An analysis of visitors’ perception of shopping malls

Shopping malls have been a significant part of our daily life for decades. Their significance is derived from the use of these spaces based on great numbers of people, as well as the role malls play in culture. On the other hand, the design of malls has been constantly evolving according to the needs of users and the market. This study is based on survey data that we collected from ninety visitors of a shopping mall located in Izmir, Turkiye. Through the survey, we collected data on topics such as the participants’ frequency and reasons for visiting the mall, architectural and spatial features they favor and/or dislike, their opinions on where they perceive malls in everyday life, and their opinions on alternative spaces to malls. The data collection was finalized right before the pandemic which significantly changed the way we think about public spaces, as well as malls, in relation to architecture. Analyzing collected data provides further insight on surveyed customers’ perception of spaces, the design of shopping malls, the use of the space, the preferred design features, as well as design features that drive customers away from the mall. The analysis is later compared and linked to studies in the literature. These research findings have the potential to be used by studies that evaluate mall design and space use, as well as by studies that compare the post-pandemic perception of spaces and the use of shopping malls.