:: Beverly Jane Bautista :: Week 6 - Site Specific Blog

I really enjoyed this week's blog because it allowed me to travel off campus to see light in a different setting. After seeing several dances, talking about light within our class, and week 6 ending, I feel like I can't help but see light in a completely new way. I also can't unsee lighting that is, in my opinion, unsuccessful based on all of our discussions.

When Aliya and I parked at the Irvine Spectrum Center, we walked down this pathway. It felt slightly eerie, even mysterious, but the stark lighting amplified the anticipation of seeing the stores at this mall. This was my first time attending the Irvine Spectrum at night. 

The initial view I saw when we walked into the first communal area was this cool, soft glow of blue and orange umbrellas. Sitting underneath them felt like a safe haven. It was calming and at the same time energizing to me; all I wanted to do was soak in the scenery and just be when I experienced the lighting in this space.

To my surprise, I found many stores to have unsuccessful lighting, but Cheesecake Factory, in particular, was tough on the eyes. The contrasting yellow and red colors made me think of fast food chains and it didn't match the overall awning and frame around the door frame too. The sign didn't reflect the feeling on the inside of the restaurant of quality time or energizing conversations over a meal. A while ago, a friend told me that when a McDonald's franchise was built in Sedona, Arizona, officials changed the color of the golden arches to a soft teal blue to match the natural decor of the red rock scenery. I feel like this concept should always be kept in mind when multiple businesses are brought together. 

   

The sign of Tommy Bahamas caught my eye in a good way. It felt like a designer took the time to see this store from all aspects and said to themself, Does this view reflect what our mission statement is? When I saw this sign I felt the lighting reflected confidence, class, and what people would wear if they lived by the beach. This was one of the few stores whose sign was well lit and whose window display was an equal representation of what it would feel like to walk around inside the store. From the outside, the store looked like it felt refreshing, open, and inviting.

If there was one thing I hated and loved at the same time, it would be this view. HAHA! It made me think of a mysterious, enchanted forest leading to...*drumroll please*...Subway. The uplighting mixed with haze created such a powerful energy in highlighting the palm trees, but the business at the end of this view was a poor choice on the collaborative effort of the team who planned this mall. It was honestly confusing. I would much rather see a store that reflects an eclectic, minimalist, or classic vibe. Perhaps a high-end store like Apple, a luxury store like Dior, a fashion-forward urban sneaker store, or even a store that isn't as popular, but punctuates the lighting at the end of this pathway. It's such a high-traffic area that one would think that because there has been so much thought with creating a magical environment with the lighting, the stores would reflect that same mood too.