An Experiential Expansion of the Bivouac Brand

The Opportunity
Lara, founder of the original Bivouac restaurant, had outgrown her production capacity. She initially explored business park spaces to expand her cider operations, but they felt disconnected from the spirit of the brand. When the two neighboring dance studios became available, she saw an opportunity to grow without losing proximity to the world she had already built.

The Shift
Rather than separating production from experience, we integrated them. The back of house became an expanded cider production facility and cooler, while the front of house evolved into a multi layered environment that supports community, adventure, and craft.

The Story We Told
We extended the Bivouac universe. This was not a second restaurant. It was a lodge, a basecamp for the adventurous. A place where production, gathering, retail, and storytelling coexist.

How the Space Unfolds
1 Mornings begin with a coffee shop and coworking atmosphere, welcoming locals and remote workers into a casual, community driven space.
2 At the center, a round tasting room called The Lodge anchors the experience. Designed to echo the structure of a yurt, it reinforces the outdoor adventure ethos of Bivouac.
3 A curated general store offers picnic provisions, a zero waste trail mix bar, and gifts for the adventure seeker. Guests can assemble a picnic to enjoy onsite or take on the trail.
4 Tucked within the space is Salon d’Eau de Vie, an invite only brandy tasting bar inspired by Gertrude Stein’s Paris salon. Local San Diego artists reinterpreted classical works that might have hung in her salon, creating a secret cultural layer within the lodge.
5 The hallway becomes a canyon passage, with a disguised window into the production facility appearing as a carved opening through rock.
6 Even the bathrooms carry the adventure narrative: one incorporates a climbing wall element, another draws from Matisse inspired artistry, and a third leans boldly into animal print for playful exploration.

What Guests Experience
Guests experience Bivouac Lodge as a basecamp. A place where craft is visible, community is welcomed, and exploration is encouraged.

They can watch cider production through a canyon window, assemble a picnic from the general store, gather in the yurt inspired tasting room, or discover a hidden salon reserved for special tastings. The environment moves seamlessly from morning productivity to afternoon tasting to evening intimacy.

It feels layered, unexpected, and fully aligned with the Bivouac spirit.

Why we loved designing it
We loved this project because it was brand expansion at its best. We did not dilute the original concept. We deepened it. By integrating production, retail, gathering, and hidden cultural moments, we created a lodge that functions as both operational backbone and experiential extension. It proves that growth does not have to mean separation. It can mean immersion.

about the project