Santa Monica Place Photo © Alice Joyce
Below – A favorite vignette: Super-sophisticated planters in harmony with statuesque A. bainesii.
Santa Monica Place – Aloe bainesii Photo © Alice Joyce
Befitting the easy and inviting, yet classy, cool vibe of Santa Monica, the oceanside enclave where I’m drawn each time I visit Los Angeles – the reopened Santa Monica Place boasts a stunning redesign.
Santa Monica Place Aloe bainesii Photo © Alice Joyce
The original shopping mall designed by Frank Gehry is now extensively remade, boasting a fabulous upper level, indoor/outdoor rooftop deck that is the spot for lunch, cocktails, or for a ‘dinner with view.’ The setting’s polished landscape architecture elevates the experience for those who shop, with Bloomingdale’s and Burberry, to Hugo Boss, Ted Baker, and Tory Burch on the premises: If it’s retail therapy you’re after, a luxurious, unparalleled panoply of goods awaits.
Anigozanthos ‘Big Red’ (Photo: Alice Joyce)
The location – adjoining the Third Street Promenade and bracketed by the Santa Monica Pier – is a destination in itself. While the greening of the newly renovated shoppers’ paradise takes in eye-catching plantings: Along the stairway as I entered the building, the fuzzy brilliant flowerheads of winter-blooming Kangaroo Paws greeted me.
Santa Monica Place Planters Food Court (Photo: Alice Joyce)
Strolling the corridors, you’ll want to stop for a cappuccino and french pastry, if only to study the boldly planted containers near your cafe table. Succulents that thrive in this mild climate are used to full effect, melding the dark rosettes of Aeoniums – their circular forms repeating the half-dome shape of the planters – with the strikingly textural, vertical form of Aloe bainesii, used elsewhere as in-ground trees.
A favorite vignette: Super-sophisticated planters in harmony with statuesque A. bainesii.
The range of Santa Monica Place restaurants will impress foodies, whether you’re ready to book a reservation for fine dining, or only have time to grab fresh fast food. Coming soon… A market where you can purchase artisinal products & seasonal organic ingredients for a picnic, or a meal at home.
Santa Monica Place looks lovely. The planters are striking — I agree.
A shopping mall, is a shopping mall, is a shopping mall!
Its not for me.
Which just goes to prove Alice, that I can’t like everything you post about.
Just 99.9% recurring!
Best
R
Alica, I’m always intrigue by how the stylisedh designs get along inside malls after sometime. It’s really a difficult melange. Lula