21 May 2015
Episode 188
26 minutes
From arcades to American-style malls, shopping centres are where you can find everything under one roof. But these – usually gigantic – buildings are not always welcome. This week we head to Beirut and discover an old souk turned mall and revisit the history of Europe’s first covered shopping centre. We also meet this week’s Urban Hero, who is trying to save Istanbul’s historic Yedikule Gardens.
21 May 2015
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For centuries Beirut’s old market, the souk, was the heart of the city but civil war left the area in ruins. In the postwar years private real estate company Solidere turned the ancient souk into a modern shopping district. Our contributor in the city, Imogen Kimber, brings us this report.
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If done well a shopping centre can be a beneficial addition to any city. So how do we make sure we get it right? Eric Hallquist, director of landscape architecture at design and planning firm AECOM, tells us what makes a good example and how he tackles such projects.
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