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Architect Jon Jerde: Malling the inner city

March 8, 2000
Web posted at: 10:58 a.m. EST (1558 GMT)

(CNN) -- The mall, disparaged by some as a waste of space, damned by others as a haven of conspicuous consumption, is improving its image thanks to architect Jon Jerde. At the same time, he's giving a new look to old communities.

Malls can revitalize urban neighborhoods, says the designer behind Minneapolis' Mall of America, San Diego's Horton Plaza and Rotterdam's Beursplein and other retail meccas.

	VIDEO
CNN's Stephen Frazier shows how cities are redefining downtown areas with architect Jon Jerde. Windows Media 28K 80K

Urban neighborhoods, says Jerde, are like an old car that's been tucked away for decades in a barn. It appears dead, but a skilled mechanic can see past the rust.

"You figure out a way to reconstruct it, turn the starter engine and boom! It comes back to life," Jerde says. "Well, I've done that with cities. And you can take burned-out cities and start 'em back up again."

Jerde's designs aren't typical mall fare. He takes his inspiration from the rivers and mountains of the southwestern United States to create a dynamic space. CNN NewsStand Correspondent Stephen Frazier looks at his blueprints for Kansas City.

Mall of America
Horton Plaza
AlphabetStreet.com: Horton Plaza Architecture
E-architect.com: Rotterdam

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