What is Jaén Plaza Mall?
Jaén Plaza Mall is not your typical shopping center. Traditionally, malls have been clusters of businesses designed mainly to attract buyers, focusing on retail spaces and the idea of “spending” time. But times have changed… and so has the way people interact with these spaces. Jaén Plaza embraces a fresh, dynamic approach with a mesh-like spatial organization where the spaces between shops become just as important as the shops themselves. This mall is a vibrant, multifunctional environment full of life and activities, encouraging visitors to “invest” their time rather than just spend it.
Main Benefits of Jaén Plaza Mall
Here’s what makes Jaén Plaza stand out:
- Mesh-like spatial design that enhances social interaction
- Dynamic and porous spaces that blur indoor and outdoor boundaries
- Open, interconnected levels that guide visitors through discovery and movement
- Central corridor flooded with natural light thanks to a generous skylight
- Innovative storefronts that engage with the urban fabric and community
- Playful and bold entrances using light and color to redefine traditional thresholds
- Thoughtful design of often neglected spaces, like restrooms, turning them into elegant experiences
The Retail Manifesto: People First
At the heart of Jaén Plaza’s design is a clear manifesto: prioritize people and their social connections. The mall’s spaces reflect the identities and communities they serve, fostering a real sense of belonging. Instead of cramming all commercial content into rigid blocks, the design disperses it into a cloud of points, creating open, intermediate spaces that were once underutilized. These spaces now act as active links, making the shopping center feel alive and connected. It’s about creating dynamic experiential connections that go beyond just shopping.
Hybridizing the Model: A Living Organism
Jaén Plaza operates like a living organism. Each event or activity is treated as a particle, categorized by scale, use, impact, and landscape, forming a diverse and adaptable system. Negative space isn’t wasted here; it’s highly porous and integrated with the surrounding context. This approach allows the mall to interact with its occupants in a meaningful way, offering a variety of spaces and activities that enrich the user experience. It’s a place that gives and receives energy, constantly evolving with its community.
Breaking the Stereotype: Retail Reimagined
Forget the old image of malls as closed-off, boxy spaces. Jaén Plaza breaks that stereotype with porous entrances, facades, and in-between spaces that reinforce the idea of nodes—points of connection and flow. This redefines commercial hybridity, making retail an immersive, ever-changing experience. The mall aims to attract younger generations who are skeptical of traditional malls by offering engaging experiences that go beyond what online shopping or central locations can provide. It’s retail, but reimagined as a social and urban hub.
Project Impact: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Linked to Jaén Plaza Mall
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – through integration with urban fabric and community engagement
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – via innovative architectural design and adaptable spaces
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – by promoting social interaction and active lifestyles
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – encouraging multifunctional use of spaces and reducing waste
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – supporting diverse commercial activities and local businesses
Design Details: Enhancing the User Journey
Every inch of Jaén Plaza is thoughtfully designed to elevate the visitor’s experience. From the porous storefronts that invite you in, blurring the lines between inside and outside, to the open spaces that connect different levels seamlessly, the mall encourages movement and discovery. Lighting and material choices are carefully considered to enhance the atmosphere throughout the journey. Even the restrooms get a makeover with a bold, playful threshold featuring light and color, turning a mundane stop into a memorable moment. It’s all about creating a space where commerce and social life flow naturally, making retail feel less like a chore and more like an adventure.
