Bulacan State University

College of Architecture and Fine Arts

RESEARCH PAPER NO. 3

TWO-STOREY STRIP MALL

Viray, Allen Czar R.

15-167112
BSAR 2B
Ar. Rodolfo Gregorio
I.
INTRODUCTION
Strip malls (or mini-malls) are a common land use, historically promoted by U.S. zoning
practices that concentrate retail and commercial development in a narrow band along urban
arterials and major streets. They are an entry-level retail niche offering opportunity for
independent, start-up businesses that serve a limited market. Communities have begun to
question land uses that enable efficient ingress and egress of vehicles in retail and commercial
districts but give little attention to multimodal motility. Some communities are redeveloping
small mall zones on the basis of complete street principles, expanding landscape plantings, and
redeveloping the character of a business district. This study assessed public response to one
element of small mall (re development: landscape and vegetation. Prior studies indicated that
consumer behavior is positively associated with city trees (urban forest) on multiple cognitive
and behavioral dimensions. In mail surveys depicting varied roadside treatments, residents of
three major cities in the Pacific Northwest were asked to indicate preferences and perceptions
about proposed changes. Survey stimulus materials addressed visual quality, retail perceptions,
patronage behavior, way finding, and willingness to pay for goods and services. Combined
econometrics and psychometrics indicated that respondents prefer landscaped roadsides and
report positive retail behavior, such as willingness to pay 8.8% more for goods and services in
well-landscaped malls. Redevelopment and roadside management guidelines are proposed based
on the research results, with implications for the economics of local communities. The strip mall
experience has been augmented based on consumer behavior, shifting demographics, high-priced
gas, and Internet shopping, making strip malls architectural relics. The strip mall typology is
poised to be reimagined within this changing consumer behavior. The mindless replication of
internal spaces within the strip mall generates a condition more concerned with the bottom line
than the space or environment the setting creates. Although this building type and its internal
spaces may be defaults, they are sophisticated in execution and deployment. They operate at a
high level of efficiency and in some cases are unable to evolve. This essay explores opportunities
to alter roofing components to generate new spatial arrangements without disrupting the
efficiency of the strip mall in its construction or in consumer habits. In anticipation of this low-
scale building density in suburban areas we must begin to look at these suburban artifacts in new
ways. The role of the parking lot is consequently still a necessary part of the suburban auto-
centric network. Second in square feet to the parking lot is the flat roof. This architectural
element has suffered significantly in the last few decades, becoming a victim to the introduction
of air-conditioning, mandated codes, and environmental insulation requirements. However, the
strip mall roof is large and free to grow endlessly due to air-conditioning technologies. The
overall scale of the strip mall varies, but the roof often is greater than all the microclimates of
interior space. A strip mall (also called a shopping plaza, shopping center, or mini-mall) is an
open- air shopping mall where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip
malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front. They face major
traffic arterials and tend to be self-contained with few pedestrian connections to surrounding
neighborhoods. The commercial architecture and the businesses of the central economic districts
of the cities attempted to adjust and compensate to the new requirements of space and the speed
of both innovations, but it was in vain, as the existing physical limitations of building density,
street widths, and limited setback prevailed. At the perimeter of the cities, there was an
unregulated frenzy of commercial construction that was erected in the absence of zoning,
building codes, architectural input, or planning. As an individual who has continually enjoyed
the experience of observing built forms of well proportioned geometries, thoughtful and dynamic
placements in sites, and skillfully crafted constructions utilizing appropriate and innovative
materials the views from the rails, roadways, bike paths, and walking trails of the United States
have not been satisfying ones. The purpose of this chapter is to precipitate an understanding of
the Commercial Shopping Center and specifically the Commercial Strip Mall for the purpose of
designing an alternative that would address its present shortfalls while maintaining or
augmenting its economic viability. Strip malls can be composed of units with the exact same size
and layout or the units may differ providing the variety necessary to suit the needs of todays
businesses, municipalities and neighborhoods. Those with varying unit sizes and layouts are
most practical because that can accommodate several types of retail outlets, businesses and other
needs. These strip mall plans are ideal for private practice medical offices, restaurants, and small
businesses such as a bookstore, coffee shop, hair salon and more. They are also great for
investment property with tenants paying rent for a space in the strip mall. These strip mall plans
work well in suburban neighborhoods as well as growing towns and cities. As the paving of
American byways accelerated so did the proliferation of retail establishments, general stores,
hardware stores, farmers supply, etc. and construction responded in a common sense and
economical fashion. At first, buildings were set back car lengths from the sidewalk allowing for
perpendicular parking, nearby vacant lots were paved, driveways were cut through curbs, and gas
pumps were installed. The next change was more radical as the long followed tenet of Main
Street commercial site planning, i.e. lining shops along the sidewalk with room only for parking
at the curb, was discarded. Buildings moved toward the rear property line, still parallel to the
street, but now with a vast paved parking lot separating street from faade.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

A Filipinos traveling in Europe during the later part of the 19th century must have been
impressed with the success of a new economic movement in effecting a gradual metamorphosis
of the economic and social life of the people ion those countries. At the turn of the century,
Filipinos, in increasing number, traveled and studied abroad and brought home with them new
ideas. It was this group of Filipinos who were in close in contact with the new economic
movement in Europe. Two names worthy of note were Dr. Jose P. Rizal and Teodoro Sandiko.

Rizal, after his side trip to Sandakan, Borneo in 1892, requested Governor Despudol that he and
some relatives and friends be permitted to move to that place and found a colony under the
cooperative plan of Robert Owen. Instead, he was arrested for treason and banished to Dapitan,
Zamboanga del Norte. In Dapitan, Rizal had his ideas in cooperation partially fulfilled. He put
up a school for the poor community on a purely cooperative basis. He also established a
cooperative store with the help of his pupils. One noteworthy group organized by Rizal was the
La Sociedad de los Abacaleros (Society of Abaca Producers). This functioned for only one year.
Rizal returned the members share capital without any loss.

Teodoro Sandiko, in his travels in Europe, must have had a close contact with the cooperative
movement in Germany where he came across with the Raiffeisen movement. He was very much
impressed by this type of cooperative and he looked forward for an opportunity to have it
introduced here in the Philippines. As destiny might have its choice, Sandiko had his chance
when he was appointed one of the early governors when Civil Government, under the
Americans, was established.

The Rural Credit Law. As soon as Civil Government was established, Filipino participation in
government was encouraged. Teodoro Sandiko, then governor of Bulacan, prepared a bill
patterned after the Raiffeisen type of credit union and had Rep. Albert Barreto of Zambales
sponsor the bill in the lower House of Congress. The principal aim of this bill was to protect and
develop the agricultural interest of the country. When the Barreto sponsored bill was presented it
readily obtained unanimous approval on January 20, 1908. The Philippine Commission however,
turned it down.

Undaunted by this defeat the sponsors of the bill again put it through in the Second Philippine
Legislature. This time it was sponsored in the Lower House by Rep. Rafael Corpuz who
succeeded Rep. Barreto from Zambales. The bill was ably presented in both Houses and it was
finally passed into law on February 11, 1914 and became Act 2508. When this Act was finally
made into law, Gov. Sandiko earned a title of Father of Cooperation in this country.

The administration of the Rural Credit Law was entrusted to the Bureau of Agriculture. The first
rural credit association that was organized under this Law was the Agricultural Credit
Cooperative Association of Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. It was formed on October 18.1916. With
this initial organization farmers in the different provinces were organized. At the end of 1926
there were 544 rural credit cooperatives organized in the 42 provinces and by 1930 there were
571 associations formed all over the country. In 1935, however, about 90% of these cooperatives
were inactive with no funds left in their treasury. The experiment on rural financing, through
cooperatives was a failure.

A.
Statement of the problem
The Cooperative center must cater the individuals and small to medium businesses, it should
have good ambiance, a lot of space so it can be easily access and pwd friendly.
B.
Objectives
1. Energy conservation concept of the building to be designed.
2. Contextualized character or visual appropriateness of the building.
3. More emphasis on the entire elevation design than the individual character of each
individual offices.
4. Response of the building to the microclimatic conditions of the site.
5. conscientious utilization of land.
6. Proper entry/exit of users/tenants for security reasons.
7. Provision for service areas (Parking, Waste Management Unit, Service Access Road).

II.
Significance of study
The significance of the study is for us to determine to know and to improve the factors to be
considered in designing a cooperative center. The climate (which plays an important role in the
design of the building) the location, contents and its users plays an important role in the design of
the building and also plays a major part as well. This will also help us, future designer to be
familiar and to gain knowledge about the things to know the smallest to biggest information to
come up with a good design. The study will play an important role in the improving and making
a design that will fit the need and comfort of it users and the social advancement of community
itself.

III.
Definition of terms
Lobby - a room providing a space out of which one or more other rooms or corridors lead,
typically one near the entrance of a public building.
Manager's Room - is the office of and individual that handles most of the tasks and
responsibilities..
Work Area - is a place where staffs do their works often called office.
Accounting Division - For accounting purposes, an "entity" is a business, division or other
aspect of an organization that requires its own financial reporting structure for legal or tax
purposes. Accountants must be able to identify and define various units within an organization to
manage financial records.
Auditing - is the on-site verification activity, such as inspection or examination, of
a process or quality system, to ensure compliance to requirements. An audit can apply to an
entire organization or might be specific to a function, process, or production step.

IV.
Presentation of Data
A. Data Management
The Chapter tackles about the present condition of our Cooperative Centers, data's are gathered
from facts.

1. Present Condition
user spaces is not enough, most of the cooperative centers in the present are lacking in facilities
like Waiting Area, Parking spaces and appropriate comfort room for both boys and girl
particularly to the aging and handicaps.

2. Primary Data
a. Environment
Dull Colors
Gloomy Areas
Old-fashioned designs
Unpleasant to eyes
Proposed Solution : Application of dynamic Exterior and Interior design of spaces.

b. Facilities
Lack of facilities
Outdated
Non-functional
Inappropriate spaces

Proposed Solution : Combination and enhancement of traditional and modern facilities of a

cooperative center.

c. Users
Dissatisfaction

Proposed Solution : Enhancing the environment through the application of ornaments, plants
and benches.
4. Space Requirements
Lobby with waiting area
Manager's Office
Working Area
Accounting Division

V.
Review of Related Literature
1. The Cooperative Center
The cooperative center is commonly considered as a business area and a community area, and as
years go by the function of a cooperative center evolve to meet the changing needs of the people.

2. Environmental Condition
No matter how well a building has been designed from the practical esthetic points of view, it
will never function successfully unless the environmental conditions have been properly
considered. The environmental conditions are created by;
A.
VENTILATION
Since a cooperative center is designed to hold many people, Controlled Ventilation must be a
specific requirement where people congregate. Controlled ventilation is preferable to closed
windows and doors so the air-conditioning can flow perfectly inside the building.
B.
AIR CONDITIONING
In a wide cooperative center, air conditioning is mandatory. It's a necessity especially here in the
Philippines. The public expects air-conditioning since its a public and its handled by the
goverment, It's a Filipino philosophy which encourages maximum public use of the facilities.
And since co-op centers are made to be spacious it should provide an air conditioning with
numbers of horsepower so it can accommodate the whole area.
C.
LIGHTING
Lighting should be daylight so people can perfectly see everything they read and write
comfortably.
In comparing incandescent with fluorescent light, the most important consideration is that of
cost. For equal intensity of light (foot candles), operating cost will be higher for incandescent
light, and both the initial cost and operating expenses for the air conditioning equipment will be
seriously increased.
Quality as well as quantity is important, particularly where colors are involved. However, color
correction can achieved with both fluorescent and incandescent lighting. It is therefore desirable
to utilize fluorescent lighting predominantly.
D.
AMBIANCE
Ambiance must be relaxing and pleasing to eyes since some users are required to stay in a certain
place.

VI.
Analysis and Interpretation
A. Identification/Assessment of Needs

The Nature of any Cooperative center should reflect the needs of its own
community.

PROBLEMS (Cooperative Center)

SOLUTIONS
(THE USE OF THE ENTIRE AREA HAS BEEN DETERMINED).

(IT UTILIZES ALL THE NATURAL RESOURCES).

(THE DESIGN PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY IN USE AND FOR FUTURE EXPANSION).

(THE FLOOR PLAN PERMIT IS EASY TO ACCESS AND FACILITATE CIRCULATION

WITHIN THE BUILDING).

(THE FLOOR PLAN PROVIDE EASE IN SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATION OF

THE BUILDING).
(INDIVIDUAL ROOMS IS EASILY LOCATED AND DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE
MULTIPLE USE WITHIN SAFETY LIMITS).

(THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED ALSO FOR THE AGING AND PWD).

(THE DESIGN HAS THE QUALITY AND AESTHETICS).

(THE BUILDING IS ECONOMICAL FOR MAINTINANCE TOO).

VII. SYNTHESIS

Design Goals and Objectives

Goals:
-To encourage possible users.
-To promote the cooperative center to gain more users.

Objectives:
-To provide enough space for expected users;
-To provide the needs of persons with disabilities;
-To provide adequate comfort.

Design Parameters/Considerations
Accessibility
Provisions of ramps and lifts for persons with disabilities. Smooth entrance to exit access for cars
are also provided.
Circulation
Spaces appropriate and needed for circulation for malls are considered in the design. Rooms to
wander all around the building are well-spaced.
Lighting and Ventilation
Windows are small slightly tinted and louvered, and designed according to what a cooperative
center needs.
Aesthetic
Exterior and interior are economic yet luxuriously satisfying.
Users Safety
Easy access for fire exits.
Security
Provisions of guard spaces in the main entrance and for the secondary.