Are you a fan of visiting the shopping center? Perhaps not particularly if you are employed within one! Just picture residing in the mall itself! Within a shopping center, there was a chamber famously referred to as the ‘unintentional chamber,’ and this gentleman made the decision to dwell within it.

Big Concept

In the year 1999, a substantial mall project was finalized. The shopping center was established in Providence Rhode Island and exhibited 160 outlets within its immense 1.4 million square foot area. Each day, an individual named Michael Townsend jogged past the mall. Michael was an artist and, during that period, a sketching tutor.

Michael relished exploring and therefore, whilst still under construction, he stumbled upon what seemed to be an accidental chamber. Consequently, it appeared to serve no function and did not resemble a store.

Amid the Christmas season of 2003 and 2004, radio promotions for the Providence Place Mall presented an enthusiastic female voice articulating how wonderful it would be if one could inhabit the mall. The focal point of the promotions was that the mall not solely provided an extensive shopping encounter but also possessed all the necessities to thrive and maintain a fit lifestyle.

Michael Townsend

The Mall House

Four years had gone by, it was now 2003, and Michael found out that the chamber within the mall was unoccupied. At that moment, he contemplated utilizing it himself. Initially, his intention was to reside in the 750 square foot chamber for a week. However, he eventually ended up dwelling there for four years.

During its building, I recognized the 750 sq. ft. area that the apartment now occupies. The area was utilized for storing supplies throughout the mall’s construction and remained unproductively underused and deserted once the mall was operational.

Michael Townsend

Michael succeeded in residing, without being noticed, within this chamber for a prolonged period. He had even considered finishing his kitchen, laying down new flooring, and incorporating an additional bedroom. Unfortunately, he was discovered prior to being able to execute those plans.

Plans to finalize the kitchen, set up the hardwood flooring, include a second bedroom, and switch the old-fashioned cutlery were halted indefinitely after I was apprehended exiting the apartment. The security staff who managed the scenario did so adeptly and professionally. I must acknowledge that I was taken by surprise after four years and express regret for not promptly revealing details regarding my occupation.

Michael Townsend