Ponto is an example of how design engages with natural audiences and contexts to create memorable associations with commercial space. Our designers started with a very promising site, the undeveloped street corner blocks away from Carlsbad State Beach, adjacent to neighborhoods and multi-use trails. On a site like this, the right design would set up the eventual development for a long and successful life, but even this site wasn’t without challenges. Much of the area hosts coastal sage scrub, the habitat of a threatened population of California gnatcatchers. KTGY’s retail design team carefully crafted the development around such precious habitat, preserving much of it for the future.
Newly built paths wind along the bluff and give the scrub habitat and its inhabitants their space. Outdoor seating and firepits dot the paths before they link up to the existing trails. Backgrounding the scene, Ponto’s two main buildings rise out of the dune, a natural presence with wood-look aluminum siding, shade structures and casual seating moments that invite beachgoers to unwind. The taller of the two is accented by a tower-like mass with a louver-screened mural. The second-story patio and eye-catching design is an irresistible draw that will easily turn cyclists, surfers and neighbors into loyal customers. An irresistible set of beach amenities, bike racks, showers, lawn and sunshades, invites the community already using this place to stop in and stay.
The lower levels offer smaller footprint spaces that allow for a greater variety of specialty shops and experience-focused businesses. The designer’s transparent approach to retail design encourages visibility into the stores and restaurants, attracting customers with an open and inviting atmosphere. People can flow easily between the amenities and retail as part of their day at the beach. Outdoor public green space and paths promote community gathering and healthy living; the amenities draw people in, even if they weren’t planning to shop. This connectivity makes Ponto an instant destination for visitors and neighbors alike. Through a design rooted in context and connection, Ponto is ready to capture invaluable customer loyalty that will make this development a long-term success.
