Situated on a hilltop where Newport Beach and Irvine meet, and serving the daytime population of more than 1,000,000 SF of prime adjacent office space, The Bluffs Retail Center occupies a pivotal location in the fast-growing area between these two Southern California communities. The site for The Bluffs is highly visible on all four sides, requiring careful design in the creation of a new retail and restaurant center prototype.

Using the project’s prominent hilltop location to greatest advantage, BCV’s design emphasizes the formation of a ‘hilltop compound,’ with prominent public spaces for gathering and relaxing. These courtyard spaces are further articulated through the abundant use of landscaping to signal their presence from both inside and outside the center. Along with approximately 51,000 SF of restaurant and retail space, these outdoor pedestrian spaces form the backbone of this neighborhood center, highlighted by a major tower element acting as a beacon.

Through the creative articulation and design of what typically would be the “rear” elevation of these buildings, the facades function both as useable elements of the architecture and intriguing elevations visible from the surrounding topography.