Why were so many malls designed with those huge interior atriums?

Ever notice how those giant atriums made you feel like you were outside even when you weren't? Architects in the '70s and '80s believed that open, light-filled spaces would keep people lingering longer and shopping more - plus it made massive indoor spaces feel less claustrophobic. Atriums also became a status symbol for developers, a way to say "look how ambitious and modern we are." The natural light and sightlines helped shoppers navigate the mall too, though honestly, once big box stores and online shopping killed the mall's appeal, those atriums just became expensive voids to maintain.

i went to visit my parents at their place near this massive mall that got built in the late '80s, and the whole thing is basically one giant atrium with skylights everywhere - you'd wander in thinking you'd spend 20 minutes and suddenly it's three hours later because the space just keeps pulling you deeper. the designers were banking on that psychology: if a mall feels like a town square or outdoor plaza instead of a claustrophobic hallway, people stick around longer, eat more, buy more. it's the same reason they pumped in natural light and kept everything open and visible - removes that trapped feeling that makes you want to escape. nowadays some of those malls are dying though, and honestly the big atriums are mostly just expensive to heat and cool without enough foot traffic to justify it.