America’s Oldest Mall Is Saved By Transforming It Into 48 Cozy Low-Cost Micro-Apartments
Ever wanted to be locked in a shopping mall when you were a kid? Well, now you can LIVE in one if you’re based in Rhode Island. The Arcade providence, America’s first indoor shopping mall that was build in 1828, has been repurposed into a residential structure with 48 low-cost micro-lofts since it fell into decline in the late 20th century. The mall was transformed at a cost of $7 million by Northeast Collaborative Architects
Starting at $550 a month, residents can rent a one-bedroom unit from 225-800 sq. ft. Each apartment contains a kitchen, full bath with shower, built-in beds, seating and storage. There are no stoves in the units as they are designed for the people who lead busy lifestyles but the tenants can eat at freshly designed restaurants on the ground floor and enjoy vibrant evenings in a shared lounge. There’s also a shared laundry facility and a bike storage room as well as parking garage across the street. Would you live in such an apartment?
More info: arcadeprovidence.com (h/t: mymodernmet)
Built in 1828, America’s oldest shopping mall in Rhode Island was struggling to fill its commercial spaces and was doomed to be closed
But then Northeast Collaborative Architects came along and transformed it into a residential space at a cost of $7 million
The historic building now has 48 low-cost micro-lofts
Starting at $550 a month, residents can rent a one-bedroom unit from 225-800 sq. ft.
The apartments are based on the top two levels
There are no stoves in the units as they are designed for the people who lead busy lifestyles
But the flats contain full bath with shower
And they have cozy bedrooms with built-in beds
As well as tiny living rooms
The tenants can live a vibrant life with 17 retail stores and restaurants kept on the ground floor
This is how the mall looked in the old days
Watch the video here:
98Kviews
Share on FacebookI live in an old Grain Mill that was shut down over 40 years ago, been set ablaze, firefighters and Police were ordered to never go in if there was an emergency because of the state it was in. Needless to say it was in Skid Row. Now the place has been rebuilt and has loft apartment that are all different. I think re-purposing buildings like this is AWESOME!! I'm a history nut so it's even cooler to see all the old machinery that they had in the mill set up like a really cool museum or even the architecture of this old mall would be outstanding. Hell, Europe has been doing it forever.
I commend him for his vision and wish him success. I'd love to see more people in more places do something like that. As for a lack of stove, that's not a problem, either. My young college-aged 2nd cousin has a tiny studio apartment in downtown Atlanta and bought a decent portable (countertop) induction cooktop for about $60. I've cooked on it teaching him how to cook a couple dishes and it works well. Use the microwave to steam fresh or frozen veggies. Use the cooktop to cook rice, couscous, or another grain or seed in large batches, then freeze it into smaller batches for nuking later. Use the cooktop to cook an entree, you've got a meal in no time with little mess and little fuss. Apparently his new thing to cook on his cooktop is plantains.
Quality is NEVER an accident. Preservation isn't only about saving the building... it's about saving a whole community.
This is actually pretty awesome! Glad they were able to restore a piece of American history and repurpose it. Wish they did that with other architectural works!
They have a dishwasher but no stoves? Who would want that arrangement?
I think they should have just put in more shelves instead of that dishwasher.
Load More Replies...Low cost buahaha : ) wonder what this "low cost" is... maybe low cost in terms of preparation, not for sale...
$550/month is low cost anywhere....even in my small Ohio town of 3500 people. But in a bigger city, that is an amazing price.
Load More Replies...What an excellent idea. We had a place similar but external architecture was definitely not of Rhode Island standards, they pulled it down, such a damn shame.
I actually quite love the idea of re-purpose a public place, especially malls. I love watching urban explorer visit a dead malls and in my minds "man, why the management not re-purpose the complex become a living space or office, or mixed uses building with office and living area within..." and now, there is one case is become proven example. hopefully we can see many dead malls can be re-purpose to something like this.
This is amazing! I love this and all tiny living space posts lol
$550 for 225 sf? a bit stiff. met a gal in Greenwich Village in 70's. she was paying $300 for a walk-in closet. guess they could get a hot plate and microwave. very nice place.
Only seven million to create 48 tiny flats? Wow! I think they are ok for a pad for a limited time but I think the lack of fresh air and a view on the outside world would be a bit annoying. I'm also not sure about noise levels with the buzz downstairs. But it's a cool project!
What good is an apartment without a stove or oven, thank goodness can't afford to live in such a s****y cheap place.
What a coup for the Collaborative. Seven million is extremely reasonable for the outcome. The units are wonderful with quite a lot of storage space. My only issue? No tub. I have to have a good HOT soak now and then. Can't do without. Stove? There are other appliances.
It's such a beautiful building. I used to shop there years and years ago, when it was changed from a meat market to more dry goods shops, in the 80s. I'm sure it had problems because of no parking being available. I'll bet they're rented out as AirB&B rooms, unless it's in the lease not to be able to. Still, I'm thrilled that they didn't tear it down.
I think things like this are good ideas instead of letting the buildings rot and become ruins they can be used for other things.
This is luxury accommodation! I rent a single room in Singapore and I am not allowed to use the stove in the house. My rent is usd750 :(
How presumptuous to try to excuse cheapness by claiming that because someone might be "busy" they wouldn't want to be able to cook with a stove in their "home"! Geez! Just admit that the places are too dang small to have actual stoves installed and be honest about it. Other than that, this is a great idea, and I'm very glad the building was repurposed rather than being destroyed.
So I think this would work more as a Hostel or Economic Hotel. I doubt someone would want to live there long term without a freaking stove. No matter how busy one is, I am sure they would have time to cook on the weekend. But the idea is kinda cool
They really did a good job turning empty stores in to micro apartments I think it's a wonderful idea
That's awesome looking, but 48 low cost apartments and 17 stores will take a lifetime to pay off the $7 million renovation costs.
Living in a mall. that's the dream - for a low cost apartment it looks pretty awesome too
I wonder how it would work for a shift worker (black out blinds & daytime noise)? I'd take one if it actually had a bath tub!
Interesting but very strange. I can see it suits the people they interview but why have a dishwasher? What a bizarre idea when you can't cook. And why do they think that because they're busy, they will never cook? Eating is pretty important and I would hate having to eat out all the time. It still seems a lot cheaper than these would be in London though. Maybe 3 times the price?
A person would get really fat if she ate out every day.
Load More Replies...What a fantastic idea! I love that they've repurposed a historical building for a practical purpose! I hope this can be an inspiration for other landmark buildings to be saved! ~HR
terrific. but i do not understand why can't a busy lifestyle cope with a stove.
Not having a kitchen is ridiculous! I can see maybe a convection toaster oven, a hot plate, & dishwasher
I don't know the price the square meter in Rhode Island but 550 seems really expensive for this size of apartment.
Its all about locality. This is actually a reasonable price in a lot of other places (Washington DC, NY, California), this building is close proximity to a lot of night life and action, so factor in the upgrades after repurposing, and convenience of location and it is about right.
Load More Replies...Did any one notice the tween single bed? What adult would want a bed like that. I am short and that bed would be too small. For me.
Wow 250sq feet apt tor $500? I have a 1400 sq ft condo for $700. In a good middle class neighborhoodand . it comes with my own driveway, basement and land. I will pass on the shoe box.
I live in an old Grain Mill that was shut down over 40 years ago, been set ablaze, firefighters and Police were ordered to never go in if there was an emergency because of the state it was in. Needless to say it was in Skid Row. Now the place has been rebuilt and has loft apartment that are all different. I think re-purposing buildings like this is AWESOME!! I'm a history nut so it's even cooler to see all the old machinery that they had in the mill set up like a really cool museum or even the architecture of this old mall would be outstanding. Hell, Europe has been doing it forever.
I commend him for his vision and wish him success. I'd love to see more people in more places do something like that. As for a lack of stove, that's not a problem, either. My young college-aged 2nd cousin has a tiny studio apartment in downtown Atlanta and bought a decent portable (countertop) induction cooktop for about $60. I've cooked on it teaching him how to cook a couple dishes and it works well. Use the microwave to steam fresh or frozen veggies. Use the cooktop to cook rice, couscous, or another grain or seed in large batches, then freeze it into smaller batches for nuking later. Use the cooktop to cook an entree, you've got a meal in no time with little mess and little fuss. Apparently his new thing to cook on his cooktop is plantains.
Quality is NEVER an accident. Preservation isn't only about saving the building... it's about saving a whole community.
This is actually pretty awesome! Glad they were able to restore a piece of American history and repurpose it. Wish they did that with other architectural works!
They have a dishwasher but no stoves? Who would want that arrangement?
I think they should have just put in more shelves instead of that dishwasher.
Load More Replies...Low cost buahaha : ) wonder what this "low cost" is... maybe low cost in terms of preparation, not for sale...
$550/month is low cost anywhere....even in my small Ohio town of 3500 people. But in a bigger city, that is an amazing price.
Load More Replies...What an excellent idea. We had a place similar but external architecture was definitely not of Rhode Island standards, they pulled it down, such a damn shame.
I actually quite love the idea of re-purpose a public place, especially malls. I love watching urban explorer visit a dead malls and in my minds "man, why the management not re-purpose the complex become a living space or office, or mixed uses building with office and living area within..." and now, there is one case is become proven example. hopefully we can see many dead malls can be re-purpose to something like this.
This is amazing! I love this and all tiny living space posts lol
$550 for 225 sf? a bit stiff. met a gal in Greenwich Village in 70's. she was paying $300 for a walk-in closet. guess they could get a hot plate and microwave. very nice place.
Only seven million to create 48 tiny flats? Wow! I think they are ok for a pad for a limited time but I think the lack of fresh air and a view on the outside world would be a bit annoying. I'm also not sure about noise levels with the buzz downstairs. But it's a cool project!
What good is an apartment without a stove or oven, thank goodness can't afford to live in such a s****y cheap place.
What a coup for the Collaborative. Seven million is extremely reasonable for the outcome. The units are wonderful with quite a lot of storage space. My only issue? No tub. I have to have a good HOT soak now and then. Can't do without. Stove? There are other appliances.
It's such a beautiful building. I used to shop there years and years ago, when it was changed from a meat market to more dry goods shops, in the 80s. I'm sure it had problems because of no parking being available. I'll bet they're rented out as AirB&B rooms, unless it's in the lease not to be able to. Still, I'm thrilled that they didn't tear it down.
I think things like this are good ideas instead of letting the buildings rot and become ruins they can be used for other things.
This is luxury accommodation! I rent a single room in Singapore and I am not allowed to use the stove in the house. My rent is usd750 :(
How presumptuous to try to excuse cheapness by claiming that because someone might be "busy" they wouldn't want to be able to cook with a stove in their "home"! Geez! Just admit that the places are too dang small to have actual stoves installed and be honest about it. Other than that, this is a great idea, and I'm very glad the building was repurposed rather than being destroyed.
So I think this would work more as a Hostel or Economic Hotel. I doubt someone would want to live there long term without a freaking stove. No matter how busy one is, I am sure they would have time to cook on the weekend. But the idea is kinda cool
They really did a good job turning empty stores in to micro apartments I think it's a wonderful idea
That's awesome looking, but 48 low cost apartments and 17 stores will take a lifetime to pay off the $7 million renovation costs.
Living in a mall. that's the dream - for a low cost apartment it looks pretty awesome too
I wonder how it would work for a shift worker (black out blinds & daytime noise)? I'd take one if it actually had a bath tub!
Interesting but very strange. I can see it suits the people they interview but why have a dishwasher? What a bizarre idea when you can't cook. And why do they think that because they're busy, they will never cook? Eating is pretty important and I would hate having to eat out all the time. It still seems a lot cheaper than these would be in London though. Maybe 3 times the price?
A person would get really fat if she ate out every day.
Load More Replies...What a fantastic idea! I love that they've repurposed a historical building for a practical purpose! I hope this can be an inspiration for other landmark buildings to be saved! ~HR
terrific. but i do not understand why can't a busy lifestyle cope with a stove.
Not having a kitchen is ridiculous! I can see maybe a convection toaster oven, a hot plate, & dishwasher
I don't know the price the square meter in Rhode Island but 550 seems really expensive for this size of apartment.
Its all about locality. This is actually a reasonable price in a lot of other places (Washington DC, NY, California), this building is close proximity to a lot of night life and action, so factor in the upgrades after repurposing, and convenience of location and it is about right.
Load More Replies...Did any one notice the tween single bed? What adult would want a bed like that. I am short and that bed would be too small. For me.
Wow 250sq feet apt tor $500? I have a 1400 sq ft condo for $700. In a good middle class neighborhoodand . it comes with my own driveway, basement and land. I will pass on the shoe box.
430
66