Isla Vista Cannabis Retail
Isla Vista, CA
3,527 SF
For this project, the client asked TGA to design a high-end cannabis retail environment he described as “Louis Vuitton meets farm-to-table” — one that would combine contemporary luxury with a wellness-oriented aesthetic. The program required 2,000-square-feet of retail space, 1,000-square-feet of back-of-house space to support day-to-day operations, and an Instagram-worthy secure reception space that — beyond regulating and controlling entry — would help the store harness social media as a key marketing channel.
To fulfill the brief and help translate the client’s vision into a design, TGA worked in collaboration with MOA to research a range of luxurious natural materials and present options for how they could be used to create distinctive spatial experiences. The materials palette — based on walnut, brass, and leather —was carried through every detail of the space, including custom-designed retail displays equipped with touchscreen interfaces.
DESIGN AS BRANDING
The reception area was designed as a signature space that invites customers to take and share pictures on social media, helping the new store establish itself in a competitive marketplace.
EXTERIOR REFRESH
The team also refreshed the aging building’s street presence, making strategic interventions that respect and update the existing mid-century modern structure. The design incorporates new clear-stained glulam roof beams, additional storefront glazing, bronze metal screens, and a white-brick facade element that marks the building’s entrance.
Project Type Commercial Retail
Location Isla Vista, California, USA
Project Size 3,527 SF
Completion Date Scheduled March 2021
Services Architecture, Interior Design, Programming, Retail Display
Architect Tim Gorter Architects
Design Team Tim Gorter Architects; Dustin Stephens MOA; Alan Ho MOA
Lighting Designer Ann Kale and Associates
Landscape Architect Earthform Design