A public-private partnership project with the City of Glendale and Caruso Affiliated, The Americana at Brand is a 15.5-acre regional landmark situated in the heart of the city and features a 2-acre generously landscaped, vast open central public park at the project’s center and battery-operated trolley rides through the main square and around the perimeter.
Abundant mature trees, colorful flower beds and a beautiful dancing fountain (Waters of Americana) with the Spirit of American Youth sculpture by Donald Harcourt DeLue rising from the center make up the centerpiece. Integral to the property is 238 apartment homes and 100 elegant condominiums with lush garden and pool areas, seating surrounding an outdoor fireplace, 75 shops and boutiques, 17 restaurants, a multi-screen theater complex, children’s play area and ample parking.
Lifescapes was brought in to revitalize an existing center that was underperforming. It had a former vehicular drive down the center of the space that was out of scale and often deserted; Lifescapes invigorated the area by converting “Main Street” into a landscape-enhanced corridor lined with majestic palms and other softscape treatments. Angular parking places were added in front of the shops to facilitate short-term stays. Lifescapes enhanced the paving, added a pop-jet fountain for kids’ and families’ enjoyment, and adorned the outdoor cafe dining experience with hedges and festive evening lighting to greatly improve the property’s customer attraction.
Set on 20 acres adjacent to the historic Farmers Market in Los Angeles, the Grove is a Southern California landmark offering a lush, park-like setting; a vibrant pedestrian streetscape and internal transit system using an electric trolley. The large, center fountain features a dancing, water-choreographed show and a nearby grassy area perfect for shows, live concerts and community events. The Spirit of Los Angeles bronze statue of a male and a female angel soaring skyward sits as the centerpiece of The Grove. This iconic center successfully marries the atmosphere of a charming town center with a luxurious shopping resort.
Central to Los Angeles’ South Bay, The Enclave is a 2.5-acre restaurant-retail center between two commercial towers with 500,000 sf of newly renovated A-class office space. The focus was on adding food, retail, and social offerings to the surrounding neighborhood.
The key to the design was creating functional outdoor spaces. The nearby office tower lobbies were renovated to provide access to the outdoors with retractable walls, allowing fresh air exposure and views of the garden, and in the retail center, restaurants spill out to patios for open-air dining.
Two organic orchards and herb gardens were also added alongside the office buildings, offering seating among citrus trees and herb planters. Tenants can enjoy a fresh orange on their lunch break and take in the sweet-smelling fragrance of the fruit trees.
We created “destinations within destinations” with a variety of options for guests and nearby employees to relax or work outside (made easier by available Wi-Fi and charging stations). Various ground covers throughout the property define spaces and make them feel separate and intimate. Seating has different perspectives, so some people can sit low in reclining chairs, while others can sit at café tables with a higher vantage point. The two fire pits surrounded by colorful, eclectic rocking chairs, bean bags, and Adirondack chairs offer guests an opportunity to enjoy the outdoor experience even on the chillier Southern California evenings.
Multi-functional, flex spaces provide eclectic and fun areas for socialization, games, and meetings. The many recreational activities throughout the property include ping-pong, four-in-a-row, cornhole, and stack and tumble towers. There is also a “conference table” in the plaza where employees can host gatherings.
The design was purposeful in that it wasn’t long and linear, but rather invites exploration. Creative traffic flow allows for nooks and new enticements around every corner.
Several eclectic water features zig-zag throughout the property: one such fountain features repurposed musical instruments as art, another is made from vibrant, colorful cylinders in varying heights, and a third features yellow spheres (reminiscent of The Enclave’s bright yellow logo). The commitment to art is seen all over the property from the colorful elephant wall mural that welcomes guests from the parking lot to an art installation reflecting the Southern California lifestyle (made of surfboards in an array of patterns and colors hanging on the wall near an entrance/exit point).
In addition, inspirational quotes carved into the pavement provide motivation and “Instagrammable moments” as you weave throughout the center.
Photo credit: Patrick Tang
The Point, owned by Federal Realty Investment Trust, is the shopping, dining and entertainment destination residents of the South Bay were waiting for, complete with unique cafes, in-demand retailers, fitness studio and expansive outdoor plaza.
Follow the distinctive surfboard and skateboard directional sign, and you know you’ve entered something original. The landscape environment provides many unique gathering areas, outdoor living spaces, foosball, Buddha garden, fire pit, fountain, and children’s play area with lifeguard tower and colorful pottery. The design also contains a 40,000 sf. programmable, open lawn area for concerts in the park, fitness classes, movies and other community events.
The main water feature contains a fire element bursting out of the center, and there’s a second, elongated water feature alongside outdoor patio dining, creating a “natural” wall. Other hardscape elements include thermory wood decking and colorful pottery. The outdoor living rooms are residential-scaled and have fire pits and oversized lamps with lampshades for a fun, whimsical flair.
Photography by Eric Figge
The landscape architecture at the 375,000 sq. ft. open-air, mixed use plaza, The Veranda, in Concord, CA, complements a multi-functional space where the community can come together, shop, dine, relax and play among high quality finishes and design elements.
The property is themed in an authentic mission revival style, reinforced by the formal main entry experience, featuring marching palms, canopy trees and custom pottery. Climbing vines on lattice structures and pre-cast concrete pavers in herringbone pattern support the Spanish mission experience.
Many patios weave through the property offering covered seating areas. Decorative perimeter railings with hanging planters, stone veneer pilasters with pottery, and built-in wood banquettes add to the charm. Central to the plaza, food and beverage pavilions include large overhead trellises to offer shade. Built-in counters, fire pits, and porcelain faux wood-tile paving enhance the user experience.
The wine garden is surrounded by large olive trees and overhead festoon lighting, creating an intimate space which can be closed off for private events. A dedicated fire table, heat lamps & pre-cast concrete pavers in ashlar pattern add warmth.
The musically choreographed water feature serves as the centerpiece of the main plaza and park (Designed by Lifescapes and built by Outside the Lines). To further the mission style, themed tile veneer was used on the basin surround. The built-in benches allow seating and viewing of the water show, while the beautiful London plane tree, southern live oak and camphor trees bring comfort and shade to the area.
A mix of canopy trees and medjool date palms surround a large play area and shade the tiled, built-in benches and picnic tables nearby. Here, parents and guests can relax and watch children play on the innovative play feature designed by Luckey Climber.
The main lawn is perfect for community gatherings, including summer concerts and monthly “Yoga in the Park.” Lawn games such as bean bag toss and badminton are provided for guest enjoyment. During the holidays, the temporary ice rink, Santa’s house and a 40’ decorated Christmas tree ring add to the holiday spirit.
Designed with European style architecture, the buildings and tree-lined village streets surround a park setting complete with a children’s play area and world class show fountain with hourly shows choreographed to lights and music. Located in the heart of Idaho’s Treasure Valley, The Village at Meridian is a unique and unexpected destination you have to experience for yourself.
Special 30-45’ tall mature trees, brought in from Canada, are the signature pieces to the central park area at The Village. The perfect gathering place for friends and family, The Village at Meridian features upscale apparel and specialty retail, fine restaurants and cafes, Village Cinemas, and luxury office space.
The Works is a 190,000 sf, 4.4 acre, retail center that was in need of renovation. The open spaces were transitional in nature; they were flat and concrete with uninviting areas to sit which didn’t offer guests a place to gather or spend a significant amount of time on the project.
Our design team’s priority was to create garden-like settings that encourage shoppers to spend more time at The Works and by doing so, offer increased exposure to tenant services. We wanted to change it from a quick lunch-time spot into a destination-oriented environment. Comfortable seating, shaded gathering areas and a generous play area helped reinforce this ideal.
An “S” shaped trellis structure provides an anchor to the main plaza and offers cozier seating to congregate around. Additional focal points include a water feature, an intimate turf lawn with comfortable bean bag chairs to relax in, and an activity area away from parking that offers kids a safe place to play and parents a comfortable place to watch.
A vibrant, bright color palette and geometrical shapes accent the areas. The many trees, including sycamores, camphors, and arbutus; help define the spaces, offer shade, and transform the vehicular space into a more people-friendly gathering destination.