Drawing from a wide range of historical and contemporary examples, the new article in the magazine Arredo & Città shows how the theme of the market inside the city structure is still timely, despite mass distribution and competition from other forms of commerce.
Places reserved for markets have acquired many characteristics in European tradition, depending on historical periods and different commercial practices, but they are shaped mainly by the city's structure and progressive transformation over time.
An excellent example of this is the site of Halles in Paris, the location of which date back to medieval times. However, the iron and glass structure that has been a reference model for other similar buildings since the mid 1800s, after being demolished, provoked a design process that is still being defined today. Places and architecture destined for commerce are expressions of their time periods more than other structures. For that reason, they are more apt than other forms of architecture to be adapted or enhanced, sometimes by occupying unused areas and introducing new functions. A good example of this would be the food-market combination, which denotes a place where food products are sold alongside a restaurant area, where food is eaten, and a meeting place.