conceptual design

Veranda Mall Urban Design and Landscaping

1. Context & Integration

  • The site is directly connected to a shopping mall (Veranda Mall), with the landscaped area functioning as both a transition space and a destination in itself.

  • The design mediates between the built commercial edge of the mall and the busy urban roadway below, transforming a threshold into an active, multifunctional park.

2. Spatial Zoning

The project is divided into several distinct yet interconnected zones:

a. Commercial & Leisure Terraces (left side)

  • Adjacent to the mall facade, a tiered terraced plaza integrates retail kiosks, food stands, and seating areas.

  • The geometric layout of platforms, stairs, and greenery creates a dynamic landscape that accommodates both circulation and social activities.

  • Container-style pavilions and shaded seating areas suggest a flexible commercial strip, suitable for seasonal markets or pop-ups.

b. Central Green Axis (middle section)

  • A broad green lawn dominates the center, intersected by diagonal pedestrian pathways.

  • Trees and soft landscaping soften the mall edge, providing open space for leisure, relaxation, and events.

  • This axis ensures strong pedestrian permeability between the mall and the street.

c. Recreational & Sports Zone (right side)

  • A multi-purpose sports field (football/minisoccer pitch) anchors the recreational component.

  • Adjacent areas include smaller leisure structures, playground-like installations, and shaded rest areas.

  • A system of linear pathways organizes the recreational program while keeping it visually connected to the central lawn.

d. Market & Street Edge Zone (lower right)

  • Facing the main road, smaller pavilions and kiosks form a linear marketplace, accessible both from the street and the park interior.

  • A secondary plaza with seating, possibly for food trucks or events, marks this edge as a gateway condition.

3. Circulation

  • The circulation system relies on diagonal pedestrian paths intersecting the green areas, encouraging fluid movement across the site.

  • Vehicular access is minimized and strategically placed at the far-right entrance/exit point.

  • A direct connection is established between the mall entrances and the urban street, making the site a natural pedestrian corridor.

4. Architectural Language

  • The design language is geometric and modular, with angular paths, plazas, and container-like units.

  • Materials appear to be a mix of hardscape (paving, concrete, wood decking) and softscape (lawns, trees, planted slopes).

  • The terracing creates an interplay of levels and textures, adding visual interest and enhancing usability.

5. Urban Identity

  • The project transforms the mall frontage from a monofunctional retail edge into a hybrid urban park and leisure hub.

  • It blurs the boundary between commercial, recreational, and public space, offering both formal and informal uses.

  • With sports, green lawns, food areas, and plazas, the site becomes a multi-attractor node within the city.

This urban and landscaping concept turns a commercial mall edge into an activated urban park, structured by terraced plazas, green lawns, recreational fields, and modular kiosks. The project successfully combines commercial vibrancy with public leisure, positioning itself as a hybrid civic-commercial landscape that encourages both everyday use and community gathering.

Year

2025

Location

Bucharest, Romania

Creative Director

Ovidiu Vladila

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