10:21 PM
Darren Carr
Orange County has a lot to offer its residents. Great beaches, moderate climate, inspiring schools, diverse cultures and top notch shopping. It seems that no matter what you want to do, you can do it in Orange County. Lets say you want to spend your hard earned paycheck supporting the environment, well you can do that too! Located right here in Costa Mesa is the Nation's very first "Green" shopping center, The CAMP. Launched in 2002 by the people who brought us the LAB or "Anti-Mall" Shaheen Sadeghi and Chris Bennett . The CAMP is a unique nontraditional shopping environment focusing on the active lifestyle enthusiast. Here you will find Cycle Werks to fill your cycling needs, Active for your skating and surfing desires, Patagonia will keep you protected from the elements, and The Retreat to refresh your spirit. If you are in need of sustenance, you can enjoy anything from organic teas and coffees at Milk N Honey, gourmet organic and raw dishes at 118 degrees, a neighborhood Italian tavern at ECCO, and upscale dishes and cocktails at Mesa. All mixed with an environment that is laid out like a campground and filled with recycled, salvaged, and ecco friendly building materials.
The CAMP is not just a retail space, but a hub for the community to gather and draw inspiration from. By combining culture with a shot of sophistication, the lines of everyday stress and the outdoor playground get blurred. Design aesthetics range from clean minimalist lines that lead your eye in every which way, to a Mongolian yurt dating back more than 2000 years. As host to lifestyle related art shows and exhibits, seasonal special events, and live music, The CAMP acts more like a community center than a retail space.
Being the first ever "Green" shopping space The CAMP makes use of unique materials and thinks outside the box. It features a rooftop garden that helps to insulate the buildings. All redwood used is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. They have in place an on site percolation system to avoid storm water runoff from entering our oceans. All landscaping is drought sensitive and the more mature trees were all relocated from another site that simply called for their destruction.
Specific materials used on this project include:
1. clear, all heart redwood siding- FSC certified
2. la habra stucco- sand finish- local mfg
3. integral green roof
4. Vista Paint- low voc aqua fusion paint
5. stainless steel shingled siding
6. Morin West- powdercoated metal siding panels
7. US Aluminum window walls
8. canvas roof for yurt- Jmiller canvas (local mfg)
9. Insulcrete- concrete
10. hot rolled steel- left to rust
It's because of spaces like The CAMP and its predecessor the LAB that I became interested in design in the first place. I really feel a connection to the linear patterns and combination of woods and metals. I was very fortunate to have an opportunity to work on the first phases of a design project with the head design manager Chris Bennett a few years ago. It's now a pleasure to get to interview him and really get to know how all my favorite designs came together. When I walk through The CAMP I get inspired to not only design but to be a better human. To eat better, and get outside more. To explore new places and try new things. Good design needs to be both beautiful and functional. If it can also be so bold as to inspire you, that's a bonus. I believe that this space does all of those things and more.
Special thanks to Shaheen Sadeghi and Chris Bennett at SoBeCa for all their assistance in this project. All pictures provided by Chris Bennett and SoBeCa.
48
Posts
4 comments:
This is the kind of project that makes me so excited to be part of this industry. It goes to show that green building or sustainable design doesn't have to be about the money or government rebates, but about offering an environmentally friendly space for people to go and give back to the community. Love the pictures!
Definitely one the gems of our area in terms of design. Creative and inspiring indeed. The Architects, Bauer & Wiley won a few awards for the project too. You can see their mini-write up on the Projects>Retail section of their website:
http://www.bauerandwiley.com/
It is awesome that designs of places like this can have such an impact on the way people feel. Encouraging the public to eat healthier and live better as a whole by simply reflecting those ideas inside the space is a very cool thing!
Love the camp, and what a great place to do the case study on. My favorite of your photos is of Native Foods. I've been to that restaurant before and the beams in the ceiling make even more of a statement in person!
Post a Comment