This project involves designing a restaurant on the ground floor and an open-air cafe on the rooftop in the city of Orland, California. From the beginning, the client desired to create a complex that could combine two completely different moods within a single project: a modern space for the main restaurant hall and a neoclassical space for the VIP section. Combining these two styles was the main challenge of the project, and TTL Studio tried to present these two spaces in an integrated yet independent manner by creating soft boundaries, a shared visual identity, and selecting harmonious materials.
In the design phase, understanding the behavioral and cultural patterns of the people of Orland, California played an important role. This small urban area has a quiet, family-oriented community based on local interactions. In the food culture of this area, the experience-oriented nature of the space is more important than menu diversity; customers are usually looking for a comfortable, intimate, and sociable environment. Their consumption pattern is a combination of Californian-local foods, fresh bar, handcrafted beverages, and fast yet high-quality service.
In social behavior, the dining space for the people of Orland serves more as a neighborhood hangout than a formal destination; therefore, open movement flow, short pause points, and the possibility of forming short and spontaneous conversations were studied in the design and considered in the plan.
For the open-air rooftop section, the design approach focused on creating a cafe with a sense of lightness and visual freedom; a space that is consistent with the behavior of the outdoor space in Californian food culture—which is usually accompanied by friendly gatherings, light music, and relaxing beverage service. This space forms a controlled contrast with the more enclosed and formal VIP space, creating a comfortable and social experience.
Design modeling and rendering were done with the aim of accurately conveying the concept to the client, and at all stages, efforts were made to ensure that his feedback had a direct impact on the final decisions.
The design of this 3,800 sqm outdoor gym in Orland, California was shaped through a collaborative and research-driven process within the TTL (The Third Line) design studio. The project began with an environmental analysis of Northern California’s Mediterranean climate and its characteristic native species—most notably the Valley Oak (Quercus lobata), a defining element of the region’s natural identity.
During the early design phases, several context-inspired concepts were proposed to the client, including circulation paths shaped by the fluid geometry of local seasonal waterways, and equipment zoning aligned with natural light patterns to enhance usability during hot summer months. Material palettes referencing the earthy tones and wood textures of local landscapes were also presented as part of the initial design direction.
Through continuous dialogue, these ideas were refined based on the client’s functional priorities and aesthetic expectations. Some concepts were embraced and developed further, while others were reshaped to balance safety standards, activity flow, and the practical requirements of a high-performance outdoor fitness space.
The resulting design merges environmental sensitivity with athletic functionality—creating a space where movement, landscape, and user experience come together in a cohesive and site-responsive layout.
