Portfolio | Projects & Clients | Awards | Design Process

Santa Monica Beach Improvement Group (B.I.G.)

Santa Monica, California

“Ebb and Flow” was the theme underlying the redevelopment plan of the Santa Monica Beach Improvement Group (B.I.G.).   Our collaboration with the landscape design firm Wallace Roberts & Todd, and artist Jody Pinto, created a pedestrian beachside that comes alive.   The sidewalk, which follows the natural contour of the shoreline, leads a person to “people places” such as a chess park, a “muscle beach”, a war memorial, and public restrooms.

Among the goals for the design team:

• Unify the various components of the B.I.G. project, while enhancing the various artistic, architectural, and natural features unique to Santa Monica.
• Complement the landscape solutions, with sensitivity to a natural looking lighting effect.
• Assist in way finding and mark paths clearly, particularly costal access and local businesses.
• Be aware of urban issues and address safety and vandalism.

These goals were accomplished with several simple solutions.   New lighting poles were placed along the gently arcing walkways and designed with festive blue “beacons” at the top to recall running lights found at sea … unifying and providing a distinctive marker for this popular beachfront.

Key landscape elements are highlighted with accent lighting to assist in establishing hierarchies and as part of the overall wayfinding system.   Restrooms with colorful translucent features announce themselves at night as they glow from within.  

All luminaire materials and lamps were carefully selected to be durable and easily maintained, as well as manufactured of recycled and recyclable components.