group for the upper-middle class. Certain techniques are used to communicate this message, a great example of this would be the use of architecture and other social control techniques (Reyes, 2016). When you take a look at the visual design of the mall inside and out you get a message that says: "playground for the rich". The surrounding areas include the luxury Marriot and Colosseum hotels, as well as the new luxury developments that have just disappeared up there, valuing the entire area as an exclusive space, it embodies a precise set of social values that dictates that it is a space reserved for the few. This is a perfect example of how a supposed public space is adapted by people with money. Not only is people's behavior changed, but also their individuality. “In reality, public spaces are a battlefield for social control. When we talk about shopping centres, on the one hand we have the property owners who impose their commitment on what are effectively public spaces and on the other there is the public who perceives these spaces as a public entity". (Reyes, 2016).Canal Walk is one of those spaces that connects a public institution and a privately owned space. The main goal when designing shopping malls is to give visitors such an incredible and unique experience that they will spend most of their time shopping or window shopping. In other words, the shopping center design must encourage consumers to spend their time and money as much as possible. Canal Walk was designed with the intention of moving away from the habits of typical old-fashioned architecture. He focused more on the.
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