Built Environment Description of Phipps Plaza (Interior)

Phipps Plaza was opened in 1969. It’s target customer are the rich and wealthy customers that mostly reside in Buckhead and other rich people from various countries touring America or Atlanta specifically.  Phipps was described as a relaxed upscale shopping experience by most who pay it a visit, another person had described the place as a “high end fashion model’s dream”. There are lots of hidden messages I found when visiting this mall. One is that the middle class and poor aren’t really welcomed. I partially got this notion from all the designer stores in the mall. To be able to afford some of the simplest clothes in Phipps, you at least have to own a house. These are not specific requirements, however, if you can afford a house you might be in the income range to shop here. Even Lenox has stores the middle class can afford like Forever 21, Wet Seal, and Victoria Secret. Phipps Plaza is full of designer stores who meet the needs of their rich clients who add to the malls revenue. I went in a store called Naturals while observing the mall. The salesman in the store tried to sell my friend and I expensive salt scrubs claimed to be from Israel. I started asked him if there was an H&M, Forever 21 or any store of that nature in the mall and he replied “Oh NO honey! This is Phipps!” Right then, I understood the reputation Phipps holds throughout Atlanta, Georgia and the rests of the country. It truly is a mall catered to the famous and wealthy people. With waterfalls, couch chairs, neutral colors, a chandelier, and lost more bright lighting throughout the shopping center, Phipps definitely wheels in the high end customers who are familiar with luxury and class.

Digital Record #5

The water fall in this mall can be heard from most places inside Phipps. I think this water fall is an important part of the mall. It provides relaxation while shopping. The neutral colors of brown and black along with its shiny surrounds give the mall an elegant touch as well as calming the shoppers as they ship through the expensive mall.

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Digital Record #4

To have an Art Gallery in a shopping mall already speaks highly of the area and the customer because it wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for those two factors. Wentworth Gallery serves the wealthy travelers of the world, the cultured ones of society. Selling paintings that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, they receive regular customers from Phipps which reiterates how much wealth comes through Phipps Plaza. I researched the gallery and they also do “Home shows” where they bring various pieces to your house for free if you are within 50 miles of their locations. This is extreme and also gives another hidden message. Most of these shoppers are able to buy the artwork making them assumed to have higher incomes. Restating the assumption that Phipps is mainly for the rich and famous.

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