Suburban shopping malls as spaces for community health and human flourishing: an Aotearoa New Zealand case study

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the role of semi-public spaces (in this case shopping malls) in Aotearoa New Zealand suburbs as potential sites of health and human flourishing. It evaluates two declining malls in Wellington – Johnsonville and Wainuiomata – through interviews and focus groups. The research found that these malls had played, and continue to play, an important role as spaces for social engagement in ad-hoc, but significant ways. Despite this, the community felt unable to participate in design decisions due to their being in private ownership. This paper critiques dominant conceptualizations of public and private spaces and articulate implications for urban design decision-making in support of vital suburban community space.