For a long time now, our prime daytime leisure destination has been the entertainment cum retail malls, but they are still a step short of the ideal destination offering unified, wholesome leisure experience in the urban milieu. People throng these venues because they are a novel experience. But we need to go a step beyond – the retail experience needs to become an epicenter of fun and entertainment - a destination that has something to offer to all age groups, is interactive and educative in nature, and gives the people visiting it a sense of belonging.
The retail experience needs to become an epicenter of fun and entertainment - a destination that has something to offer to all age groups, is interactive and educative in nature, and gives the people visiting it a sense of belonging
The ideal destination is a City Walk, which is literally planned as a pedestrian zone that beckons visitors with its pleasant experiences and has strong recall value. Such a leisure zone would attract huge footfalls across all age groups as it could be a hub of activity with retail, food, theatres, entertainment, sports, relaxation, working, and even kids’ zones. Much like a carnival, it would have live performances that are interactive and educative.
Such a City Walk could have a string of environmentally controlled units, open-to-sky themed spaces, a blend of natural and landscaped elements such as pergolas, shaded walkways, bridges, water features, and thematic vegetation and play parks. These facilities would also be disabled-friendly, and have public amenities distributed throughout the facility. The experiences would reinforce the image of a City Walk as a treasured place. And the creation of such a destination, approached through imagination, and guided by visions of transformation, is no longer a utopian dream.
