Retail/commercial edges in the contemporary urban context

This thesis ascertains what morphological and functional characteristics are germane to retail edges. The work is structured around and supportive of an attitude that views social interaction as a vital and necessary attribute of urban life and therefore of retail systems design and development in cities. The edges along three major Boston retail streets, Quincy Market--North and South Market Streets, Washington Street, and Boylston Street, are studied and documented. Pattern descriptions are developed which provide a language upon which to build future urban retail edge interventions that work not only on a return-on-investment level but also towards stimulating public life. A first step towards the use of the language is illustrated via a set of design guidelines for the redevelopment of the south Boylston street edge along the Prudential Center.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

1982

Author dc:creator

• O'Neill, Brian Charles

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Tunney F. Lee.

• Architecture.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76583

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/76583