ERA21 MAGAZINE 01/2025
In this issue, I had the pleasure of co-editing a deep dive into the architectural, cultural, and social life of department stores, spanning their golden era to their uncertain present.
In the 1920s, architect Leopold Bauer described the department store as a focal point of public life where culture, taste, and education converged. Today, these once-iconic structures are neglected, demolished, or repurposed in outdated ways, while their original function is steamrolled by soulless malls and online shopping, erasing spontaneity and human connection.
Do these “temples of dreams” still have a future?