ARCHITECTURE, MEDIA AND SOCIETY: FORM AND MATERIALS DEVELOPMENTS ON NEW CONSUMER PLACES

In the paper I will analyze the consumer places that become popular in the last century, by the point of view of the social and urban context where they are placed. The new relations established between these new places (media environment) and the contemporary city will also be pointed analyzing the reciprocal influences. The study of many types and functions that identify themselves will be detailed. The research is focused on technological innovations and materials that identify these places and that in recent years have turned from store-buildings to media buildings. Some kind of consumer places have been chosen for their diffusion and visibility into the urban space: from contemporary cathedrals of consumption as the shopping mall to the Expo and flagship stores. Other categories include museums and thematic parks, the places that in the past were without any link with the culture of consumption, but gradually being pervaded by it.