FROM STREETS TO SHOPS: INTEGRATION OF STREETS AND THE MALL

ABSTRACT

MACAU, A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA, IS AN IMPRESSIVE DESTINATION KNOWN FOR ITS UNIQUE BLEND OF CHINESE AND PORTUGUESE INFLUENCES. WITH A HISTORY DATING BACK CENTURIES, MACAU’S ARCHITECTURE TELLS THE STORY OF ITS RICH FORMER TIMES. IN RECENT YEARS, MACAU HAS FACED A GROWING CHALLENGE DUE TO ITS STATUS AS AN OVERPOPULATED CITY. WITH LIMITED LAND RESOURCES AND A RAPIDLY INCREASING POPULATION, THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED TO CREATE ADDITIONAL SPACES THAT CATER TO THE INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF ITS RESIDENTS. DUE TO THE INCREASING DEMAND ON HOUSING, MOST OF THE AVAILABLE LAND IS CURRENTLY OCCUPIED AND IN CONSEQUENCE OF THAT, THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE AND EXPANDING SOLUTIONS. THEY ESTABLISHED A ‘’RECLAMATION AREA”, WHICH IS A LAND BUILT FROM SCRATCH THAT HAS THE PURPOSE OF RELIEVING THE TENSION OF INSUFFICIENT LAND WITH ENTERTAINING FACILITIES THAT CAN GATHER AND ATTRACT COMMUNITIES. ON THIS DISSERTATION WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE SOCIAL-EDUCATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE NEW ZONE A DEVELOPMENT. THE LIBRARIES WILL ACT AS A FOCAL CENTER FOR ALL FUTURE RESIDENTS IN ZONE A, THE FACT THAT LIBRARIES ARE CHANGING AND BECOMING MORE THAN JUST PLACES FOR PRESERVING BOOKS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. IT IS IMPORTANT TO THINK OF THE LIBRARY AS A MULTIFUNCTIONAL PLACE THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE NOT JUST TRADITIONAL STUDY SPACES BUT ALSO COLLABORATIVE WORK, THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL MEDIA, EVENTS, AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS IN RESPONSE TO THE EVOLVING DEMANDS OF THE COMMUNITY, ABOVE ALL, THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE THE CENTER FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. ALSO WOULD BE USED AS A PROTOTYPE TO TEST THIS NEW FORM OF LIBRARY THAT EXPLORES THE BENEFITS AND FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING ADDITIONAL LIBRARIES AND UNUSUAL ARCHITECTURAL SPACES IN MACAU WHILE INTEGRATING THEM WITH OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. MACAU, KNOWN FOR ITS THRIVING TOURISM AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, CURRENTLY FACES A SCARCITY OF PUBLIC SPACES THAT PROMOTE INTELLECTUAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES. THIS STUDY INVESTIGATES THE POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECREATION FACILITIES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. TO CONCLUDE, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITHIN LIBRARIES IN MACAU HOLDS SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS. BY COMBINING THESE TWO ELEMENTS, LIBRARIES CAN EVOLVE INTO DYNAMIC COMMUNITY HUBS THAT FULFIL A WIDE RANGE OF NEEDS AND INTERESTS.