OBSERVATION: Despite Hong Kong’s obsession with efficiency, in an ironic twist, many of the larger shopping malls and office buildings have been designed with excessive circulation areas that could be put to better use.
SOLUTION: Provide “pop-up” kids’ zones in unused corners of shopping malls that serve as a supervised creative outlet for children, while allowing some parents to slip away and shop in peace.
Many of Hong Kong’s larger shopping malls and interconnected commercial buildings often have excessive amounts of non-programmed circulation space that could be put to more creative use.
Today’s shopping malls, typically surrounded by high-density residential areas, have become the de facto town square and serve as a gathering place for the community — especially during the weekends when children are out of school.
During the weekends, young children can be seen racing around the mall, chased by harried parents, amidst a relatively static assortment of retail and food & beverage outlets. Despite offering spacious areas for children to escape from their cramped residences, could these community gathering hubs better cater to our children?
Could some of the unused areas within shopping malls and the vacuous lobbies of commercial buildings become weekend “pop-up” kids’ zones where free supervised creative activities could be hosted, while allowing some parents to have short periods of peaceful shopping therapy?
These drop-in kids’ zones could become a social enterprise and allow art teachers and retired volunteers to interact with a younger generation and impart their knowledge. Children could engage in a variety of guided programs: Arts and crafts using recyclable materials, learning Chinese calligraphy from an older member of the community, or creating their own puppets and performing puppet shows for other children and passersby.
While there are many paid private art and creative programs available for those parents who can afford it, could there be free programs for ALL children, regardless of their family’s economic situation?
While children are occupied with various creative activities under the watchful eyes of organizers, parents would then be able to browse unencumbered in nearby shops or run quick errands — and potentially increase their average length of stay and total spend within the shopping mall, to the benefit of retailers.
These types of multi-purpose corners within the shopping malls could not only serve as Kids’ Zones during the weekends, but also transform into rent-free pop-up shops for local artists and designers to gain exposure and sell their creations on weekdays, while children are at school. Supply cabinets, tables and chairs, perimeter kids fences, and mats used within these area could be lightweight, portable and fitted into wheeled units to allow for quick deployment and tear-down, in addition to facilitating off-site transportation and storage as necessary.
Relative to its operation, there would be multiple issues to resolve in such an undertaking, including:
- Liability & Insurance (i.e. if a child gets hurt, have the parents signed a waiver?)
- Hygiene and disease prevention precautions
- Opening hours and parent tracing (ensuring parents pick up children in a timely manner)
- Vetting of volunteers relative to child safety
- Security and ensuring children don’t run off during activities
Could such a social enterprise be supported by the Government? Could the Hong Kong Jockey Club become involved? Could these types of children outreach programs fulfill the CSR objectives of the shopping mall owners and management companies?
Could Hong Kong’s shopping malls be transformed into a more inclusive community gathering area catering to kids, instead of just a retail proposition?