Saturday, November 10, 2012

South Coast Collection - Shopping Experince in Environmentally Friendly Fashion

By Charity Hunter, Keshia Willet

 
The South Coast Collection, or SoCo as it has been nicknamed, is located off the 405 freeway in Costa Mesa, California. It features furniture showrooms, fabric stores, cafes, a wine bar, cheese shop and clothing boutiques. The development’s main goal was to be as environmentally friendly as possible while also being more than just a shopping destination but a place for community. The center features a weekly farmers market and has made huge efforts to redesign the entire foot print of the 300,000 square foot parcel to be efficient and sustainable.

 

The first thing that a visitor of the SoCo center will notice is the landscaping. The developers, Burnham USA, started with the concept to “go green” and use materials and products throughout that were eco-friendly and sustainable. Starting with the landscaping sets the tone for rest of the development. When asked in an interview for Coast Magazine developer Scott Burnham said, “All of our green projects include a landscape design that incorporates drought tolerant plant materials. Succulents, grasses, olive trees, and other comparable plant material generally are a common theme in our landscape design” In addition to incorporating draught tolerant plants the developers also worked with the Paul Mitchell School and created a “state-of the-art water reclamation system/water tower that treats up to 2,000 gallons of daily water usage from the School and diverts it to be reused for other onsite purposes, including SoCo irrigation water”.  The center also features a Zen Garden with high reaching bamboo plants as a visual reminder of the commitment to sustainability. It’s no surprise that bamboo is one of the materials used at the OC Mart Mix since they are promoting green design and bamboo is initially the first sustainable material most of us think of. Bamboo has many qualities making it green but the most significant is its rapid growth and durability. The OC Mart Mix uses bamboo as partitions to seclude seating arrangements in the outside courtyard.


The large buildings of the SoCo center are also made of sustainable materials. Starting with the natural concrete used to form the buildings. Concrete is a wonderfully versatile material that can offer many different applications and a variety of aesthetics. The fire pit is a favorite of visitors because of the unique concrete spheres that contain the fire.

 
The main feature of the SoCo center is the OC Mart Mix an urban, eco-friendly, and low-maintenance design concept. Of course reclaimed wood from redwoods to ipe wood would be used throughout the project. Used structurally and decoratively the distressed wood is absolutely everywhere. The salvaged planks structurally frame all the shops with glass walls which add to the open space concept yet still stay true to sustainable design. Applied to shelving in various stores and used for the hanging signs displaying the store name the OC Mart Mix now uses it in a decorative sense.  
The contrast between the warm tones of reclaimed wood and the cool modern sense of metal and concrete is seen in many of the OC Mart Mix outdoor and indoor furniture. Patio tables throughout the courtyard have a metal base and leg, with an inlay of wood for the table top. In the Portola Coffee Lab their seating also incorporates the same idea with metal legs, backs and wood seats. Benching placed throughout the space use large unfinished timber on top two concrete blocks. All are great pieces that continue the cohesiveness of contemporary yet sustainable design.
Several types of sand, gravel, and dirt are used as a way to section off seating areas in the courtyard with concrete sidewalks or pathways. At first one might think sand and dirt for a shopping center courtyard wouldn’t be the best material to source but the OC Mart Mix pulls it off in the most smart and fresh way. It’s smart design because it helps with irrigation and is low maintenance. It’s an innovative design because it unites the use of concrete that is smooth and sleek with sand and gravel that is rustic and natural.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

This well written summary of design principles and sustainability at the South Coast Collection is calling me to finally exit the freeway and stop at the center. The Zen Garden seems like a relaxing place to take a break after shopping. Miriam Horowitz

Anonymous said...

i've always wanted to visit the oc mart! i love the use of the zen garden, bamboo, and reclaimed wood!

Unknown said...

The zen garden looks so relaxing! Great use of space in the shopping center! Great description and written well. I like how they made the fire pit in the middle of the large concrete walls to make it a more cozy area. they did a great job promotioning the green, sustainable design.
-Vanessa Cheek

Melissa Torres said...

The SoCo center is very sustainable with the reclaimed wood and the cement flooring!...and so much more.....I was interested in the fire pit made of cement hopefully one day all go see it.

Unknown said...

The zen garden is so beautitul, it reminds me of my homeland, Vietnam. Great job on using the principles of element as well!

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed seeing all the pictures you posted. It's amazing how the area is eco friendly which doesn't happen much these days. The whole space is beautiful!

Unknown said...

Beautiful how they used green design alongside aesthetics!

Heather Orman said...

I've never actually stopped here but have driven by it many times and loved the look of it. Thanks to this report I will defintitely be stopping by to see this sustianable space!

tumadreajaja said...

Looks like a great place and very relaxing. Love the idea of having a lot of planets makes the place clean,green and refreshing. Would love to visit it soon.

Unknown said...

the whole design is all about sustainable. And it turns out looking good. That zen garden looks just beautiful and relaxing. Time to go have a walk over there.=)

Michelle Alasu said...

Love the use of concrete and raw wood together. This design was done very well. Along with the gardens it evokes a feeling of peace.

Hong Hoa Nguyen said...

Love the bamboo, good place for walking around and relaxing, nice designs and materials used, worth a visit. :)

Nancy Corraine Waldron said...

I drive by this place everyday, now I really want to go and check out the design and the shops there.

Unknown said...

I love this place building design! it is so relaxing, refreshing, and green

Unknown said...

the benches are very creative , the bamboo fesad gives a very contemprary feeling

Anonymous said...

Really loving the zen garden and use of bamboo and reclaimed wood. I’ve always pass by this place going on the 405 and after reading this article I definitely will be stopping by.
—Tiffany Le

Post a Comment

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More

 
Powered by Blogger