ARTIFICIAL PLANTSCAPES
CASE STUDY
PECHANGA CASE STUDY
Artificial Exterior Plantscape
Nestled in the heart of Temecula, California, a major resort and casino sits on a sprawling property that offers breathtaking mountain views and a dynamic landscape. The casino's vast, flat layout stretches across the land, with expansive outdoor spaces that are highly visible to guests from nearly every corner of the property. One of the main areas of concern for the client was an elevated roof deck space, surrounded by sweeping mountain vistas, and a long outdoor corridor that connected the guest hotel rooms to the pools and spas. These spaces were frequently traversed by guests, creating an area with heavy foot traffic.
The property's Mediterranean climate, with its scorching summer heat and occasional high winds, compounded the challenge. While the landscape was thoughtfully designed and equipped with irrigation systems and lush plantings, the harsh conditions caused significant deterioration of the living plantscapes. The intense sun and dry winds led to plants wilting and dying quickly, creating a constant battle to maintain their vibrancy. This not only caused frustration for the client, but also resulted in higher maintenance costs, wasted resources, and lost time spent on upkeep. The landscape's aesthetic potential was being overshadowed by the never-ending cycle of replacement and repair.
Overcoming Key Design Challenges
Our design team quickly recognized that the area in question was highly visible not only from the hotel rooms and the pathwways leading to the pools and spas but also from an aerial view across the casino and hotel. This visibility meant the final design needed to be consifered from both ground level and above to ensure it created the desired ambiance for guests from all perspectives.
Additionally, we had to address the natural challenges that had led to the failure of two previous landscape projects. the harsh sun exposure, cooler nights, and constant winds required a thoughtful approach. Our client had already endured significant plant losses due to these conditions, which had led to high maintenance costs and a lack of long-term durability.
Custom Solutions
The space between 26 ground-level rooms required planters that would provide both aesthetic appeal and privacy between the guest patios. These planters needed to be durable and able to withstand the climate while offering a beautiful, low-maintenance solution.
To address this, we proposed repurposing the client's existing planters, saving on budget while still delivering high-quality results. We suggested filling these planters with Areca Grass Dividers with Mixed Underplanting, a UV-rated, weather-resistant solution that would stay pristine for years.
For the pathway running along the guest rooms, we recommended 6.5' high hedges with two-sided underplanting, offering a striking privacy barrier without the ongoing maintenance issues that had previously plagued the site. This solution provided added privacy and acoustic benefits, offering a low-maintenance option that ensured guests could enjoy their privacy without the deterioration of live plants and the associated upkeep and disturbances.
Transforming the Sculpture Garden Plaza
The Sculpture Garden Plaza was adorned with 15,000 square feet of artificial plants formed in a pattern that is representative of the client's brand and story. The plants were formed to give way to a beautiful design that was not only for the guests who are wandering the path to their final pool destination, but to the onlookers who are viewing the courtyard from their private suites or from the casino floor. The patterns and plant colors helped create the perfect ambiance from every angle. The pathways will be better suited with artificial yet realistic lifelike plant decor to create a magical adventure through the sculpted gardens.
Our design plans repurposed existing monuments unique to the resort that help continue to tell the story of the client's cultural heritage. Each art installation was given a front and center location among the plant decor to inspire conversation, create a focal point for the guests, and complement the cultural traditions of the location. We incorporated red rock elements to tie the installation to the local terrain, using them to define the boundaries of each plant installation and create a cohesive visual flow. The result was a stunning, timeless landscape that would withstand the challenges of the climate, providing enduring beauty and a harmonious experience for all who visit.
Final Deliverables
Artificial Plants Unlimited presented a comprehensive and innovative plan to completely redesign the sculpture garden and the pathway connecting the private rooms. Our team made a site visit to thoroughly assess yjr project scope and gain a firsthand understanding of the client's pain points. We took the time to meet directly with the client to discuss their specific needs and vision for the space. With this knowledge, our designers worked tirelessly to craft a custom design that not only addressed the client's immediate business needs but also told their brand's story in a visually compelling way. The final design exceeded the client'expectations, offering a solution that was both cost-effective and within their allotted budget.
One of the key aspects that impressed the client was the 3D video rendering we provided. By showcasing the design concept in this measurable, interactive format, we enabled the client to visualize the entire space from every angle before implementation. This gave them a clear, tangible understanding of how the final design would look, providing them with the confidence in their decision-making process. The ability to see the design in a complete, immersive way allowed them to make a well-informed, strong decision, ensuring the vision would align perfectly with their goals. We delivered a fully engineered solution from start to finish, ensuring that every detail was accounted for and visualized in the final package, leaving the client excited and confident in the transformative design we had created.