Help with word

[xenith]

In a large shopping centre, you sometimes have areas that are open to the roof surrounded by levels of shops with walkways running in front of them. Melbourne Central is the only example I can find right now. Is a name for these bits?

I have a city that's made up of lots of these connected by tunnels, but I can't think of a good way to refer to them. I've been using courts, from shopping courts, but that's confusing with other uses of court.

Comments

[kaelajael.livejournal.com]

Is it Mezzanine?

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

Nah, that's a sub-floor above floor level (does that makes sense? :)

I'm thinking of the space bit. (I'm really making sense today, I know.)

[kaelajael.livejournal.com]

So you want a name for the void area? or for the floor space area?

I guess the closest I can think of is atrium.

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

I think so. I mean, I really want a word for the the void + the floor space + the walkways but I don't think that exists.

Plaza might be going in the right direction, but it has the wrong connotations.

Atrium might work, but it makes me think of a glassed-in courtyard with lots of plants. Of course, that's probably just me :)