Paper short abstract:

This paper describes the process of social construction of shopping centres as specific consumption spaces. It is argued that the shared definitions and spatial meanings are a subject of constant negotation by various actors.

Paper long abstract:

This paper suggest a cultural, interpretative reading of a shopping centre as a constructed space of consumption. It is argued that a shared cultural definition of a shopping centre is based upon a set of spatial meanings pertaining to it. These meanings include rules of conduct, acceptable social roles, expectations regarding the behaviour of others and, in general, standards of normality, ascribed to this kind of space. Following the works of scholars dealing with urban public space, such as Lyn Lofland, spatial meaning are analysed as bodies of urban knowledge, enabling us to code the given place, make sense of it, and act in a way which is generally accepted as normal in relation to the given space. This paper describes various uses of social control, deviance and territorialisation, as well as "ordinary" everyday actions of various actors in a shopping centre that all take part in producing the spatial meanings. It is argued that these meanings, and with them the very definitions of urban spaces such as shopping centres, are subject to a constant process of negotiation and re-negotiation.