What a hoot all of you are... I guess you exemplify so much that is part of being "Texan", including intercity rivalry! So glad I found your forum and this topic, about which, I happen to have a bit of knowledge on this topic going back a few years... well, I guess its more than a few, but for what its worth, here are some of my thoughts from someone who is a member of the over-40 set. Aw, come on now... give me a chance...
I'm definately an out-of-towner but I happen to be from another area with some pretty upscale shopping... imagine you may be familiar with Palm Beach? We've our share of malls surrounding a pretty rairfied collection of shops here on the Island, but despite perhaps a tropical bent, they are still pretty typical of most I've encountered around the country.
Since I get to both Houston and Dallas a number of times a year I am familiar with shopping in both cities and certainly both Galleria Dallas as well as its sister in Houston. Both are spectacular malls with great stores... Houston's Galleria to me has much more to offer in the way of variety, and is a great place to people watch as well as shop. However, its been around a bit longer than Dallas' version and thanks to additions and remodels, its no longer as cohesive a design. Dallas actually gets the edge with its renovations as far as an overall look and is a heck of a lot easier to navigate. That said, Houston certainly is a lot bigger and more popular.
Now... I am sure that I have stepped on some Houston toes, and probably a few up in Dallas as well, but let me add another observation for what its worth. Shopping both of your Texas Gallerias (we have our own Florida version in Ft. Lauderdale, BTW) is for me, absolutly nothing like the experience of visiting Northpark Center in Dallas. Oh sure, they exist for the same reasons and offer many of the identical items. But as one without an ax to grind, they are about as similar as night and day when you disect their individual shopping experience as a whole.
The Gallerias are far more similar to the majority of American malls in that they showcase their merchandise amid surroundings that are eye-catching and exciting. There is glitz, glamour, and pizzaz in abundance. The architectural design tends tocompete with the shopping making these environments places to go and be seen, to hang out and socialize. They are abuzz with activity, filled with high decible sound and everyone is moving up and down and back and fourth, packing crowded walkways and usually enjoying the total experience.
Northpark is the very antithisis. Architecturally, its spaces are not vast and soaring, but instead this is a mall that is more like an ongoing series of rooms, connected by courts and gardens on various levels. Lighting is natural, but subdued, and the structure has a uniformity that is almost devoid of color. Everything everywhere is created from the same materials throughout and indeed, is almost museum-like. In fact, here are spaces that might very well be termed galleries.
At Northpark, the stores themselves are showcased, with understated design that highlights merchandise more than the architectural surroundings. Design is minimalist and contemporary, and provides a perfect environment for the art that is displayed. This includes monumental pieces of contempory sculpture and expansive wall hangings that in many cases have hung in museums throughout the world. The artists represented comprise a who's who in today's contemporary and abstract world of art.
All of this attention to design and detail was specifically created to enable a shopping experience that is more leisurely without the hustle and constant movement found in most malls. Instead, here is a place that was built to be unlike any other; a collection of beautiful things that somehow manages to create a space for everyone. One can simply sit and enjoy these spaces, observe the people inhabiting it; the children playing on the planters or watching the ducks in the fountain that have been there since the beginning. Its a pleasant walk to explore the many artworks or gear up to a higher level and set forth to explore a fabulous collection of shops and stores, all at your own inclination.
It was created exactly with just this in mind over 40 years ago, and apparently both concept and place have remained unchanged for all that time. I'd say it looks today pretty much as I remember it being when I first encoutered it in the mid-seventies after my first flight into a then new DFW. I remember thinking what a special place it was back then, and apparently, with this current expansion it has grown even moreso; at least that is what I gather Dallas posters are trying to convey with their excitement over something as seemingly mundane as a shopping mall.
Personally I wouldn't expect anything else! Looks like I am going to have to check things out this summer for myself. And, if you might be interested in a few other non-Texas opinions, check out what some others have to say on the subject. Ain't it amazing what pops up when you Google something nowadays!
