Major mall developers are rapidly creating family-friendly shopping experiences. This new twist includes family-friendly amenities such as; family lounges, private nursing areas, baby changing stations, indoor/outdoor play spaces and family restrooms.
Some larger retail locations are also implementing family dining, family parking, play houses and often times even live entertainment; which encourages those online shoppers to visit the mall and join in on the activities.
Retailers such as Westfield, Nordstrom and Macerich are promoting family shopping programs as well such as; the free shopping program, WFamily, at Westfield or the “1st Walker Experience” at Nordstrom which offers a free pair of shoes to parents who bring their little ones in to their department stores to get their feet measured.
These family amenities are making things a little easier for parents by saving time and money and adding more fun for their kids which, in turn, is rapidly increasing mall traffic than ever before.
Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. is in the process of the redesign of a brand new Mazda dealership. This automotive center will replace the former Nissan salesroom on the east side of Hawthorne just north of Torrance Boulevard. The dealership building is 12,250 square feet and sits on over half an acre, a massive 90,555 square foot lot. The location includes a luxury showroom and service drive.
The interior of the dealership has been completed. Below are photos of both the 3D rendering and completed interior of the the dealership. Notice how the 3D rendering truly assists in the design and development of the interior.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
The dealership’s exterior structure is coming soon.. Below are a few views of both the existing Mazda building and 3D renderings which illustrate how the redesign will bring a rundown commercial building to life!
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
It seems Torrance, in South Bay California, is becoming a new automotive hub for residents in Los Angeles County.
New dealerships are popping up throughout the city of Torrance; including a certified Audi Pacific which finished its building construction in late 2012 and celebrated its grand opening in early 2013. The new dealership encloses the largest Audi car showroom in the country.
Other new dealerships to open are the prestigious Ferrari and Maserati. These are planned to open this Spring, located on Hawthorne Boulevard. The new luxury car dealerships are upholding the city’s intentions to attract more upscale retailers and other businesses to the mid-market district.
Tuscan home décor has become widely popular. The decorative trend can be applied to the interior and exterior of a household. The trend is based off one of the largest regions in Italy; Tuscany. Relating to a classical order of architecture, this decorating style uses natural color schemes and various textures to achieve an Italian essence.
Brick and stone textures are commonly integrated into the design of Tuscan home architecture. The texture mimics rustic villas found throughout the Italian wine country, thus attaining Tuscany within the home.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
As Tuscany is known for its beautiful landscape and culinary traditions, it is no surprise that Tuscan-style kitchens have also become increasingly popular. More and more people are discovering the relaxed warmth and historic beauty of this trend.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. exercised the specialty of 3D rendering in the architectural design of a 7,000 square foot Tuscan home. Three dimensional illustrations work as a great tool to present the design plans to the client, as well as, aide in the execution of detail-oriented structures.
Three dimensional illustrations were utilized in order to pay attention to the small “Tuscan details” of a large hillside home. Because 3D rendering uses realistic lighting, shading and space, it is possible to see how various elements will interact with or be impacted by various designs and texturing.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
The use of 3D rendering helps to identify flaws ahead of time and allow for modifications prior to physical components being put into place. The design process was a beneficial visualization from schematic design to 3D conceptual renderings through completion of the construction process.
DiamondSupplyCo. is a California-based skateboard clothing line started in 1998 by skater Nick Tershay, AKA Nick Diamond.
Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. assisted in the design of a dynamic all-in-one Diamond Supply Co. location. This location is based in the major Los Angeles area and includes a merchandise showroom, office with common waiting area, skate park and warehouse all in the same location.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
Diamond Supply Co. features their clothing designs in the showroom at the Los Angeles location. The showroom and traffic of riders at their skate park are great tools in presenting their best merchandise to possible buyers.
On top of gaining the interest of skateboarding enthusiasts, the company’s clothing line has branched out into the music industry.
Diamond Supply Co. t-shirts were featured in Fat Boys music video and worn by other artists and entertainers such as; Kevin Durant, Wiz Khalifa, Jay-Z, Rihanna and Curren$y.
This year Diamond Supply Co. hosted events which presented their exclusive pop up shops and live performances by known artists such as; Trinidad James, Juelz Santana, Thurzday and other surprise guest artists.
DiamondSupplyCo. has quickly become a popular clothing brand in the skateboarding and hip hop world.
In today’s challenging economy, many retail business owners are looking to re-evaluate costs in order to increase their profits. Retail kiosks (or Retail Merchandising Units) of different sizes and shapes have become popular among many business owners.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
Take the Street Corner snack kiosk (pictured above) for example. This 150 square foot kiosk allows mall-goers to grab a quick snack while shopping. Street Corner is a retail business which decided to construct a kiosk within in a common mall area. Their kiosk helps with gaining customer foot traffic to their business and the location is perfect, especially for snacks!
These RMU’s have become the “in between.” The retail units allow vendors to save money, in that they provide a professional retail store feel without the costs and commitment of a storefront or large anchor store. On the other hand, they are not as temporary as small mall carts.Retail kiosks’ lower costs provide opportunities to owners of growing businesses to purchase multiple locations in large malls. In response to the economic recession, kiosk rent has also fallen. Typically kiosk monthly rent will start at $1,000 and exceeds $10,000 a month in the best mall locations. The RMU’s central mall location also maximizes customer traffic. Retailers who have focused on smaller, stand-alone units are growing.
Mall owners are also benefiting from the outburst of kiosk businesses. The building of retail merchant units in the “free space” of the mall generates additional revenue for mall owners. According to the Los Angeles Times, “It [kiosk ownership] is a $12-billion industry in the U.S.”
Notice in the photos below that Potato Corner decided to construct a 250 square foot kiosk as the operations of their food business within empty mall space. The after effect allows a profitable business to generate revenue literally out of thin air!
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
These economic moves mark a new direction for retail architecture. Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. has custom designed kiosks for various retailers located in major mall centers in Southern California.
Another Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. retail kiosk client is Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. This 200+ million dollar a year specialty retailer has branched out to multiple locations in the kiosk world.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
Pictured above is an example of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf taking advantage of open space within an outdoor mall outlet. The 300 square foot spectialty drink kiosk is continually generating revenue for the company, franchise and mall owners. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf company is the largest now than it has ever been and cotinues to grow.
The retail kiosk phenomenon is growing at a rapid pace with many businesses and setting a new path in the design and fabrication of retail architecture.
The newest of Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. kiosk work is Mikawaya; a Japanese specialty dessert kiosk for various mall-goers to enjoy!
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
Candid Intimates is a new intimate apparel retailer that provides a platform for what women aspire to be: beautiful, sophisticated, confident, and self-aware. Candid offers quality garments that provide the right fit without sacrificing personality or attitude—where style is about the individual, not the industry. By supporting the different stages of a woman’s life, Candid embraces the sexiness and softness of her curves while illuminating her intelligence, strength, willpower and conviction.
Conceptually drawn up from the idea of individualism, seduction, and the essence of feminine mystique, Candid is a visual gem that entices the customer and embraces the infinite variations of a woman’s body. The artistic ambiance seduces its audience and creates a purchase that is a moment of empowerment rather than a compromise to the mass production of necessity. The smooth curved surfaces and soft colors capture attention and create a sense of intrigue. The Candid design complements its vast collection of merchandise, combining high quality, distinctive finishes that symbolize confidence and style.
Architectural Design by Ryans Virtual Design, Inc.
Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. developed the prototype design consisting of strong identity branding with soft lines and distinct traffic patterns. The fixtures were finished in pearl white with velvet upholstered display surfaces to create a dynamic backdrop for the colorful merchandise line. The store architecture encompasses a modern tone with classic underlying accents. The design language boasted contemporary with the artesian styling, accenting their product line of new fashion styling with old world craftsmanship. Candid Intimate is scheduled to open its first three locations in the first quarter of 2011 followed by six more by year end.
The brand is an expression of self-determination, Candid Intimate is a place for girls to come into their own and for women to step into the spotlight—from the college student preparing to take on the world to the executive businesswoman ready to revolutionize it. Candid is for the woman who says “I CAN, I will, I am, and I DID.”
Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. brought to life the architectural landscape of a newly renovated historical, upscale hospitality destination located in Bel Air, California. Originally developed as a hide-a-way oasis within the city, it has notably served the rich and the famous. The grounds of the property are truly considered a botanical garden enriched with over 100 varieties plant species, most of which are very rare. The lush garden features waterfalls, koi ponds, and a wonderful swan lake. This entrancing scenery can be viewed from the several five-star restaurants and luxurious villas located on the property.
Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. was commissioned to develop three-dimensional imagery that integrated the refurbished Spanish colonial architecture with the water features and the new and existing landscape.
Integrating the rich history of the property with the sophisticated new features that highlighted the organic computer generated imagery was a rewarding challenge for Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. exemplifying our technological advances in three-dimensional design and animation.
Energy efficiency has gone to new heights with exciting possibilities. An awesome example of these new heights and possibilities is a residence Ryans Virtual Design, Inc. co-designed using the most innovative green building products available. The focus of the building was sustainable infrastructure and featured state of the art green technology.
Located in the picturesque landscape of the Palm Springs desert with 350 days of summer, less than 6 inches of rain a year, and temperatures that can reach well over 100 F during the summer, it was critical to employ energy efficient products and develop a water conservation system.
The structure had a modern influence with simple lines, shapes, and flat roofs. With clearstory windows over the master suite, dining room, and living areas, allowing natural light to flow throughout while emphasizing the beautiful mountain views. The exterior of the structure consisted of smooth and textured stucco, stone veneer, anodized aluminum and various types of solar glass in a simple and effective manner.
Capitalizing on the desert’s climate, the energy efficient infrastructure featured solar panels, reducing the power consumption, and a cool roof. The 600 square feet electric solar panel system genarates 9,000 watts of energy a year for up to an 80% savings on eletricity costs. The cool roof is a roofing system that can deliver high solar reflectance—reflecting infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths of the sun, reducing the heat transfer to the residence. Additionally, the cool roof has high thermal emittance—the ability to absorb non-reflected solar energy.
Inside the residence, a central computer system with handheld command devices controlled the use of a state of the art Mitsubishi HVAC units located in eight climate zones and the LED lighting throughout the house, providing efficient energy use, at a touch of a button or pre-programmed vacation settings. LED lighting consumes less energy with a longer lifespan than traditional incandescent lighting.
In order to conserve water, tankless water heaters and a grey water system was installed. In comparison to a traditional water heater, a tankless water heater uses less space, provides fresher water, has double the lifespan, and uses 40% less energy. A grey water system utilizes washwater; that is, water from the shower, dishwasher, and washing machine. The system runs the grey water through a treatment system and disperses the water to outdoor plants. Additionally, the frontscape is supported by a drought resistant landscape while the rear yard depicts a garden oasis with a salt water pool, outdoor kitchen, and lanai. The living room sliding glass wall retracts into wall pockets blurring the line between exterior and interior living.
All in all, the Palm Springs residence was 60% more energy efficient than your average home.
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