Working in collaboration with the Splendido team, HBA Los Angeles has transformed the amenity space design at the Life Plan Community for adults 55 years and better, nestled in the foothills of southern Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains. The abundant collection of resort-like amenities – conceptualized and developed by Splendido – includes five restaurants and indoor and outdoor lounge spaces, along with a spa, wellness center, fitness center, cinema, meeting room, library, billiards room, and art studio.

The revitalized design of Splendido’s amenity spaces draws inspiration from the Sonoran Desert’s radiant beauty and powerful serenity, the rich cultural tapestry of the Tucson area, and the community’s hallmark of wellness. Implemented by HBA Los Angeles, the design embraces intuitive comfort and conviviality in a modern interpretation with timeless sensibility. Neutral palettes are layered with warm tones to promote brightness within the interiors and highlight the scenic locality. Clean lines and natural materials are met with tailored detailing, further elevating the overall aesthetic. Furniture balances form and function with considered dimensions for practicality and to withstand high-traffic environments.

“Our client’s vision was to enhance each space with design that is a perceptive response to the surrounding desert landscape, further contributing to the vibrant, contemporary living experience that Splendido already offers,” said HBA Los Angeles Senior Project Designer Chelsea Smith. “While creating a resort-like environment, it was also important to us to celebrate Tucson’s melting pot of cultures. We achieved this by weaving elements of Mexican, Native American, and Spanish cultures throughout carpet patterns and artwork.”

Inside the main building, the Living Room is a centerpiece, a functional and flexible space with intimate seating groups to foster connection and conversation. A material palette of natural stone, wood and tile brings the outdoors in, while a wall of glass offers sweeping views of the Santa Catalina Mountains and access to a newly built terrace. The fireplace commands attention, where bookmatched stone forms a stunning kaleidoscopic pattern and reaches the height of the double-volume ceiling.

Each of Splendido’s restaurants has its own identity yet is familiar with a cohesive language. Café del Sol radiates light, showcasing a tonal palette of earthy hues within the clean, modern interior architecture. A mural-like wallcovering at the shear wall makes a statement in colors borrowed from the landscape.

In Alonzo’s, a dynamic chandelier suspends from a ceiling refinished in a lighter wood tone, accentuating the architectural detailing and double-height volume. The introduction of golds and blues imbues the space with warmth. The adjacent Marbella restaurant sets a moodier ambiance, employing a red-and-gold scheme, illuminated screening elements, and jewel-like chandeliers at each banquette seating. Acoustic panels artfully hang at the ceiling’s center, effectively absorbing sound with a touch of contemporary sophistication.

At the al fresco Bella Vista Terrace, a custom woven canopy is a poetic yet pragmatic touch to the exterior pergola. Bold colors drawn from Arizona’s brilliant sunsets give energy to the design of Granada, a bar and lounge. A jewel-like light fixture recalls the rock formations characteristic of the terrain and reflects warm, refracted light at the ceiling. 

“With Splendido, we sought to maximize natural light wherever possible and infuse an uplifting sensibility throughout the overall atmosphere,” said HBA Los Angeles Senior Project Designer Haruna Sato Basica. “Much consideration for the locale was put into selecting the FF&E and the application of layered detailing. We were inspired by forms found in nature and the enchanting play of shadow and light unique to the desert, evidenced in lighting fixtures and screening elements and the beautiful patterns they cast.”

The rhythm of life and energy awakened by the visual vocabulary is carried through the additional amenity spaces in new furnishings, carpeting, lighting and wallcoverings. Built-in banquettes and loose seating, dining tables, and fire tables incorporated into the outdoor spaces invite relaxation for gazing at the mountains or starry night skies after a day well spent.