A Cozy New Hideaway in Sister Bay!

Our design team hit the ground running on this one! An untimely change in project resources meant that our client was left without a designer and a fast-paced project timeline! Our design team jumped in and crafted an enlivened interior concept focusing on the area’s historic roots and the client’s vision of a high-end boutique experience.

Tap Into The Heart of Door County

This area in Sister Bay, WI is known for the beauty of its natural landscape and connection to an expansive shoreline. Long-time residents & visitors alike have come to deeply appreciate the weaving hiking paths, sprawling orchards, restaurant & bar corridors alongside the shopping & arts districts.  All of which make it an incredible location for a stay at this year-round boutique hotel!

Door County is also home to an exquisite Scandinavian heritage, which became a main concept driver for the design of the DoRR Hotel. Our design process began with the concept of ‘hygge’ – a Danish term focusing on the idea of “coziness” or invoking the feeling of deep contentment & well-being.  We did this through the lighter color palette and bringing in warm finishes and elements.

Welcome to The DöRR Hotel

Beginning with entry into the lobby spaces, guests are greeted by a premier, on-site, guests service team stationed behind marble-look stone and rustic wood features. The atmosphere is equally homey and sophisticated – ensuring guests feel invited to gather around for a drink, snack, or even to play a board game at the various seating styles & arrangements. The furniture throughout the project was selected and designed to be the perfect blend of Scandinavian minimalism and mid-century modern. Rich and warm accent colors pocketed within an airy and natural palette.

The brighter, lightly finished, wood tones are contrasted by blackened metal accents and luxe plaster-work, both bringing forth deeper colorways. Soft seating is wrapped in distressed leathers, beige twills and deep, moody, blue and green tones. A fire-wood installation adds warms and definition, while drawing your eye up to the natural cedar beams above.

Finding Your Hygge

The DoRR Hotel houses 47 well-appointed guestrooms highlight the gorgeous views within light and airy spaces, allowing guests to relax and unwind in.  All guest rooms feature white shiplap walls, herringbone flooring and custom white oak and leather furnishings.  Eight of the guestrooms take the form of unique suite-style spaces featuring unique floor plans, bay-facing balcony views, high-end furnishings and thoughtful in-room amenities.

Guests of the suites are invited to cozy up alongside the linear electric fireplaces, watch the sunset on the outdoor terrace or unwind with cup of tea from the custom-crafted navy blue shaker-style kitchenette space.

Both the guestroom and lobby spaces share a design that is centered around the ideas crucial to the Danish concept of hygge. With furniture & materials that embody a sense of elevated comfort, warmth and conversation. The multifunctional lounge spaces throughout the lobby floors, alongside the unique suites and guestrooms, ensure that each stay provides a new experience!

General Contractor: Bayland Buildings Inc.
Photographer: Ballogg Photography

To read more about the DoRR Hotel project, check out our Case Study here!

Designing a Restaurant Living Roof

Designing a Restaurant Living Roof

Aria Group has been designing restaurants for over 34 years, but we recently experienced unique challenges while working on Amy’s Drive Thru in Roseville, California.  Partnering with a client committed to the environment and social well-being enabled us the opportunity to design a restaurant with a Living Roof.  Amy’s is the first Certified B Corporation fast-food restaurant, leading the charge in vegetarian/plant-based options. “Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Unlike other certifications for businesses, B Lab is unique in our ability to measure a company’s entire social and environmental impact.” – Bcorporation.net. This project strives to educate – showcasing its environmental and social concerns through its teamwork, commitment to climate concerns, and ultimately its design.  The following is its story…

Progress photos of the living roof components

Who?

Designing a Restaurant with a Living Roof was made possible through collaboration with our client and many partners.  Our team included: Amy’s Drive Thru, KDC Construction, Clarke and Reilly, Chestnut Company, MFSD+B, Henderson Engineering, Hart Gaugler & Associates, Kier + Wright, Camp & Camp Associates, Inc., and Symbios Ecotecture.

Why?

“The living roof at our Roseville Amy’s Drive Thru is not only beautiful – it also promotes a number of environmental benefits including reduced energy requirements, retention of stormwater on-site, habitat biodiversity and reduction of the heat island effect, just to name a few.” – Jason Dedmore, Director of Real Estate & Development at Amy’s Drive Thru, Inc.

A living roof offers many benefits to a building and the environment. The mass of the soil acts as a great insulator helping to regulate the buildings internal temperature.  This allows for less heating or cooling and an overall lower energy bill.  The return on investment varies per geographical region but Roseville offered a great opportunity for Amy’s.

Symbios Ecotecture installing the Living Roof.

The soil and plants absorb rainwater and hold it on site versus running off directly into the sewer system.  Holding more rainwater onsite reduces strain on the sewer system leading to less flooding.  This does create the need for a slightly larger structure to support the roof and more caution with waterproofing the building roof, but Aria worked with Amy’s to celebrate the resulting gabled structure by exposing it inside the dining room and celebrating the design on the interior.

Environmentally, the Living Roof also offers a reduction to the urban heat island effect. Higher temperatures in urban areas leads to higher cooling loads in buildings, increasing the carbon footprint, compounding the Climate Crisis.

Growing plants does take time — see below photos of the plants at restaurant opening and six months later. Plant selection is an important process that Symbios Ecotecture and Camp & Camp teamed up to provide the best options of native species to thrive.  The selected plants also create a habitat for pollinators and birds, increasing biodiversity.

Designing a Restaurant Living RoofLeft photo at restaurant opening by photographer Cesar Rubio.  Right photo six month after opening by Symbios Ecotecture.

How?

The architecture, with cues from agricultural structures, is simple in form, but form follows function in creating various dining opportunities and protecting patrons and employees from Roseville’s climate.  The design team chose to have a gabled roof to showcase the Living Roof to patrons and the community, creating a green beacon for Amy’s Drive Thru.  A living roof is very much a team effort, affecting not just design but our consulting engineers. By having conversations early and often the team was able to deliver a sustainable end result.

Partial living roof section by Aria Group

What’s next….

Aria Group will continue to innovate and lead by example in keeping social, economic, and environmental concerns top of mind.  We are excited to collaborate on designs that continue to enrich our communities and the environment through our designs leading to a more harmonious future with our planet.

Amy’s Drive Thru Roseville recently won an award for Best New Concept Launch by Restaurant Development + Design

Meet the Team: Kyle Miller

Welcome to another edition of Meet the Team!  Kyle Miller began at Aria Group in February 2015 as an Architectural Technician and was recently promoted to Project Coordinator. He brings an attention to detail and a positive outlook to every project he works on – we’re lucky to have him as a part of our team! A short list of clients Kyle has worked with include Buddy’s Pizza, Topgolf, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, Copa Kitchen & Bar, and Dos Toros Taqueria in Chicago. Kyle is proud to have had the opportunity to help establish Topgolf’s latest single-level concept and his detailing work on the Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in San Diego California. That project helped Aria Group secure the NEWH Top ID award.

Where and what did you study in undergrad and grad school? I studied at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where I received my undergrad and graduate degree in Architecture. I was also a graduate assistant in the digital fabrication lab and worked at the Campus Architecture Office.

Where did I grow up? I grew up in Warrenville, Illinois.

Do you have a child? My wife Colleen and I had our first child, McKenzie Harper, last November. She is the joy of our lives and such a happy little girl.

Do you have any pets? One dog – she’s spunky and sweet and looks like a teddy bear. Her name is Sadie Mae and has her own Instagram and at one time had more followers than Aria Group. Sadie is 5 years old and is a Havanese.

Best travel story? For our honeymoon we went to Italy. We immersed ourselves into the culture and traveled only by foot or public transit. We stayed only at local bed and breakfasts. We traveled to the Vatican in Rome, did a cooking class with a chef in Florence, explored St. Mark’s Square in Venice, and enjoyed the views in Positano.

Favorite Restaurant in Chicago? Lou Malnati’s. What is more Chicago than deep dish pizza?

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla but that’s because it needs to be paired with brownies or blueberry pie.

What is your drink of choice? Blue Moon Belgian White with an orange slice and a splash of orange juice.

What is something most people don’t know about you? I am a black belt in two styles of martial arts Tang Soo Do and Hapkido. I practiced for 10 years and was an instructor for all ages but loved teaching the little ones.

Check out other editions of Meet the Team on our blog!

Case Study: Redevelopment of Charlestowne Mall

Adaptive Reuse: Abandoned RevivalInterior Courtyard Redevelopment Rendering

While modern society looks towards the next shiny and new place to be, we often neglect to address our current spaces and how we use them. In an ever-expanding online world, shopping malls have taken a hit. With the effect of the pandemic this past year, the result has meant closures of many retailers. Our team explored concepts for redevelopment of a local mall that has seen better days.

Current Charlestowne Mall, St. Charles, IL images (Google Images/Flickr)

Charlestowne Mall sits in a well-trafficked, highly visible location in St. Charles, about an hour west of Chicago. But with the decline of retail and use of these spaces, there are ways to leverage current infrastructure that can revive malls like Charlestowne for the better.  This design concept addresses the many challenges facing Charlestowne mall and similar suburban shopping centers. Opportunity in the scale and framework of these developments can foster an adaptive reuse approach and provide new ideas for living and working.

Adaptive Reuse: Abandoned Revival Site plan3D site plan renderings

The initial idea absolves the single-use of Charlestowne mall by introducing living units and places to work, along with the traditional shopping/entertainment aspects. The design prioritizes greenspace and open air courtyards to both connect the development to the surrounding area and provide ample public and semi-public space.

Adaptive Reuse: Exterior viewMall Entry / Farmer’s Market above ground-level parking

The project has re-organized the former mall into various functions, taking advantage of the multi-level layout with ample atrium/courtyard space. The lower level remains commercial, yet it introduces the idea of more office, work, and creative space to create a sense of community. Similar to malls today, there is an advantage in a large property containing theaters, amphitheaters, and other community based functions. Surrounding the structure is an expansive greenspace that resides over the top of the parking lot(s). The greenspace was envisioned as a way to connect the users of the mall with the outside community while also providing a location for playgrounds, gardens, and even a farmer’s market.

Adaptive Reuse: Residential Interiors 1 Natural light fills the space from the front atrium-facing windows, the back patio, and from the light well at the terrace above.

Residential units occupy the second floor, giving privacy and a connection to the public functions below. This utilizes the vast roof space, and creates a second residential story that pops up onto the former roof level for many of the units. These dynamic floor plans enhance the livability, increase real estate value, and give the residents a more private ‘yard’ space which would have otherwise been missing in a more urban development. The change to this terrace level also supports passive building strategies like solar and ventilation, reducing the reliance on active systems.

Adaptive Reuse: Residential Interiors 2Upper level office/flex space

There is opportunity for the residential units to capture the sweet spot between urban and suburban living, which is rapidly gaining popularity and investment in recent years. The spacious, open concepts leverage the high ceilings of the former retail space and allow more flexibility than cramped urban condos, but still benefit from the direct connection to the amenities and community functions within the same development.

Adaptive Reuse: Residential Rooftop YardPrivate Rooftop ‘Yard’ space for residents

There is value in looking beyond what shopping malls can be. Through inserting more varied functions such as housing, work/office, and community spaces, they can be revitalized in ways that take full advantage of the existing framework but also address current needs. In the case of Charlestowne and many others, these opportunities already exist. What currently sits with ample unused space can attract new residents and businesses, and more visitors to the new community and destinations as well.

Reinventing the American Mall

Reinventing the American mall: Historical photosNorth Star Mall Opening Day 1960 (Express News Archives)

Take a drive down the business highway in most mid-size towns, and odds are that you will inevitably pass by one of the great relics of a bygone era in American culture. The indoor mall was once the epicenter of shopping convenience and consumer capitalism in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.   Check out this video of the Richfield Edina shopping mall from 1956 —  a flashback to this era and one of the earliest malls in the United States.  Southdale 1956 – Richfield Edina Shopping Mall

Today many indoor malls are in a state of suspended animation – a gawky, mammoth lying dormant as the pulse of shopping has run back to main street, lifestyle centers, and of course online retail. Many of the flagship brands that iconized the mall era have long since flown the coop for more lucrative pastures, and the bare bones of what remains – empty shops, food courts, theatres, arcades, plazas, and stalls – sit idly awaiting reinvention.

Reinventing the American mall: Retail pastPhotos of Mall exteriors (Abandoned Mall photos – Seph Lawless/Getty Images)

It doesn’t take too much digging to unearth why: simply put, the existing mall format does not meet the more holistic needs of today’s generation. This may be most notable when one compares the typical mall configuration, which relies almost entirely on the foot traffic generated by big-box stores, to the rising trend for more integrated lifestyle design, particularly the “live, work, shop, play” format.  When you lump in the growing desire for walkability and sustainable urban design, it becomes very easy to scrutinize the visual, and often visceral, reaction that malls evoke; the far out, windowless behemoth sized complexes, which often float in a sea of parking lots, turn customers away through its lack of appeal and accommodation. In short, if indoor malls want to continue to be relevant, they must confront the changing epoch in front of them and seriously commit to an identity make over.

The paradox is that malls are well-practiced in reinventing themselves. New stores, kiosks, seasonal displays, and even small fast-food retailers flip in and out of plug-and-fill spaces all the time. This highlights one of the great silver-linings for malls looking to adapt: the archetype of mall spaces makes them extremely changeable by design. The more demanding work lies in integrating atypical programs to the standard mall framework, such as housing, entertainment, and recreation. At such a large scale, the role of the designers and architects in this realm cannot be understated; planners and developers must become skilled alchemists who balance the correct blend of programs and utilities to address the morphing needs of future dwellers and patrons, while also keeping costs and existing programs in check.

Case Study: Stratford Square Mall + Aria Group

At Aria Group, our team approached this endeavor by applying our knowledge and long standing history of experiential design and thinking about how we can alter the framework of malls to meet the needs of today. In particular, our team developed a number of proposed interventions for the Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, IL, which like many malls has shared in the saga of continual decline in recent years. Regarding the strategy for revitalization, Principal Frank Cavanaugh wrote, “ the key strategy we see in giving new life to malls is turning them inside out. Carving out and demolishing underutilized gross leasable area (GLA) to create more elevated exterior tenant visibility and enhanced guest experiences”.

Proposed Plan Concept- Southwest Entry, Stratford Square Mall

This includes introducing lively restaurant concepts that perforate the building’s envelope, especially where they might enrichen existing mall entrances, and adding a mix of other lifestyle businesses like spas, health clubs, grocers, and medical offices. Similarly, exterior spaces and parking lots can be converted to event lawns, seasonal skating rinks, beer gardens, and other mixable entertainment spaces to bring more meaningful and attractive entertainment to the surface of the mall.

Stratford Square Mall Southwest Entry – Before & After

The mission to diversify the mall’s retail base goes beyond just a facelift however. The proposition also includes the potential to infuse multi-unit residential and office spaces into the existing complex, turning the typical weekend shopping center into a vibrant community of workers and neighbors. This contemporary pairing of program is akin to the complexion of the traditional town center, where shopping is just an element in the macro-experience of everyday life. In fact, it is precisely the varied assortment of experiences that we believe will make Stratford Square such a desirable place to live, and bring patrons back to visit time and time again.

Stratford Square Mall – Medical & Residential Site Plan Studies

To investigate the potential design possibilities in more depth, Aria Group also conducted a case study of a revival of the Charlestown Mall in St. Charles, Illinois. Check out our next post where we share our exploration into the merger of programs and the spatial opportunities that could re-define the future of America’s malls.

 

 

Meet the Team: Martika Camacho

Aria Team - MartikaOur team is the soul of Aria Group and key to our success and growth as a company.  Martika is a great example of one of our team members that has grown within Aria through her great work ethic and dedication to her projects and clients. Martika began at Aria in 2013 as a design librarian, where she was able to become familiar with the products and reps we work with and get her feet wet on interior design projects. She was a natural fit at Aria and joined full time upon completing her interior design degree at Columbia College. Now, fast forward 7 years – Martika is an experienced designer and finding herself taking on a significant design role on many projects.

Aria Team - StitchMartika can be counted on to volunteer for the office outside of her daily work. She works with our wellness committee and dominated the runway as the model for our entry to the IIDA Stitch Competition, where our team took home Best of Show honors in 2020. “We partnered with Mapei and Ceramic Technics,” Martika recalls by saying, “we were all so proud of our accomplishment and that’s why it stands out so much!”

But there is more to this Fierce competitor and dedicated team member. To learn more about Martika and her personal interests, read on below!

What is something you get overly competitive about?  Everything. Just kidding, I am very competitive in my health and fitness goals. When I am not signed up for a race, I am often joining a fitness/wellness challenge organized by influencers that inspire me. I feel if you have a passion, surround yourself with likeminded people and follow likeminded content. It’s amazing how a little bit of shared passion fuels you further.

What was your first job?  dELiA*s “fashion representative” – we had to answer the phone with a bubbly line “We’re having a great day at dELiA*s!” and offer up a compliment to everyone that walked through those doors. The walls were bursting of graphic tees and quirky patterns. I can safely say I worked there for the discount and can thank them for my bubbly demeanor.

What’s a secret talent that you have?  During the holiday season and occasionally in the year, I sell beer bottle/can candles that I craft myself! The upcycled beer bottles are hand cut and sanded by me, tops of cans are opened by me as well. All candles are soy based with a cotton wick and scents are all essential oil based. I treat the candles like a choose your own adventure – pick your bottle/can & pick your scent. I’d say I am a beer connoisseur – one of my favorite podcasts is Good Beer Hunting. Every bottle & brewery has their own story – it makes me happy when I can share my passion with other people that appreciate it. I love beer so much – my husband and I got married at our first craft brew love – Revolution!

Do you have any pets? One dog – he’s a handful but we love him so much! His name is Ernie – Ernest or Ernnifer when he’s in trouble and Ern-bern when he’s a good boy. Ern is about to turn 6. He is a Staffordshire/Beagle/Pit-bull mix.

If you weren’t a designer, you would have been a?  If I wasn’t a designer, I would like to picture myself as a successful entrepreneur! Maybe a mix of yoga instructor, craft brewer, local baker, and Etsy vibes? Oh! Maybe it’s a yoga studio connected to a bakery/brewery with my own little shop in front – One can only dream!

Who is your favorite artist? Kozmo – She’s Chicago’s Burger-Flower artist! You can spot her work throughout the city now, most commonly in Pilsen. Her work is so uplifting with her bright color selections and spunky content. What I love most about her is her toon inspiration! I love local artists and scoping out murals throughout the city!

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Homemade ice cream is where it’s at! I love making the Cereal Milk ice cream recipe from the Momofuku Milk Bar book. I’ll often make it with cornflakes and occasionally with Lucky Charms. The Cheesecake ice cream is a dangerous one as well! Also, anything from Salt & Straw is amazing! Recently had their Thanksgiving Turkey flavor that was to drool for. Can you tell I love ice cream?!

Recap: Top Posts 2020

As we look forward to a new year of posts, we thought we would revisit our greatest hits of 2020. As we checked our stats, we were not too surprised to find that our top five all have some relation to the story of 2020 – the pandemic. We sought to take a positive spin and push our creativity, while helping to find solutions to tough problems. We hope you find the same.

Masks On Doors Open – Our series on reopening restaurants safely.

Pandemic Design – We produced a series of case studies for a special Covid themed edition of NEWh Magazine investigating how we can practice safer design for projects at various scales.

Walter’s Favorites: Take-Out – Our principal, CFO, and resident foodie shared his favorite local spots to order-in.

Parklets + The Evolved Patio –  Outdoor dining was a hot topic in 2020. This article explores options to expand and improve patio design.

Designer Tips: Home Work Stations – As most of us settled in for a year of remote work our designers share some tips to make your home work station a better place to be.