A big box store is typically an inexpensive, large, one story, free-standing rectangular structure with a large empty interior space, that sits on a paved site isolated from its surroundings. Big box companies and their stores are inevitable in our society. Capitalism breeds competition, and that competition creates the need for stores to survive. In this type of economy, cheap discount stores will be created, and they will do whatever is necessary to save money, including construction the cheapest building possible. The big box type of structure is prevalent because the stores are efficient. However, they are really only efficient in some respects – in terms of construction and replication. They are not efficient in terms of site use, pedestrian access, parking areas, entrances, circulation, and energy use. Since retail is a dynamic action based on circulation and transportation, I want to create a building that reflects the dynamics of circulation.
My thesis presentation is organized, ordered, and compiled into the following pages:
Pathways and Interior Circulation
Photographs of the individual models are located on the Model Photo Galleries page.
