Mary Kate Cruise

Mary Kate Cruise

I began my observatory journey at the Galleries at Copley place at Dartmouth and Stuart Streets with my eyes and ears open. I noticed the stores within Copley Plan to be very high end and accordingly protected with security guards watching for shoplifters and photographers. The tile floor was laid out in a way that kept foot traffic moving just as a two way road. The old fashion, yet elegant marble floors on other parts of the walkways aligned with the upscale stores. There was a noticeable lack of natural light in this space - maybe something they are addressing in the current construction.

As I moved on through the footbridge to the Presidential Center Mall- I felt a different energy. For one, I became very warm due to the inflow of natural sunlight. I did my best to portray these open ceilings and facades in my drawing. I found Prudential Center to be much busier with professionals on their lunch/coffee breaks, tourists, moms with toddlers. There were less security guards and more inviting storefronts and employees promoting samples. Exits to streets are very well marked on signage. Many benches and the large foodcourt provide great seating and meeting places. I walked through during the lunch hour and the place was bustling.

The Newbury Street commercial area between Gloucester and Dartmouth had a different feel and look for a few obvious reasons. Newbury Street feels less like a mall and more like a neighborhood. However, signage, advertisements, window displays, etc. help to reveal that it is indeed a commercial space. While I am not positive, it seems as though there are many apartments above the store levels. Many stores have advertisements and mannequins in the windows and signs on the sidewalks to replicate the experience of a shopping mall. However, the signage is all very uniform and understated- probably due to city restrictions of type, height, size and brightness of signage to preserve the historic nature of the area.