If you’re new to San Diego, or you’re thinking about moving to the area, you may be wondering how on earth you will meet new people. With all of us so caught up in social media and our own busy lives, the old fashioned way of making new friends seems to have fallen by the wayside.
Over the past few years, there’s been a turning point in apartment community living—a shift occurring in the market—and the team at the Irvine Company Apartment Design Studio began to explore the idea of social living through the use of on-site amenities.
“We realize that more than just beautiful apartment residences, we need to offer spaces that sustain a full lifestyle,” says Bruno Viterbo, Vice President of Design at Apartment Design Studio.
And that’s exactly where they began. With the market moving towards socializing at home, the company has introduced seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces to the plans for all new apartment communities that promote activity, relaxation, entertainment and overall well-being, with the underlying premise that residents want to work out, entertain and socialize close to home. In essence, the plan is to consolidate activities in one centralized location: where you live is right next door to where you relax by a resort-style pool, work out at a state-of-the-art gym, hold dinner parties at a chef’s kitchen, or work from a modern iLounge.
Armed with ideas, Bruno and the talented Design Studio team discover the kinds of amenities residents want most, and go to work creating not just fitness centers with top-of-the-line equipment, but also yoga lawns, Pilates studios and body sculpting centers. Pools get the vacation treatment with the addition of seating nooks, barbecue areas, outdoor fireplaces and cabanas. Connecting the indoors with the outdoors is another aspect that tops the team’s priority list, with the goal that residents move between these spaces fluidly.
Many communities now offer chef’s kitchens with long dinner tables for people to enjoy a meal together. These rooms can be used by residents, while also playing host to special community gatherings, cooking classes and wine tastings, all organized by a dedicated activities director. The Design team believes that the importance of these spaces lies in offering residents the opportunity to entertain guests as if they had that space in their homes.
“We want to be sure that we don’t design spaces simply based on trends. We activate spaces with event programming in mind as well as promoting a sense of community and togetherness. Amenity areas are truly successful when residents see them as an extension of their homes, and as part of a lifestyle layer in their community,” Bruno says.
At the end of the day, the team builds communities, not just apartment homes. A place where residents can have access to on-site retail with coffee shops, markets and postal services, as well as open spaces, parks and in some locations, personalized concierge services. And the team continues to innovate. The Village Mission Valley in San Diego comes with a craft beer room, while some communities have gaming studios, pizza ovens and wine cellars.
For more luxury apartment communities in San Diego with an abundance of social amenities, check our San Diego apartment listings below.