Microlog – Logistic Centers in Urban Spaces

Over the past decade we have witnessed a dramatic shift in the time, space, and methods of consumption. E-commerce (electronic shopping) has increased as a result of “Industry 4.0”, which refers to the current (fourth) industrial revolution, while growing numbers of brick and mortar stores are fading. 

Ancient cities have evolved around commerce; markets were the center of social gatherings where people would meet, exchange ideas, and run essential errands. Nowadays, e-commerce, conducted by logistics management, allows consumers to shop anytime, anywhere, and then receive packages at their doorsteps a few days later. As more people are living in cities and consuming through e-commerce channels, this project proposes clearing city streets of e-commerce traffic and providing public spaces for electronic shopping in future cities by using architectural typology. Microlog is a typology that contains a vertical logistics center that piggybacks on an underground infrastructure and public spaces and uses.