Sit LA

S I T SIT LA:

An Art Chair Park

Gabriel Barreras Jessica Hencier Cecilia Ngo December 18, 2012

SIT LA Vision In the midst of downtown Los Angeles, SIT LA seeks to reclaim the neighborhood as a peaceful oasis that frames unique vistas of LA from rooftops and observation towers, and provides a quite refuge for pedestrians and residents.

Inspired by Los Angeles’ creative and relaxing character, SIT LA employs playful and artistic takes on oversized and movable chairs, benches, interactive sculptures and landscaping to be a highly customizable park allowing visitors to adjust the park features depending on their needs. The park is both an everyday retreat and a destination for key cultural events and programming.

Values

Goals

Strategies

• •

•

•

• • •

•

Flexibility and change Safety, relaxation and enjoyment for all ages Promote healthy lifestyles and physical fitness Daytime and nighttime usability and access Serve diverse constituents from the young to the elderly, from Little Tokyo to the Art Districts and the surrounding public and government buildings Equitable access and a sense of ownership for all visitors and local residents

• • • • • • •

02

Create a destination in Little Tokyo for visitors and local residents Facilitate a safe space for community interaction and enjoyment Restore connection between public buildings, Little Tokyo and Gold Line Honor the Go For Broke Foundation monument Increase opportunities for organized and spontaneous programming Create greenspace in the middle of downtown Increase economic growth for local businesses and commercial areas Create physical spaces that frame new LA vistas

• • •

•

Movable seating on tracks throughout the park allowing visitors to adjust the space as desired Observation chairs with 360 views of LA on multiple levels Interactive chair sculptures and art fixtures Varied elevation creating circulation flows and highlighting the Go For Broke monument Greenspace for private events atop MOCA Geen Contemporary building

Contents

Project Site Description

04

Executive Summary

05

Site Analysis

06

Site Forces

07

Site Context Maps

08

Observation Photos

12

Opportunities/Constraints 13

The SIT LA project has excellent vistas of Downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, the Arts District and the Civic Center as seen above.

The park will capture these views through the use of elevation and oversized chair observation towers. Photo by J. Hencier.

Park Precedents

14

Art Precedents

17

Project Plans

20

Site Sections

22

Streetscape Plan

24

Street Sections

26

Stakeholders

28

Bibliography

30

Appendix A: Chair Samples 31 Appendix B: Final Review 32 Appendix C: Initial Plan Cover Photos: Heavy pedestrian and retail traffic along First Street, J. Hencier (top) Future vista from SIT LA project site, J. Hencier (middle) Veterans visit the Go For Broke Monument, G. Barreras (bottom)

34

Appendix D: Organizational Variations 35

03

Project Site Description 1

le mp Te E.

St

Judg

e Joh n Ais o St.

3

4

1

Gold Line Station Alameda St.

E. 1 st S t.

2

N

3

S. Centr al Ave

100 ft

2

SIT LA project site outlined in red above. The site includes the following preexisting conditions: 1. Operating primarily as a municipal parking lot, the SIT LA project site has limited accessibility and poor visibility from the street, as seen from Alameda Street.

2. The Little Tokyo/Arts District Gold Line light-rail stop is within one block of the SIT LA site providing access for many riders.

3. The majority of pedestrians are local employees working in the government buildings along the north and east edges of the site. Once established, SIT LA will accommodate these workers during the day.

4. A secure government vehicle lot will serve as an open entrance to SIT LA along the west edge of the park.

Source: maps.google.com

04

4

Photos by G. Barreras

Executive Summary

Los Angeles is a fast paced urban city. Sometimes you just need a place to sit, relax, and breathe in life. SIT LA is a unique destination, perfect for any Angeleno or tourist who needs a break, inspiration, or a gathering spot. In the midst of Downtown Los Angeles, SIT LA seeks to reclaim the surrounding neighborhoods. It creates a peaceful oasis that incorporates unique vistas of LA from rooftop gardens and observation towers, and provides a quite refuge for pedestrians, civic workers, residents, and tourists alike.

Inspired by Los Angeles’ creative and relaxing character, as well as William H. Whyte’s work on movable chairs, SIT LA employs a playful take on the chair. It includes interactive features and interpretive landscaping to be a highly customizable park allowing visitors to adjust the park features depending on their needs and desires. If sitting in the shade is preferred, simply push a chair along the track until it is under a tree; conversely, push the chair into the open space if catching some sun seems fitting. The use of the space is up to the visitor, whether that be a quiet place to meet a few coworkers to hash out the ideas for a project, or the hosting ground for a pop-up brunch party on a Sunday morning. The flexibility of the park makes it an ideal gathering place.

The park is both an everyday retreat and a destination for key cultural events and programming. The adjacent museums, including the MOCA Geen Contemporary and the Japanese American National Museum, already hold events regularly. The new spaces created by SIT LA are ideal for evening soirées, gallery openings and fundraising events. Honoring the Go For Broke monument is a central theme in SIT LA’s design. It is our intention to make the monument a focal point and a gathering point within the space. Even if the user has no immediate connection with the monument or did not intend to view it during the visit, s/he is subtly confronted with the monument and called to its attention by simply being in the park.

SIT LA’s design also includes a senior housing complex. We hope to bring residents into the project area to make the site a more inviting and inclusive place. The placement of permanent residents within the site generates a sense of ownership. Spaces that are inviting to the elderly are generally inviting to everyone in terms overall accessibility and ease of use, and it is intended that this space be for everyone.

Overall, SIT LA is a space meant for everyone, while at the same time being able to adapt to everyone’s needs at the moment of the visit.

SIT LA will add to the vibrant and interesting character that draws people into Downtown LA, Little Tokyo and the surrounding districts. We invite you to take a seat and explore the possibility of SIT LA. Thank you for your consideration.

05

Site Analysis The Site Forces map demonstrates that the existing conditions on the original site is conducive to the vision of an art chair park. The topography is fairly flat and there are plenty of open spaces to build the elements of chairs on tracks, an observation chair, a senior housing project, and a parking structure. Currently, the most noise is coming from the northeast corner of the site where the parking structure will be located to serve as a buffer for the rest of the park. Lastly, the sunlight path can easily be capitalized on due to ensure longest light exposure in the park.

The Site Forces map also shows that the surrounding context will support the vision of an art chair park.

The office buildings in the northern and western boundaries of the site imply that there are constituents that can serve as frequent users of the park, especially during the daytime. The eastern boundary of the site shows an empty parking lot that is slated to be redeveloped. Due to the high desirability of the Little Tokyo neighborhood, that site can easily be transformed into mixed-use retail and housing, or a popular shopping center. This implies that there will be an increased number of users that can use the park. The southern boundary contains an already-popular shopping center that demonstrates that the art chair park should have increased connections to those areas.

The Figure Field map shows that there is medium density surrounding the park site, with the exception of the south side. This implies that the park can create an open and relaxing environment.

The Parcel Owners map shows that most parcels on the site are publically owned, with the exception of the First Street businesses. The gives an idea of the types of stakeholders that would be involved in the development of the park: taxpayers and the small business community.

The Pedestrian Circulation map shows there are sidewalks available that can lead users to the park.

The Bicycle Circulation/Established Lanes map shows that there is planned infrastructure to facilitate bike circulation to the park.

The Traffic Volume map shows that the busiest street is Alameda. This is important to note when create entrances into the park’s parking structure.

The Transit Circulation map is important because not only does it show where users can come from, it shows that the seniors in the housing project will have effective transportation means.

The Building Occupancy Hours map show that there are buildings opened at varied times of the day.

The park needs to capitalize on the potential users that can frequent the park at those hours.

The Area Dinning and Eateries map show the price range and type of dining options in area. This alludes to the type of users that frequent the area near the park.

06

le mp Te E.

St

Judg

e Joh n Ais o St.

Site Forces

Gold Line Station Alameda St.

E. 1 st S t.

N

S. Centr al Ave

100 ft

Los Angeles Department of City Planning Office of Historic Resources - Designated Historic-Cultural Monuments Culturally Significant Landmarks Source: http://www.preservation.lacity.org/files/HCMDatabase041612.pdf.

Observations made September 1, 2012 by Cecilia Ngo.

07

Site Context & Analysis Figure Field

Source: maps.google.com

Parcel Owners PUBLICALLY OWNED #1 - City of Los Angeles #2 - City of Los Angeles, vacant land, parking #3 - City of Los Angeles, vacant land, parking #4 - City of Los Angeles, vacant land, parking #5 - City of Los Angeles #6 - City of Los Angeles #7 - City of Los Angeles #8 - City of Los Angeles #9 - City of Los Angeles PRIVATELY OWNED #10 - Kawasaki Co. #11 - Kawasaki Co. #12 - Rita Sue Freeman Trust and Robin Ludmer #13 - Joy and Peace Investment, LLC. #14 - Emile and Susanna Peres Trust #15 - Anthony Sperl #16 - Daimaru LLC #17 - Mario Chang

Source: Property Profile Reports, LPS Data Services 2009. AgentPro247.com.

Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor

08

Pedestrian Circulation 100 ft

N

Gold Line Station

Source: maps.google.com; field observation

Bicycle Circulation / Established Lanes

101 Free way

Gold Line Station

250 ft

N

Existing Bike Lanes

Proposed 2010 Bike Plan Bike Lanes

Source: http://www.bicyclela.org/maps_main.htm

09

Site Context & Analysis Traffic Volume

Source: navigatela.lacity.org

Transit Circulation

Source: http://www.ladottransit.com/map/dashmap.php http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/images/System_Map.pdf

10

Building Occupancy Hours

Source: based on business websites and Yelp.com

Area Dining & Eateries

Source: maps.google.com; Yelp.com reviews; observations made by Gabriel Barreras on Sept. 9, 2012

11

Site Observation Photos

A large amphitheater style entrance between the Japanese American National Museum (right) and the Discovery Center (left) provides the opportunity for a main entrance for SIT LA. Decor and lighting fixtures will direct visitors into the park.

Heavy pedestrian traffic for shopping, business and other commercial uses is seen on First Street, adjacent to the park. SIT LA will seek out input from these business owners to make SIT LA as appealing and usable as possible for these constituents.

Iconic vistas of Downtown Los Angeles can be seen from the SIT LA project site. SIT LA will embrace these views through the use of varied elevation and structures throughout the park.

The most notable asset of SIT LA is the Go For Broke Foundation’s memorial for the100th Japanese-American Infantry of World War II. This is an unmovable constraint, but it provides an opportunity to attract visitors through its cultural significance. SIT LA will incorporate the memorial as appropriate. Photo by G. Barreras.

The current site hosts over 100+ municipal parking lot. The SIT LA proposal provides alternative parking through a multi-level parking structure to be located on the corner of Temple and Alameda Streets. Photo by G. Barreras.

An existing art installation and steel trellis occupy part of the SIT LA site. The MOCA Geen Contemporary cane be seen on the right.

SIT LA will update this area and use it as a public seating space that can also host public events for the museums. Photo by J. Hencier.

Photo by G. Barreras.

12

Photo by J. Hencier.

Photo by J. Hencier.

Key Opportunities & Constraints Opportunities Existing Programming Hotspots -- Cultural and entertainment programming near the site and in Little Tokyo demonstrate how SIT LA can capitalize on this opportunity to provide for programming demands in being a creative and noteworthy place worth visiting.

Nighttime Lighting -- The opportunity exists for more nighttime events. There is a high level of street lighting within the site area. More lighting makes for safer, more populated streets, and enhances pedestrian environment. SIT LA will be able to host programs throughout the day and evening.

Diverse Use -- SIT LA is surrounded by areas zoned for public facilities and commercial use. As a result, the park is designed for diverse use and easy accessibility. The design is considerate of the day-time lunch crowd and employees in the area, the many businesses and commercial entities who can attract park visitors. Furthermore, the park can serve residents and general visitors during peak hours for shopping, dining and museum visits. The park’s design for a diverse constituency can ensure constant use.

Pedestrian Activity -- There is a high level of pedestrian connectivity around the site area, namely in the historic core of retail and Japanese Village Plaza Mall on First Street. SIT LA engages pedestrians to circulate into and through the site, especially in conjunction with the proximity of the Gold Line Station.

Vistas of LA -- With so much iconic architecture surrounding the site, the creation of new vistas within the site will give patrons a chance to experience the city at different elevations within the same visit.

Constraints: Go For Broke Monument -- The Go For Broke monument is not a central part of the site and feels haphazardly placed. Honoring the monument and its importance is a design constraint to be considered.

Stakeholders Diversity -- The site is at the crossroads of several neighborhoods, including Little Tokyo, the Civic Center, Arts District and Chinatown. Within these neighborhoods lie very different constituents with diverse cultures and needs. SIT LA takes all of these groups into consideration in its design.

Changing Location of the Gold Line Station -- Because the Gold Line station to the east will be moved south of the project site and will become a regional connector, SIT LA will take into consideration these changes, while serving the space as it exists now.

Minimal Connectivity -- There is minimal connectivity on the south side of the site. The retail core limits access to the site. To bring visitors into the site, SIT LA explores the possibility of converting empty commercial space as a walk through art gallery to the park - it will also assist with security to the site.

Visibility of the Site -- The Figure Field diagram (p 8) shows the site consists of mainly open space, bordered by numerous large-scale buildings. This impacts the visibility of the site and makes it difficult to draw visitors. SIT LA will mitigate the challenge with creative lighting, decor and features visible from the street.

13

Park Precedents Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, WA

Source: B. Benscheider, http://www.archdaily.com/101836/olympic-sculpture-park-weissmanfredi/bb-opening-day/

PACCAR Pavilion with Amphitheater Terrace. Source http://images. artnet.com/images_US/magazine/reviews/mandarino/mandarino1-13-07-3.jpg

Big Idea -- The Olympic Sculpture Park (OSP) transformed a nine-acre brownfield into open green space for art. OSP gives visitors the opportunity to experience a variety of sculptures in an outdoor setting, while enjoying views the mountains and Puget Sound. OSP cost $5.5 million to restore the seawall; $85 million for the park. It opened on Jan. 20, 2007.

Population & User Groups: • 600,000 visited the public in its first year • Access to pedestrian, bike and vehicular traffic • The park is free to public and hosts art classes and events for all ages • Organized events like yoga and weddings Patterns & Physical Arrangement: • Architects are Weiss and Manfredi (NY) • 9-acres, with a 11,000-sq. ft. pavilion and 2,200 ft. walkway • Brownfield redevelopment, former fuel storage facility divided by roads and rail tracks • Linear circulation on a Z-shaped walkway • Underground parking for 52 cars Performance Criteria: • Transform a brownfield into a sustainable park • Salmon and native plant conservation and recycled water production • Designed to reconnect downtown and Pike’s Place Market to the shoreline

Source: http://dbprng00ikc2j.cloudfront.net/article/image/17781/ al8f8x/SAM-MAP-SummerProjects.jpg

14

789 Art Zone, Beijing, China

Source: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/49833240.jpg

Source: www.wikipedia.org

Big Idea -- Anchored by Beijing Tokyo Art Projects (BTAP), the adapted 789 Space Gallery is the symbolic center of the district, located in the Dashanzi area of the Chaoyang District in Beijing. The district is an adapted area of a declined factory complex.

The Dashanzi factory complex was designed by Germans, following the Bauhaus-influenced style of “form follows function.”

Population & User Groups: • Mixed-use residential, commercial, and cultural art gallery space • Young artist and educated adult community with localized economies, art galleries, supply stores, and schools • 789 Art Zone is a tourist destination from the city and other countries • A self-sufficient community with all necessary amenities in proximity Patterns & Physical Arrangement: • 640,000 sq. meters, approx. 158 acres.

• The layout of the Dashanzi factory incorporates many workers in small spaces with living quarters close to factory buildings. (www. wikipedia.org)

Source: maps.google.com

Performance Criteria • Provide space to ostracized artists.

• Be a public space with democratic values to host subversive exhibits.

• Due to gentrification, rents in the area have become too expensive and inaccessible, especially for nearby factory workers.

15

Park Precedents Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA

Source: www.ust.ucla.edu

Source: www.kcet.org

Big Idea -- From the ideal great urban park to globally important sports facilities and learning centers, Exposition Park is an integral part of Los Angeles history and will continue to be an important destination for the city going forward.

Population & User Groups: • Children populate the school and museums during business hours • Expo Park serves as an employment hub for working adults • Thousands of fans visit the Coliseum for sporting and cultural events Patterns & Physical Arrangement: • Gridded arrangement of several city blocks • The Coliseum has the highest hierarchy at the center of Exposition Park. All paths and circulation in the park lead to the Coliseum.

• The Coliseum is surrounded by open park areas, museums, learning centers, and other sporting complexes to the south.

Performance Criteria: The 1992 Master Plan defines four key criteria: • Community Park • Grand Events Park • Regional Exposition and Museum Park • Learning Events Park

Source: www.golosangeles.about.com

16

Art Precedents Dirty Hands Styling by David Choe

Source: www.kcet.org

Source: www.DesignWars.com

Big Idea -- SIT LA will play an important role in creating a space for intersecting communities and walks of life. One of the goals of the park is to create a safe public space for community interaction and enjoyment. David Choe’s ability to merge the interests of diverse groups will help bring together people who will use the park for many different programs.

SIT LA Use: • Constituents of East West Players, Visual Communications and the local Asian American arts community • Constituents living in the nearby Arts District and Little Tokyo will enjoy the inspiration they derive from the art • Visitors will enjoy his provocative style during their breaks

Artist / Project Background: • David Choe is a Los Angeles-born street artist that is famous for his Dirty Hands style.

• His works have themes of “desire, degradation, and exaltation,” and demonstrate honest interpretations of contemporary society.

• He is well-recognized in the popular art genre and the Asian Pacific Islander American community.

• He is famous for commissioned and illegal wall art found in cities such as Los Angeles, Oakland, and New York. (DavidChoe.com)

Source: www.DavidChoe.com

17

Art Precedents Stone Garden, Prospect Park, New York, NY

Source: http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=5072

Big Idea -- “[Stone Garden] arrays a series of 12 movable granite stones outfitted with casters and set in parallel bronze tracks. Each granite megalith invites public interaction while creating an ever-changing field to control traffic. Yamada and Zaharatos envisioned a tranquil entry space that blends with the park’s landscape. Drawing inspiration from the mysterious movement of desert sailing stones, the concept also takes on the meditative qualities of a Zen garden.”

Source: http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=5072

Project Background: • Designers: Yamada and Zaharatos • Client: G. Youner, Park Slope Civic Council • Site Description: Intersection of Third and Prospect Park West • Programming: Stones increase safety and separation between pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

• Cost: Not projected Source: http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2010/12/winner-announce-1/#gate1-120310-1

18

Source: http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=5072

Stone Garden Use Criteria: • Increase the safety of Prospect Park’s Third Street entrance by separating vehicular traffic from bikes and pedestrians • Granite with steel rods, fastened to brass tracks that allow rocks to move • Enhance the aesthetics of park entrance SIT LA Use: • SIT LA will incorporate movable seating, chairs, tables and landscaping.

• Any effort to increase functional natural elements like the Stone Garden will benefit SIT LA.

Maman Collection by Louise Bourgeois

London, England. Source: www.wikipedia.org

Bilbao, Spain. Source: www.wikipedia.org

Big Idea -- “The Spider is an ode to my mother.

She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother.”

-- Louise Bourgeois

Maman Use Criteria: • Ability to engage the public in many different ways at a large scale • Some sculptures are permanent while some rotate in public spaces • Form to be replicated for multiple museums

Project Background: • 30 feet high by 33 feet wide • Bourgeois picked up the arachnid theme from her 1947 charcoal and ink drawings • First casting completed in 1999

SIT LA Use: • All visitors in public open spaces • The sculpture has an interactive feature in that it allows the viewer to walk underneath and be surrounded by the spider • For this reason it is an analog to the giant chair in SIT LA that is an observation tower in the center of the park

Design Use: • The sculptures are a metaphor for her mother, Bourgeois’s mother worked in the textile industry and was always spinning, weaving, nurturing, and protecting

19

SIT LA Plans

GOLD LINE STATION

SIT LA Plan, Before Final Review

100 ft

N

Pedestrian Gateway Vehicular Gateway

FUTURE GOLD LINE STATION

20

GOLD LINE STATION

SIT LA Plan, After Final Review

100 ft

N

Pedestrian Gateway Vehicular Gateway

FUTURE GOLD LINE STATION

21

Park Sections Park Section 1

Section Guide

GOLD LINE STATION

Park Section 2

100 ft

N

Pedestrian Gateway Vehicular Gateway

FUTURE GOLD LINE STATION

22

Park Section 3: Longitudinal

23

Streetscape Plan

24

Source: www.Navigatela.lacity.org and www.zimas.lacity.org

100 ft

N

Pedestrian Gateway Vehicular Gateway

25

Street Sections

Street Section 1

Eastbound Traffic

Sidewalk

Property

N

0ft

5ft

Westbound Traffic (turning lane)

Eastbound Traffic

Westbound Traffic

Westbound Traffic

Sidewalk

10ft

Temple Street

Street Section 2, with Parking Garage

Westbound Traffic

Sidewalk

Property

N

0ft

5ft

Westbound Traffic

Westbound Traffic (turning lane)

10ft

Temple Street

26

Eastbound Traffic

Eastbound Traffic

Sidewalk

Street Section 3, After Final Review

27

Stakeholders

Local Residents & Visitors The closest parks are City Hall Park, Grand Park and El Pueblo de Los Angeles for which residents must cross the 101 Freeway. SIT LA will host play areas, interactive sculptures, water features, vistas, sitting areas and open green space appealing to children, youth, young adults, families and the elderly.

28

Go For Broke Foundation The Go For Broke Foundation and on-site monument commemorates Japanese American Soldiers that served in the US military during WWII. SIT LA seeks to complement and strengthen the presence of the monument on the site as a contemplative and reflective space.

Japanese American National Museum “The National Museum is a dynamic community-based institution that works in partnership with individuals, organizations and diverse communities.” SIT LA will support the museum’s mission and offer more alternatives for programming and venue space.

East West Players EWP is an Asian American theatre organization located on the park site. As a central programming space in Little Tokyo, EWP has access to constituents and social networks that can assist in informing the needs of the park. EWP will have great demand for use of the park space and is an important stakeholder for programming.

EWP is interested in providing a safe and culturally-rich space for community members to develop collective identity.

MOCA Board of Trustees Co-chaired by Maria Arena Bell and David G. Johnson, the MOCA Board of Trustees oversees the MOCA’s Geen Contemporary and its mission to, “encourage the realization of the museum’s opportunities to present a quality program in contemporary art and culture to its diverse constituencies.” SIT LA will match the contemporary and abstract style of MOCA to enhance and promote the Geen Contemporary’s presence, patronage and programming.

Little Tokyo Service Center LTSC is a nonprofit, community development corporation serving the needs of Little Tokyo since 1979. LTSC can inform the needs of underrepresented constituents and can connect other stakeholders that may not be initially included. LTSC is interested in preserving the community dynamic and ensuring development does not displace current residents.

Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Established in 1999, the council represents the Little Tokyo area.

Its mission is to unite the diverse communities of Downtown Los Angeles and provide an innovative forum for community stakeholders to contribute to a healthy, vibrant and inclusive downtown.

SIT LA shares these values and will look to the DLANC to inform the process, design and connection to other constituents.

Los Angeles Police Department The LAPD plays an essential role in informing the public safety of the park. Because the LAPD has a substation on the southwest corner of the site and occupies the block immediately next to the park, the LAPD can provide direction on how to improve safety and comfortability in the park’s design.

Councilman Jose Huizar Councilman Huizar (District 14) heads Bringing Back Broadway, an economic development initiative to restore the Broadway corridor via theaters and streetcar service.

Because Huizar is interested in public safety, youth programs and economic development, he will respond positively to SIT LA as a safe space for all ages, a creative outlet for downtown communities, and a way to stimulate local businesses.

Businesses & Restaurants SIT LA is a destination in Little Tokyo, not just a pass-through space. In addition to residents, the park will let local employees and business patrons to visit the park and have space for lunch during the day. The park will encourage an extension of the nightlife for local businesses and the commercial district.

29

Bibliography Page 4 Site Map: maps.google.com Page 7 Site Forces Map: http://www.preservation.lacity.org/files/HCM Database041612.pdf. Observations made September 1, 2012 by Cecilia Ngo. Page 8 Figure Field: maps.google.com Parcel Owners: Property Profile Reports, LPS Data Services 2009. AgentPro247.com. LA County Office of the Assessor.

Page 9 Pedestrian Circulation: maps.google.com; field observation Bicycle Circulation / Established Lanes: http://www.bicyclela. org/maps_main.htm Page 10 Traffic Volume: navigatela.lacity.org Transit Circulation: http://www.ladottransit.com/map/dash map.php and http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/ images/System_Map.pdf Page 11 Building Occupancy Hours: business websites and Yelp.com Local Dining and Eateries: maps.google.com; Yelp.com reviews; observations made by Gabriel Barreras on Sept. 9, 2012 Page 14 Image 1: B. Benscheider, http://www.archdaily.com/101836/ olympic-sculpture-park-weissmanfredi/bb-opening-day/ Image 2: PACCAR Pavilion with Amphitheater Terrace. Source http://images.artnet.com/images_US/magazine/reviews/ mandarino/mandarino1-13-07-3.jpg Diagram: http://dbprng00ikc2j.cloudfront.net/article/im age/17781/al8f8x/SAM-MAP-SummerProjects.jpg Page 15 Image 1: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/ medium/49833240.jpg Image 2: www.wikipedia.org Map: maps.google.com Page 16 Image 1: www.ust.ucla.edu Image 2: www.kcet.org Map: www.golosangeles.about.com

30

Page 17 Image 1: www.kcet.org Image 2: www.DesignWars.com Image 3 and Text: www.DavidChoe.com Page 18 Image 1 and 2: archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=5072 Project Background: http://www.brownstoner.com/ blog/2010/12/winner-announce-1/#gate1-120310-1 Page 19 Image 1 and 2: www.wikipedia.com Page 20-21 Plan basemaps derived from maps.google.com Page 22-23 Park sections derived from maps.google.com Page 24-25 Streetscape Plan base image derived from maps.google.com Page 26-27 Street Section basemaps derived from maps.google.com Page 28-29 Go For Broke Foundation Logo: goforbroke.org Japanese National Museum Photo: http://www.ardenwaters. com/portfolio.php?sec=signage&page=janm East West Players Logo: http://www.eastwestplayers.org MOCA Logo: http://www.logodesignlove.com/moca-logo Little Tokyo Service Center Logo: http://www.experiencela.com destinations/1781 LAPD Seal: http://losangeles-police.blogspot.com Jose Huizar: http://lapdhollenbeckpal.org/honoree DLANC Logo: http://downtownsustainability.blogspot. com/2010/01/neighborhood-council-election-year.html Little Tokyo Photo: http://adawak.blogspot.com/2010/08/ so-cal-visit.htm Page 31 Seat by E/B Office: http://www.lostateminor.com/2012/08/30/ seat-sculpture-made-from-400-wooden-chairs Oversize XXL Chair at the LA. Furniture Mart: http://www.youare-here.com/sculpture/chair.jpg Chairs for Abu Dhabi by Tadashai Kawamata: http://1.bp.blog spot.com/-Fn7GRDPL7yc/UKP1bvKxCyI/AAAAAAAAJ4U/3glS jHCz5UI/s1600/chairs0.jpg Felted Folding Chairs by Tanya Agui単iga: http://www.tr bimg.com/img-50a2ab5c/turbine/la-lh-tanya-aguiniga-feltchairs-2012-002/600 Lawnge Chairs: Grassy Green Park Lounges in the Netherlands assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/lawnge_5.jpg

Appendix A: Art Chair Samples

Seat by E/B Office

Source: http://www.lostateminor.com/2012/08/30/seat-sculpturemade-from-400-wooden-chairs/

Chairs for Abu Dhabi by Tadashai Kawamata

Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fn7GRDPL7yc/UKP1bvKxCyI/ AAAAAAAAJ4U/3glSjHCz5UI/s1600/chairs0.jpg

Felted Folding Chairs by Tanya Agui単iga

Source: http://www.trbimg.com/img-50a2ab5c/turbine/la-lh-tanya-aguiniga-felt-chairs-2012-002/600

Oversize XXL Chair at the LA. Furniture Mart Source: http://www.you-are-here.com/sculpture/chair.jpg

Lawnge Chairs, Grassy Green Park Lounges in the Netherlands Source: assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/lawnge_5.jpg

31

Appendix B: Final Review Summary Feedback themes Customization vs. Mobility The purpose of the movable chairs on tracks is supposed to provide a customizable experience for SIT LA users. However, many critics brought up the concern of how chairs on tracks actually limit the experience. Chairs on tracks prevent the ability to cluster seats.

What makes this an art park?

Overall, critics really liked the idea of having chairs serve as blank canvases where the local artist community would be commissioned to design. However, there was concern about how the park can have a deeper, creative identity. We were challenged to identify a metaphysical reason for why the park exists.

Open Connections Many critics were concerned about the abundance of chairs lined along the pathway to the Go For Broke Monument. The cluster of chairs created a very narrow pathway from the activated street entrance on Temple Street to First Street. Many critics were in favor of opening up that pathway by removing chairs and tables.

Circulation Critics loved our objective to activate Temple Street by creating automobile entrances to the senior housing project and the parking structure. However, the design of the entrance would create heavy traffic flow and decrease the quality of life for the seniors. Suggestions included moving the parking structure entrance away from Temple/Alameda and creating a driveway closer to the senior housing to facilitate drop off.

Feasibility Although we were not asked to consider the financial, environmental or engineering feasibility of SIT LA, our critics raised concerns. For an example, it is not likely a rooftop garden can be created on top of the MOCA, which is an old building that most likely could not support the weight of a garden. Also, the road behind the First Street businesses cannot support a large dump truck’s ability to turn and back out.

32

Objectives for future improvements • • • • • • • • • • • •

• •

Improve chair tracks so that they can be more customizable by: 1. Variety of chairs on tracks and not on tracks 2. Designing tracks so that they can facilitate clustering Make the road behind the First Street businesses more feasible and aesthetically pleasing by: 1. Round out sharp turns 2. Create a wall to disguise dumpster section Observation chair needs to be moved so that it reflects the Go For Broke Monument instead of competing with it; it should be moved to the green space directly west of the monument.

The park on top of MOCA is too heavy for the old industrial building, need to have realistic existing conditions to set the stage for what is possible in the park The metaphysical theme of the park needs to be demonstrated.

Create more diverse environments within the park.

Take the idea of “sitting” to a more extreme level. Perhaps make the park the first ever where one cannot walk through it.

Change different grade levels to create new viewpoints.

Create sound buffers around the senior housing project.

Go more bold with lighting in order to highlight entrances.

Consider how the park would work and look at all seasons of the year.

Improve the parking structure and entrance by: 1. Decrease the size of parking structure and distance from monument to avoid competition.

2. Make parking structure shape more uniform to support efficient parking.

3. Open up space between parking and senior housing to make it more pedestrian friendly.

4. Create a drive through at the senior housing project.

Soften relationship between senior housing project and the green space.

Tracks should refer to the Go For Broke Monument or large observation chair.

Objectives Executed for Extra Credit • • • •

Change scale of tables and chairs to be more realistic.

Add more lighting to First Street entrance.

Create open pathways along “old” Central Avenue between the Temple and First Street entrances.

Make trees on top of the MOCA rooftop garden smaller.

33

Appendix C: Initial Plan

Gold Line Station

100 ft

34

N

Appendix D: Organizational Variations Centralized

Radial

Gold Line Station

Gold Line Station

100 ft

100 ft

N

Gridded

N

Linear

Gold Line Station

Gold Line Station

100 ft

N

100 ft

N

35

SIT LA

36