Week Eight - The Irvine Spectrum

The Irvine Spectrum

The Alhambra

I went to the Irvine Spectrum the evening of Friday, November 18, 2011.  Overrun with high school students, families, and holiday shoppers, the environment was fun, friendly, and warm. The ice rink in the middle of the outdoor mall lit it up with colorful fluorescent lighting, and the sound of top forties pop music played in the distance. The huge Ferris wheel added to the jovial lighting, as the structure changed from one colorful design to the next.  If the Ferris wheel is not enough, there is also a carousel across the way to entertain children of all ages. The Spectrum is lit as a carnival of sorts, with white string lights leading shoppers down rows of stores and restaurants.

According to the company’s website, “Irvine Spectrum Center was inspired by the world famous Alhambra, the 13th century citadel that overlooks the city of Granada, Spain. The historic palace is comprised of buildings connected by magnificent courtyards, which feature an exotic blend of classic architecture with a colorful overlay of Spanish details such as tile mosaics and elaborate carvings.” After looking up a few pictures of the Alhambra, I can understand where this influence came into play when considering the white string lights hung over the corridors and around the palm trees. It also has a warm, colorful feel to it, similar to what can be seen in a European square. However, in combination with the light from the ice rink and the amusement park rides, I thought the designers were aiming for more of a carnival feel.

Anthropologie

The first shop I chose to go into is one of my all-time favorite stores, Anthropologie. The overall theme of the store is shabby-chic and bohemian with a sophisticated twist. It always reminds me of an old, warm and comfy farmhouse. All of Anthropologie’s clothes are always very soft and comfortable. They are often very whimsical looking, and harken back to a more rural, country feel. The lighting in the store had a warm tint to it, and was made up of an array of instruments, from hanging lamps to focused bulbs. For the most part, the displays were brighter than the walkways to accent the things they were trying to sell. I noticed that sections of the store were slightly more shadowy, giving the displays a little bit of dimension.

The second shop I went into was Old Navy.  While I generally like their clothing, the store always makes me feel like I’m walking into a warehouse. The lighting is very stark, and is from long, white florescent tube lights that hang above the clothes. While the store is very well lit (no shadows here!) it makes the clothing look flat and one-dimensional. I suppose this lighting goes along with their obviously fake white mannequins, but I don’t think it makes the clothing look very pleasing. Oddly enough, I found that a thin sweater at Anthropologie somehow looks warmer than a thick fleece at Old Navy. If the store is going for a cold, plastic warehouse feel, they are successful. However, I’m not sure that makes me want to buy clothes.