In 1956, Austrian-born architect Victor Gruen hoped that Southdale would become an American alternative to the "terror of the automobile" — a district with housing, a medical center, schools and offices just a short walk away. Southdale's "Garden Court of Perpetual Spring" would host chamber concerts and other cultural events.
Instead, much to Gruen's chagrin, Southdale set the American prototype for three decades of enclosed, inward-looking shopping malls.
And then, in 1992, came the biggest of them all — the Mall of America.
While many smaller malls (Brookdale, Apache Plaza) have closed, the Mall of America has thrived for 24 years as a retail and entertainment destination — a hybrid theme park, winter escape and indoor adventure with almost no outward views.
Inside, retail design architects Jerde Partnership gave the MOA brilliant sightlines, with views along the four retail "avenues" and between the three levels. You could see many stores at once. And as in casinos, bars and nightclubs, the outdoors and even the time of day were intentionally kept out of sight.
Bookended by easy-to-use but giant parking ramps, the Mall of America's exterior has always resembled a fortress — hardly the civic paradise that Gruen imagined. Yet, because the interior experience mattered most, its owners have continually invested in renovations.
The teal-colored mall of 20 years ago is now much lighter and transparent. With the latest remodeling, there are more skylights over the original avenues and subtle LED lighting everywhere. Old metal railings have been replaced with sleek glass panels and there is much less visual clutter.
Emptied of many kiosks, the avenues now flow among stores with polished white tile surfaces punctuated by sleek boat-shaped planters and green lily-pad-shaped seating. If it weren't for the din of noise, these stream-like passages seem almost serene when viewed from above.