GUTS Report 2025: Why Do Some Shopping Malls Lose Footfall While Others Thrive?
In a city where public space per capita is less than three square metres, malls have become ubiquitous, multifunctional venues woven into the fabric of daily life. Yet, the retail landscape is fracturing.
While some centres blossom into vibrant destinations, others face dwindling foot traffic and sales. This divergence forces a critical question for every developer and asset manager: What separates the struggling assets from the successful ones?
GUTS, the knowledge platform powered by onebite RESEARCH dedicated to rethinking urban spaces, has released its latest findings on the rise and fall of shopping malls. This detailed investigation is now presented in our free report, “GUTS Report 2025: From Shopping Centre To Community Core”.
The 20-page report reveals that the answer lies beyond simple economics. We found that while commerce is a driver, it is no longer the defining factor for long-term survival. The most resilient assets are those that have successfully pivoted from a transactional model to a relational one—leveraging the mall’s original, often forgotten, purpose as a communal realm.
From a placemaking perspective, this report analyses the "Mall-to-Hub" transformation, framing it not as a fleeting design trend, but as a strategic necessity to future-proof retail portfolios. Through the lens of placemaking, we identify the specific, intentional features that allow a property to transcend its commercial function.
Our research outlines three strategic pillars for this evolution:
The 'Experience' Anchor: Shifting value from what you can buy to why you must be there.
The 'Community' Core: Moving from a landlord mindset to one of a facilitator who empowers local stakeholders.
The 'Placemaking' Framework: Bridging the gap between the developer's vision and the community's authentic needs.
Whether through top-down curation or bottom-up co-creation, the key to regaining footfall is fostering a genuine "sense of belonging". Only by allowing citizens to become the protagonists of the space can we turn a "passage" into a "place".
Download the full report here
About GUTS
"GUTS" (Generative Utilisation & Transformation of Spaces) is a platform dedicated to turning underused spaces into active community resources. Even though our city is crowded, many shops, parks, and plots of land sit empty. These idle spaces disconnect neighbours and hurt the community. GUTS aims to fix this by sharing knowledge and inspiration from around the world. We believe that everyone can help build the city's future. By transforming even the smallest spaces, we can spark positive change in our neighbourhoods 🤝.
