Sarah Anderson

Sarah Anderson

Standing in the glass walkway between Copley Place and the Prudential Center, I felt like I was encased in a cage of commercialism. Cases containing sample products line the path, signs point to endless, nearly indistinguishable shopping options, and the windows look out onto even more lines of stores and restaurants. The connections between malls are likely meant to encourage shoppers to continue on their commercial journeys. There are few to no design elements that serve a purpose unrelated to shopping and commerce; all paths lead to shops, benches are meant for tired shoppers rather than socialization, and advertisements serve to promote the malls’ tenants. Furthermore, other areas of Boston were not very visible from the walkway, only reinforcing the feeling of being encased in commerce.

Newbury Street is designed in contrast. Although it similarly is populated by commercial outlets and is meant to encourage shoppers to enter stores, it has a clearer sense of place within Boston. Office towers are visible in the background, while the architecture represents the aesthetic of old Boston. Most buildings on Newbury Street have three “levels.” Residential apartments are at the top, stores are in the middle, and restaurants populate the basements. There are also more benches to accommodate socialization, and the atmosphere is one of relaxation and recreation rather than intense shopping. In summary, despite serving similar purposes, the Prudential Center/Copley Place and Newbury Street differ drastically in their structural elements and atmospheres.