The shopping mall is as American as apple pie and the magnetic draw of the one-stop shop is difficult to escape. Yet for all the influence malls have had, they started out practically as the vision of one man. From New York’s Fifth Avenue, to big box stores, to the mall, we explore how Victor Gruen’s design of retail changed the way we shop, socialize, and experience public life.

Produced and hosted by Brian Moore and Sam Malott Brown.

Story Editing by Jeffrey Brown and Julia Sikora.

Audio engineering, and mixing by Julia Sikora.

Image Credit: Gruen Associates. Edited by Brian Moore.

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Forming Function Season 2 is supported in part by grant funding from Michigan Architectural Foundation.