“The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests." -Charles Eames
The Orchard is a themed town center style mall that incorporates the eclectic styles of architecture found in Redlands, California. The abandoned indoor Redlands Mall sits on an underutilized plot of land in the heart of the city and The Orchard is my personal design project on how to create a sense of place in Downtown Redlands. The design elements and place making that improve the guest experience are more similar to the techniques found in a theme park than a traditional architecture or real estate development.
SketchUp, Enscape, Photoshop, AutoCAD
Redlands features a wide variety of architecture, the facades throughout The Orchard blend these various styles together in a harmonious composition. Creating various depths to the facades allows for visual interest to remain relevant and creates spaces for guests to dine and rest outside. I studied existing town centers and great streets around the world to understand what makes those places appealing and function, then implemented those elements into this project.
Rick Caruso’s The Grove and Americana have inspired some of the elements of this project. Parking and electric vehicle charging is located underground to help optimize the surface for more guests programing. A focal point water tower looms over a large body of water and is surrounded by grassy lawns to relax and dine on while providing a strong sense of place for the community. These are all design elements that the current Redlands Mall is lacking in.
Current Redlands Mall on the left; Concept layout for The Orchard on the right
Click on the image below to view in 360˚
