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mall. The many benches placed throughout the centre were found to interrupt this
desired flow, for people quite naturally used them to stop and rest or chat. At one
point the management removed most of the benches, which brought on a conflict,
particularly with the seniors who frequented the mall. One of their arguments was
that, despite their relatively low buying power, by sitting on the benches they
performed the important function of keeping an eye on things and thus helped keep
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order in the mall. Eventually, the benches were returned to the central passageways.
Some forms of socializing are prohibited in Solna Centre, including for example
political activities and demonstrations that are ordinarily permitted in public places.
Political campaigning is relegated to the small square outside the shopping centre.
The regulations of the centre also exclude local groups and fund-raising activities,
such as the sale of lottery tickets. Rollerblading and roller-skating are prohibited, and
the mall is also designated a smoke-free environment. The full list of regulations,
posted at the mall entrance, maintains order at the same time that it gives a clear
signal that certain social groups and social activities are not permitted on the prem-
ises. These regulations are an expression of the power structures that govern Solna
Centre, and at which we will soon take a closer look. Here we see that these regula-
tions have clear implications for the social space. The list tells the visitor not only
whether he or she is welcome in the shopping centre, but also who one is likely – and
not likely – to meet here. Other activities, while not expressly forbidden, have never-
theless been excluded in practice by the management’s policies and priorities. For
example, previous promises to provide space for youth activities and a theatre have
been abandoned. Similarly, a proposal to install a ‘speaker’s corner’ was rejected at an
early stage of the shopping centre’s development. 24
The line of cafés in the centre of the shopping centre provides a much-appreciated
and convenient form of social space, particularly in inclement weather. Many people
who work in the mall eat lunch here. Several of the cafés serve food with origins in
another part of the world, including Mexican, Middle Eastern and sushi or stir-fried
specialties. Others have followed the international trend of serving a dizzying range
of coffee-based drinks. The social space of these cafés is located between public and
commercial space. Although some customers have complained that not being
allowed to smoke restricts how long they are willing to sit over their cup of coffee,
the cafés obviously serve as meetings places for many different social groups. It is not
unusual to see a small group of men sitting for hours in one of the cafés, conversing
in Arabic over long empty cups of tea.
Solna Centre, like other malls in other parts of the world, has occasionally
arranged quasi-public events under its roof. The Swedish tradition of the annual
Lucia Day celebration is one such event, when children, usually from a local school,
sing carols and carry candles as they parade slowly through the mall. An ‘AIK day’
was organized, celebrating the team that had won the Swedish premier league in
1998. The event attracted a crowd of 200–300 people of all ages, many dressed in
the team colours. They came to see the team and get their autographs, to hear
speeches by the coaches and star players, and some particularly enthusiastic fans were

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