Consuming Spaces

Abstract

This thesis is a critique of public space and its role within community and consumer culture. When analyzing public space, it is a prime location for social interaction, but the context in which this interaction exists varies from parks to malls. Socialization occurs in more consumer settings than a traditional notion of public settings. The community aspect of the project reflects public interest, trying to equate "public" with the idea of a pure democratic space. The consumer portion of the project encompasses two parts First, the actual occupation of the space is an act of consumption, to use the space is to consume Second, consumption space represents consumer products and the environment built to sell that project. In response, this project seeks to take two seemingly different programs and to combine them into one space to create a hybrid condition between community and consumer space in the public realm.