Boundaries have several primary roles. They occupy shifts along the continuum from private to public. They enable a system of private property by defining zones of control. As interfaces between neighbors, they also provide opportunities for communication, cooperation, and exchange in the interest of civility and mutual benefit.
Urban public spaces, no longer needed for many of their previous interactive functions, are being despatialized. Replacing them are spaces controlled by private entities, often non-local corporations that treat them more as commodities than legitimate public spaces. Many of these are indoor common spaces that, despite not being truly public, could more effectively supplement the public realm if designed properly. The traditional retail arcade can serve as an exemplar for its successful integration with the public realm.
An alternative model is proposed for the creation of new urban retail space. It adapts certain qualities that allowed arcades to cleverly blend private with public, employing contemporary interpretations of boundary articulations to delineate inclusive zones. The result is a more appropriate response to urban settings than the bulk of current urban retail development, which seeks to be exclusive.