Volume 6, Issue 9, September – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

The Role of Shopping Malls in an Environment:

A Case of Oluwole Shopping Mall in Lagos Island
Lagos State, Nigeria
Titilayo ANIFOWOSE & Edward Adeshola OLADIGBOLU
Department of architecture Bells University of Technology Ota, Nigeria

Abstract:- Shopping malls have influenced more places in cannot be denied. Gehl (2007), stated that a city space has
our economic and social life and have also taken the place always served three important functions, meeting place,
of traditional markets. Shopping malls are now marketplace and connection space; as a meeting place, the
performing dual purposes, a place to shop and recreation. city was the sight for chat of social information of all kinds.
Shoppers spend a substantial time in shopping malls As a marketplace, the city spaces served as venues for
because they host a lot of stores and activities that attract exchange of goods and services. The city streets provided
consumers’ attention and offer a lot of assistances. In the access to and connections between all the functions of the
past, the shopping activity took place in open public city. The location of a shopping mall is one of the most vital
spaces with other urban and public functions and aspects for its degree of incorporation with urban fabric. For
happenings of the city, like ancient Greek Agora or accessibility shopping mall is defined by its location.
Roman Forum. After centuries, the enclosed shopping Coleman (2007) stated that accessibility directly influence the
mall separated urbanity and shopping activity from each consumers and suppliers’ relationship and attraction to malls.
other. These fully-enclosed and environmentally Therefore, comfort have emotional impact on catchment
controlled consumption spaces redefined the urban fabric population of a shopping mall (Coleman 2007). Existing
to put on a city image in an enclosed space. A street-like in structures, services and integration into the existing urban
an enclosed space was created for daily purchase of features are the determining factor to be considered for
peoples need for example Mall of America. Today, urban shopping mall success or failure. Coleman 2007 listed some
fabric and shopping mall incorporation is becoming more factors that influence shopping malls under two sub-ending;
important. The gap in the study is to show the negligence out-of- Town criteria and Town center criteria as listed
of Nigerian researchers to write on relationship of open below;
space and sustainable design for shopping malls that is the
rising trends in the world. So, the existing shopping malls Out-of- Town criteria &Town center criteria
are opening, take part with urban fabric and continually  How accessible is the site by car, public transport and
updating themselves to compete with the emerging service vehicles?
shopping places. This recent regeneration trend is called  How close is the site to a primary road network?
‘De-malling’ in the world. Every shopping mall has  Is the site obvious and easily seen from the oncoming
different reasons for the architectural features roadways?
incorporated, which can be functional, managerial or  What is the existing site- will it accommodate the
structural, so, description of architectural features in proposed development and allow for further growth if
shopping mall would be necessary for each shopping mall. required?
This study examined ‘main principles and criteria for  What is the landscape of the site and how developable is
shopping mall concepts’ in order to put forward the the land?
specific functions and locations for different units that is  How easily can the land be attained?
incorporated in Oluwole urban shopping mall. The
research method in this study is personal observation, The built environment is a source of respected
archival research combination supported by constructive knowledge for designers, which is knowledge about the
interpretative paradigm. structures and users. Now, architects need the professional
grasp to design with a high-quality of research methods and
Keywords:- Shopping, Shopping Mall, Urbanity, Urban skills acquaintance can be reached from the built environment
Public Space, Features. (Haradhan, 2018). Breathing spaces need area and space in
order to function; they are not merely edges but require visual
I. INTRODUCTION depth and extent. They are visual districts rather than visual
edges. (Lynch, 1960). Oluwole urban mall is a district rather
Shopping malls became a part of consistent urban life as than edges in Balogun market, because it depicts a separate
multifunctional urban public spaces of contemporary era. visual identity from the other shopping complexes in that
Regardless of current arguments on shopping malls’ urbanity environment. The buildings were discussed with a focus on
and publicans from the very beginning of the development, their contribution to the physical character, thus the image,
shopping malls has one of determinants of city space qualities

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Volume 6, Issue 9, September – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
through spatial character like siting and massing and visual description composed with positioning relation to the
character such as scale, proportion, rhythm and material. competition in terms of the qualities or concepts making up a
respondent’s image of the shopping mall. While the brand
CONTEXT OF THE STUDY ‘personality’ of Oluwole shopping mall will not reflect the
Oluwole shopping mall is located in an outstandingly same thing as its ‘desirability’, because both aspects are part
significant location in between Martin Street and Nnamdi of the overall concept of branding. This study reported
Azikwe Street, Balogun market Lagos Island, bounded by observations in qualitative approach and summarized results
other shopping centers overlook by Lagos Central Mosque. of personal observations in Oluwole shopping mall. This
It’s planned encompassed a symmetrical concept; to create an study comprised of sequence of linked investigations aimed
attractive building likely to bring about a lively neighborhood at exploring the broad area of branding and appeal of
and fits into a very landscape environment. Part of the Market shopping mall from qualitative technique perception.
mail elevations are screened by metal Louvers arranged
horizontally and diagonally to bring light to the space. III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Oluwole urban mall is a mall designed by prominent

architects AZDEC A.S.C consultants, the same architects are
the project manager. Oluwole urban mall is a modern
architecture which are significantly figurative, simple, typical
and easy to understand; in addition, it is considered more
relaxing because of all the elements of architecture
incorporated in a subtle manner by the designer (architect)
than every other shopping complexes in that locality. The
design is more prototypical since it is characterized by clear
and well defined designed principles and composition rules;
the design is symmetrical, it has a space that celebrated the
entrances to the three wings of the mall, the entrances are
Figure1 Showing Approach View of Oluwole Urban covered with transparent polycarbonate roofing sheets to
withstand high impact, resist to ever fluctuating temperature
II. METHODOLOGY within the environment of the mall. The transitional stairs that
lead to the mall are reinforced concrete steps supported with
This study adopted qualitative method to reflect the stainless balustrades.
‘personality’ of Oluwole shopping mall using human nature

Architect AZDEC A.S.C. Design consultants

Civil & Structural Engineers Livingstone Consultants
Mechanical & Electrical Engineers Poolad Consult Ltd
Legal Adviser TNP (The New Phsolicitors)
Location Balogun market, Lagos Island
Date Completed in 2012
Building Type Urban mall
Construction System Mechanical system
Climate Temperature
Style Modern Architecture
Distinctive elements Great stairways, forms in angular steel truss sections roofs,
rectangular entrances and symmetrical rectangular
structure.

Figure 2 showing Floor plans of Oluwole Shopping mall

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Volume 6, Issue 9, September – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
The building is oriented east- west and its celebrated entrances at different wings are covered by transparent polycarbonate
roofing sheets, acts as a resistance for the fluctuating temperature within the mall.

SITE PLAN ANALYSIS

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT/ FACILITY LOCATION

Parking Opposite to the main entrances to the facility.
Shops Around the building and also in the proposed parking lot within the mall at
the ground floor.
Convenience At the extreme end of each wing of the facility
Celebrated lobbies & stairs All round the building & stairs are strategically located.
Designed balconies An oval shape located at various side of the mall.

Figure 3 Picture showing shops built in the supposed

proposed parking
Figure 4 showing stairs at stratgetical location in Oluwole
Shopping mall.

Pedestian Transition
The pedestrian transition is from the front of the
building therefore, creating a kind of aesthestics look of the
mall. There is also an exit from the back of the building
created at each wing. These served as an emergency escape
during harzards. In all, beauty is achieved in all transitional
chaos. The facility lack packing spaces within , lacks
provision for the handicapped as there is no ramp for easy
mobility of people on wheelchairs.

Figure 6 showing Pictures showing the major transition

Parking/Landscaping Picture 7 showing the available parking in the whole market.

There is no single car park within the facility which is
not good for this kind of beautiful facilty. A central parking is
what the whole market is using and these has limitation
because, it can only take 200 vehicles. Users will have to park
and walk a long distance across the busy vehicular road to
access the building after parking.

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Volume 6, Issue 9, September – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Environmental Characteristics of Oluwole Urban Mall. that scale use for each shop within the mall is generous
1. Scale: there is a significant impact in using an appropiate and therefore allow for better sales activities in the mall.
adult’s space on their environment. The picture shows

Figure8 showing generous scale within the mall

2. Amenities: the central mosque, other complexes and Accessibility: high accessibilty means more opportunities to
openess in the environment offer clear visibility within walk rather than drive, there is access to park and other
the market area and these can lower fear of crime and market facilities leading to positive related increase in
also create opportunities for interaction within the mail purchase of goods and recycling of market goods among the
and its environment. The pleasantness of Oluwole urban traders using the mall and other shopping complexes around
mall to its environment create a kind of aesthestics to it. the mall.

Figure 9 showing the interaction with the environment. Figure11 showing accessibility of the park to the market.

4. Sociability: lack of friendliness is a barrier to a traders

participation in sales within the market, its offers
opportunities to learn market skills from other traders
including; self expression, maket communication,
sharing and compromising within and outside the market.
5. Variety: mall should be designed to be motiviting and
attractive to the traders. Oluwole urban mall is designed
3. Safety: traders show an extreme physical and mental motivating and attractive to both traders and buyers due
sensitivity to an environment hazards, they partronise to some architectural features that was incorporated in its
shops or mail base on safety. Safety within and outside design.
the urban mall is of paramount importance to both buyers
and sellers. These was achieved in this mall by putting a
security guard at each wing of the mall, clear lobbies are
provided at strategetical position of the mall.

Figure 10 showing the security guard and the lobbies.

Pictures showing different varieties in the mall.

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Volume 6, Issue 9, September – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
USING THINGS THAT ARE THERE: EXTERNAL transparent polycarbonate roofing sheet that is used to cover
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS OF THE MALL. the center of the mall. The interior of the lobbies finish
 External transition linking users from the external to the mostly with cream emulsion paints on the wall. The lightings
interior of the building, the stairs is a reinforced concrete are embedded in the concrete screeded ceiling and paints in
steps surpported with stainless balustrade both risers and white color to aid ventilation within the lobbies.
threads are finished with terrazo flooring.
 Celebrated entrance of the mall is covered with Figure12 showing different lobbies.
transparent polycarbonate roofing sheets to impact
strength and resist the fluactuating temperature in the
environment of the mall.
 Terracotta roofing tiles was use to cover 60% of the entire
mall because of its durability,resistance to temperature
and finally because of its aesthectic look.
 Concrete facial is used to channel runoff water to the
service ducts, to support the roof and to provide a kind of
aesthectic look to the total form of the building.
 Vertial service ducts were used at interval to enclose the
plumbering and to channel runoff water within the mall to
the inspection chambers without exposing the piping
fittings whereby causing an obstruction to the aesthestic
look of the building.
 Screened walls were used as a shading device and
ventilation to the mall.
 Metal louvers where arrange horizontally and diagonally
as a screened safer for the window and the doors.

The Shops
There are so many shops around the building serving as
commercial centre. The shop are access internally through
different lobbies within the mail.

Figure 13 showing one of the shops

Picture showing external different architectural elements.

SPACE OUTSIDE THE MALL: the entrances of the mall

is well celebrated with a big space that welcome people into
the facility, because of its size users can rest after walking a
distance from the parking to the mall before going into the
mall for purchase or enquires.
Internal Transition
INTERNAL ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS OF THE There are internal transitions linking the three floors of the
MALL building. The stairs is a reinforced concrete steps supported
with stainless balustrades. Both risers and threads are finished
ALL THE FLOORS SPATIAL CONFIGURATION with terrazo flooring.
The shops
The lobbies Figure 14 showing the internal transition.
Transition- the stairs
Conveniences

THE HEART: THE LOBBIES

The lobbies are significantly the heart of these building
is the work of the architecture, linking the external transition
to the functional spaces and conveniences. It is a simple
rectanglar plan with a ceramic tiles floor finishing. The
interior of the lobbies are well lit with embedded fluorenscent
light. Natural lighting is achieved through the use of .

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Volume 6, Issue 9, September – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
The Conveniences
There are six units for Convenience at each wing of the
mall, three for the male and three for female.

The Roof Members View Internally.

Four dormers where used at interval to bring in light
into the building and also to add more balance to the
apperance of the roof. Angular steel roof trusses where used
to give a stable form and to also support the considerable
external load of the large span of the roof components.

Figure 15 showing the internal roof members.

IV. CONCLUSION

Oluwole urban mall has as architecture that contributed

to the improvement of the geographical vista. It has changed
the existing space by introducing an urban mall, a focal point
to a formerly rigid Oluwole market to a better landscape. The
above mention mall fulfilled all the functions of mall as
defined by webster dictionary: A mall is a street or covered
areas with rows of shops close to traffic. My only observation
is that, its lacks provision for the handicapped as there is no
ramp for easy mobility of people on wheelchairs.

REFERENCES

[1]. Coleman, P. (2007). Shopping Environments:

Evolution, Planning and Design. Architectural Press,
Oxford, USA.
[2]. Gehl, J. (2007). Public Spaces for a Changing Public
Life, Open Space; People Space, ed. Thompson, C.W.,
Travlou, P., Taylor& Francis, Oxon, 3-22.
[3]. Lynch. (1960). image of a city. M.I.T Press.
[4]. Mohajan, H. K. (2018). Qualitative Research
Methodology in Social Sciences and Related Subjects.
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People, 7(1), 23-48.
[5]. Olomi, S., Mahdajinejah, M., & Namvarrad, A. (2012).
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[6]. Unwin, R. (1971). Town Planning in practice:an
introduction to the art of designing cities and surburbs.
New York, B. Blom.
[7]. Unwin, S. (2013). Analzing architecture. Routledge.

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