the richness of the marketplace
there are places that are powerfully magnetic -
forests, for their dark earthy scents, filtered light patterned canopies and mysterious layered sounds..
kyoto - bamboo forest
java - merapi
java - merapi jungle
mountains for their high view, crystaline air and physical challenges – and the power and force of their creation and ongoing evolution..
himalaya
mt. st. helens - 2008
merapi - march 2006
spiritual places for the sacred energy, celestial light, soaring volume, echoing chants, and feats of architecture - from the mosques of istanbul and morocco, the temples of kyoto and bhutan, and the cathedrals of europe..
istanbul - 2008
instanbul mosque
aya sofia - istanbul
kyoto - kiyomizu temple
bhutan - takstang monastery
duomo di siena
and in all this exploring that i love to do, i am always drawn to the richness of the marketplace.
what makes these captivating places so dynamic, so full of energy, discovery, inspiration?
grand bazaar - istanbul
the people – creatively displaying the fruition of all their hard work, and those that are seeking a discovery. it is the public living room of the community – the best place to experience the diversity and connection to a culture in any place on the planet.
berber market - atlas mountains
delhi - chandni chowk
marrakech - nutshop
the craft – what is made, how it is displayed, the care in which the shop is curated.
instanbul - textile shop
delhi - chandni chowk shopkeeper
the richness of the sensory experience – scents – food, leather, flowers, tobacco, spices – colors – brilliant arrays of fruits and vegetables, vibrant patterns and materials in a vast saturated spectrum – sounds – the shopkeepers calls, intimate chatting, collective sighs, calls to prayer – textures – woven textiles, hammered and etched metals, smooth pottery, ancient cobblestones.
marrakech souk
marrakech souk
spice market - istanbul
marrakech souk - blankets
From the berber markets in the foothills of the Atlas mountains, and the souks of Marrakech, to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul and Chandni Chowk in Delhi, from the Pike Place Market in Seattle to the food markets of central Java – there is a universal language. From the line of time back to nomadic trade routes and crossroads, to the modern day markets of urban cities – it is the fabric of human life, the celebration of human connections, the epicenter of human creative spirit – the marketplace.
istanbul - spice market
berber market - atlas mountains
working on the design of retail spaces, i’m learning to infuse that sensorial richness, layered experience, and inspiring memory of these places.
dac @home in the pike place market
February 4, 2009 at 1:58 am
inspired post – thx
February 21, 2009 at 5:20 am
I savor the thinking — and your powers of observation — in getting back to the heart of things, retail consciousness. That idea of commerce, found in the exchange is surely ancient — and your references are compelling, the imagery, fascinating. I share that delight. As you…
know: http://blog.girvin.com/?p=2287.
I delight in that alignment of minds, friend. Here’s to more, exploration…
x, the crossroads, o, the ring that surrounds them: tsg
—-
Tim Girvin
November 24, 2009 at 7:14 am
These pictures makes us realize that, in developed countries, we have given away the very elements that make the shopping experiences exciting and stimulating. Our current buildings and shopping spaces have been conventionalized in an effort to reduce costs, and until recently we have been relying on the excitements brought by new products and innovations. However, we are now at a turning point – in almost every product category, there are now fewer and fewer offerings with distinct selling propositions. The shopping experience is now predictable – today you find the same stores, the same brands, the same products and the same styles literally everywhere. Even store architecture and design is similar, and customer service is average in most stores. Hence the urgency to bring back what we have neglected from the past, and that is illustrated in these images.
I share your views: http://www.viewfromconsumers.com/ideas.html