Unveiling the Multifunctionality of Shopping Malls: A Case Study of Ritaj Mall as a Catalyst for Social, Economic, and Spatial Dynamics

This study investigates shopping malls as multifunctional urban actors shaping economic, social, and spatial dynamics in rapidly developing urban contexts, moving beyond approaches that conceptualize them primarily as isolated economic entities. Using Ritaj Mall in Ali Mendjeli as a case study, the research adopts a mixed-methods design operationalized through three key dimensions: economic permeability, social inclusivity, and spatial connectivity, combining structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and systematic field observations, informed by a pilot study. The findings, supported by a central framework of testable propositions, demonstrate that the mall operates as a major commercial and leisure hub, contributing to local economic vitality, transforming consumption practices, and influencing surrounding spatial configurations. At the same time, its expansion generates urban pressures, including traffic congestion, progressive residential–commercial transformation, and emerging tensions related to housing affordability. Interpreted through Lefebvre’s spatial triad, the study advances a theoretical understanding of shopping malls as both products and producers of urban space, linking everyday practices of consumption and mobility to broader processes of spatial production. These insights underscore the importance of integrated urban planning strategies that acknowledge the multifunctional role of shopping malls while balancing economic development with social inclusion, spatial equity, and long-term urban livability.