Who Placed the Souk in the Mall?
- Omar Sabbagh
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 7 minutes ago
Have you ever been to a mall and wondered what happened to the shopping experience today? For centuries, shopping has always been a hub for people to buy food, clothing, or household items, to gather and meet with others, to browse or explore new places and trends, or to simply find a mood booster and help people feel happier and more satisfied. But as the world advanced, shopping spaces became enclosed, and people found themselves restricted by malls designed only to address architectural problems that could have been solved more creatively and effectively. Today, some architects are beginning to challenge that trend.
To Dar al Omran, souqs are usually crafted with intricate care and deep respect for their origins. Many projects were designed in such a manner to offer a well-balanced, community-focused development, sometimes with urban parks that enhance the souq’s site’s ecological and environmental value, such as Galleria Mall in Jubail. From an aerial view, greenery seeps out of the building, merging the building with its surroundings. Dar al Omran does not build structures meant to stand out on their own. Instead, it paints an entire canvas, rich in history and belonging, creating designs that stand out while uplifting their surroundings. It focuses on the key elements that once made traditional souqs deeply ingrained in our memories.
Dar al Omran’s focus on blending tradition with modernity stands in contrast to the dominant trend of modern malls. Where once open-air, vibrant shopping spaces surrounded by natural environments thrived, we now find ourselves in enclosed, congested spaces, conditioned with unnatural air. Malls have traffic flows ‘designed to distort and distract shoppers into making impulsive purchases’ (John P. Causey, 2024). This shift was no accident—modern malls have gained a reputation for reshaping the way we shop.
In contrast, Dar al Omran’s souq designs incorporate several key factors that divert the way traditional malls prioritize commerce over community, placing emphasis instead on human-scale interaction, cultural continuity, and environmental integration. Their approach to design is not just about creating retail spaces but fostering environments where community, culture, and sustainability thrive.
While malls may have become the dominant model, traditional souks and markets were designed to enhance the quality of life for both shoppers and vendors, fostering spaces for community interaction and cultural exchange. In contrast, malls prioritize economic profit, focusing on consumer spending rather than communal or cultural enrichment. Whether crowded or not, malls created a distance between us and the surrounding environment, further amplified by acoustics from high ceilings and hard surfaces.
Traditional souks, however, were much more than just places to buy goods—they were cultural and historical landmarks. Located along important trade routes, souks served as centers for commerce, social interaction, and the exchange of ideas. Souks like Marrakesh, Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, and Cairo’s Khan El Khalili have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, leaving behind a rich tapestry of history and culture. Every layer of these markets tells a unique story. This important aspect could still be reflected in modern-day souqs.
For instance, Dar al Omran designed a heritage mall in Abu Dhabi that emphasizes on the architectural elements that shaped the city’s image and defined its style. This introverted four-storey building of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Mall was inspired by the Islamic cities of the world. It is composed of atria in which vertical circulations are located and spines are tied together, therefore highlighting the importance of a shopping center acting as a nexus between traditional urban architecture and modern innovation.
While malls are often marketed as ‘climate-controlled environments’, souks were designed to provide natural thermal comfort, with high ceilings and shaded corridors that helped keep the space cool during the hot weather. This clever architectural design was a reflection of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the people who built and maintained these spaces. Rather than completely covering the ceiling to maintain thermal comfort inside the shopping center, perforated, traditional tents could frame the roof to provide a passive cooling system, funneling natural air inside the building - functioning as traditional courtyards - while housing greenery to create a living roof as shown in the example of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Mall.
Souks were also crafted with purpose, showcasing centuries-old artisan techniques. Narrow alleyways, arched ceilings, intricate wooden facades, and mosaic tiles reflect the unique craftsmanship of the region. The architecture of these traditional markets was a celebration of local resources, artistry, and culture. In contrast, modern malls are designed with a focus on standardization, prioritizing a uniform shopping experience that simplifies management, marketing, and operations while reducing construction costs.
Shopping in souks offered a personalized experience where both the customer’s and vendor’s needs were met on an individual level. The practice of haggling is not just about setting prices but is an integral part of the culture, fostering social interaction and relationship building between the vendor and shopper. That’s why, privately enclosed spaces in modern-day malls with a standard looking design and muted colors discouraged this experience.
In today’s malls, shopping has become more practical and efficient—you enter a store, pick up what you want (often pre-decided online), pay, and leave. In traditional souks, however, vendors were often storytellers, sharing tales of their trade, the origin of their goods, or the history of the market. These stories added layers of meaning to each item sold, whether it’s a spice blend passed down through generations or a centuries-old weaving technique. This informal exchange enriched the shopping experience, making each purchase a connection to the past. Cultural architecture often induces these types of talks as shoppers reminisce within the walls of a heritage mall.
Historically, souks were cultural melting pots, where merchants from various backgrounds gathered not only to exchange goods but to share ideas, languages, and traditions. Many stalls and shops have been passed down through generations, preserving family legacies and strengthening community ties.
However, as malls have become prevalent in modern society, many regions are working to retain the essence of the souk, enhancing and supporting their culture through design. Souks are deeply rooted in history, serving as the heart of communities for centuries. They capture the ebb and flow of cultural shifts, architectural beauty, economic exchanges, and social rituals. These markets hold stories of heritage and generations, giving them a timeless appeal that modern shopping malls often fail to replicate.
Al Taameer Shopping Center Aerial view - DAO BADRAN (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
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