A renovation to an existing retail mall in San Diego, Westfield Group looked to us to redesign and rebrand UTC as a multi-layered luxury retail experience; one in which the consumer engages the project as a series of branded retail zones, fluctuating from contemporary chic, to classic modern, to an informal fireside beach escape. 

Westfield came to us with the idea of developing the design around a series of plazas branded according to an anchor store which would dictate the price mark and texture of the buildings also surrounding it  With this in mind we created three uniquely textured plazas each connected by a series of galleria spaces.  The plazas were branded as the ‘gourmet patio’, ‘bonfire court’, and ‘poolside escape’.  Each of the anchors in the plazas was then fit with a screen textured with either fine filigree metalwork, translucent stone, or rough hewn lumber respectively.  In addition, each plaza housed a ‘jewel’ tenant which represented the formal manifestation of plaza’s materials and textures. 

Concurrent through all of the plazas and acting as the connective tissue for the project was a series of glazed aluminum storefronts.  The storefronts existed on the ground and second floor spaces of the plazas, and were the solely defining element of the gallerias which spanned in between the plaza spaces.  The gallerias were fit with a custom shade structure and acted as the entry point from the parking garages beyond.  On the roof of each gallery existed a series of solar arrays which helped reduce the carbon footprint of the project. 

Design Team: Peter Tolkin Architecture

Position Held: Associate Designer