Judges' Comments
- N/A
Project Data:
Completion Date: 10/5/2016
Square Footage: 18700
Building Use: Restaurant + Bar
Location: 3300 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Project Description:
It is an honor to have this opportunity to nominate Water Grill, South Coast Plaza, and Project Design Team, for this 2017 AIA OC Design Award for New Construction. Through exceptional leadership, expertise and cohesive team support, Water Grill has been seeded in Orange County while succeeding over many challenges along the way.
Ideally situated into one the Southland’s most iconic restaurant locations just across from South Coast Plaza, Water Grill has made its mark on the Orange County dining scene as a high-end seafood restaurant. The location and unique site characteristics presented major design and engineering challenges to the project team. Originally built in the early 1980’s above an underground garage, the existing Scott’s Seafood restaurant was almost completely demolished to make way for Water Grill. The existing conditions and design complexity required cohesive interaction between the Architecture, Interior Design, Engineering and General Contractor teams from the schematic design phase through Project completion.
The vision for the new restaurant presented the opportunity to create Architecture that embodies Water Grill’s tradition of rich, welcoming interiors. The concept is inspired by seaside waterfronts and shipyards. It is infused with Architectural elements such as deep, horizontal roof lines, large piers, bow trusses, and concrete walls that evoke thoughts of walking along a bustling wharf. A massive rusted steel structure echoing a moored ship is utilized to anchor the Architecture and further enhance the waterfront experience along the restaurant entryway.
As guests enter alongside the rusted structure, they are met by rich welcoming interior and patio dining areas. Retractable windows and doors integrate the indoor and outdoor spaces. Eighteen thousand square feet is an unusual scale for a restaurant interior. The arrangement required thoughtful consideration for organizing the elements of the space to reform into areas that would feel warm and comforting.
The landscape design introduces water-wise plants, trees and foliage that emulate feelings of the Pacific Northwest while complementing the Architecture and Interior Design. Along the perimeter, Iconic Sequoia trees are bordered by an exciting variety of grasses with succulent accent plantings, and an eclectic fusion of a woodlands palette. The plantings inhabit the Architectural elements distinctively, integrating with the modern expressions of concrete and Corten steel panels and planter walls.
Water Grill’s lighting concept integrates the Landscape, Architecture and Interiors effortlessly, to create an intimate atmosphere for dining and conversation. Minimalist lighting with subtle accents highlight the Architectural and Landscape elements. Inside a seamless integration of incandescent and LED lighting reinforce feelings of warmth and comfort and a balance of color tone and color rendition. Engaging lighting accents showcase the varied textures and memorabilia.
The unique location and scale of the Project proved to be full of challenges. The Design Team persevered through every obstacle to bring the Project to its successful completion, and affirming this Team effort worthy of this nomination.
Thank you AIA OC Design Awards for this opportunity to share this experience and celebrate Water Grill’s Project Design Team.
C.O.T.E. | Committee on the Environment
Submitted By: |
Alex Arie |
Design Architect: |
Robinson Hill Architecture, Inc. |
Associate Architect or Firm: |
Alex Arie / Robinson Hill Architecture, Inc. 3195 B Airport Loop Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714.825.8888 rhainc.net Todd Hatch / Hatch Design Group 3198 G Airport Loop Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714.343.2200 hatchdesign.com |
Landscape Architect: |
David Salkowitz / LandCreative, Inc. Gabriel Lopez / LandCreative, Inc. 3195 B Airport Loop Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714.352.7588 landcreativeinc.com |
Owner / Developer: |
Sam King / King's Seafood Company 3185 J Airway Avenue Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714.432.0040 kingseafood.com |
Engineer: |
Mark Schroeder / Ficcadenti, Waggoner and Castle 16969 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 240 Irvine, CA 92606 949.474.0502 fwcse.com |
General Contractor: |
Thomas Penna / ITX Construction/Consultants, Inc. 1285 S Lewis Street Anaheim, CA 92805 714.254.8400 itxconstruction.com |
Consultant: |
Matt Lavesque / First Circle Design, Inc. Bradley Bouch / First Circle Design, Inc. 3187 Airway Avenue, Bldg C Costa Mesa, CA 92626 949.681.0500 firstcircledesign.com |
Photographer: |
Darren Edwards / Darren Edwards Photographs 1052 Hygeia Ave Encinitas, CA 92024 760.633.3555 info@darrenedwards.com |
Water Grill, South Coast Plaza
Category
Commercial