atria mall

as a self proclaimed connoisseur of malls i was completely disappointed by the new one at worli by hafeez contractor. although the exterior promises much scintillation with its huge tree like columns supporting a curved roof and the three axis curved clear glass curtain wall. inside the ‘atria’ suffers from the usual problem that arises when the movement is removed from the public space as it does in raghuleela and not in in-orbit.

the amount of energy spent in making the red sparkling floor with random geometric lighted slits, or the exposed machinery below the escalators a la pompidou is completely wasted. the balconies that overlook this space are un-enlivened and pointless. even more disappointing is the fact that the mall is merely a shopping complex like indraprashta in borivili with a fancy façade. the corridors in between the shops are dingy and narrow and the shops themselves are little holes in the wall.

the finshing is tacky, the reflections that so agitate me with their disorienting madness are interspersed with plywood boxes that are rotting, the gigantic trees outside are rusting already, and the paint job is peeling. the surveillance was far more in-your face than i have seen at any other mall. on every landing, at every corner grey clad men and women with hats looked over every move and were constantly in frame. it made the bogusness of the sense of public space in the mall even more apparent. everyone knows that there is a delicate balance to be struck when making a shopper imagine an artificial freedom while also making sure that he knows he is constantly being watched. i felt like a fish in a tank of glass with hollow sound instead of water.

i thought maybe the location and ‘town’ crowd being catered to might be able to surpass my favorite thrilling shopping experience in malad.. nah.. in-orbit is still the best mall in town.