The Heart Of The City: An Analysis Of The American Model In The Case Of Mall Del Pacífico In The City Of Manta

Abstract

The American model represented in one of its dimensions in shopping centers has been implemented in different geographies and cultures, in a generic, controlled, heated that disconnects the individual with the outside of the city, both physically and culturally. The objective is to analyze the incidence of the American model: Mall del Pacífico case, in the loss of direct contact of the inhabitants with the heart of the city of Manta. The proposed design was exploratory, through a descriptive methodology with a mixed approach, establishing as a starting point, a documentary analysis of bibliographic sources, direct observation with the on-site visit, and the survey. Among the main findings were identified through conceptual theoretical evaluations and the results of the diagnosis, as it is evident that the heart of the city was a place of social encounter, where the individual was socialized on a larger scale, identified with their customs, traditions and cared for his environment, has been losing social appeal to the eminent American model identified in shopping malls.