Table of Context Reading Respond: New Urbanism American Retail Pattern in contemporary landscape: Field and Figure Urban Pattern and Sustainability Theory Respond: West Hollywood: The Creative City Building and Space in Urban planning Urban Design/ Urban Landscape/ Urban Architecture Supportive Housing/ Clifford Beers Housing Urban Introspection – West Hollywood, CA Photo Essay
New Urbanism
The idea of New Urbanism is a criticism to the spread of suburban, by proposing urban renewal in the cities. It promotes a walkable neighborhood that contains a range of housing and different mix use program and have heavily influence today’s development (Moule&Polyzoides.) In New urbanism, designer re-exam traditional cityscape and promote community planning to assert the important of public over private value. Therefore, planning look at streets, blocks and buildings as interdependent element and attempt to integrate them. Streets are not seen as a dividing line but a communal room for activity; blocks can be lotted to define public space; and building represent the smallest increment of growth and change in a city (Bressi.) New urbanism is also an idea that incorporates innovation as creating transit-oriented development (TOD) to design more efficient cities. In summary, it advocates planning for open space, with mix-use opportunity that balance development and housing, and also design with context appropriate architecture. New urbanism strongly influences development in Los Angeles, as it is such an auto-centric, wide spread city. Various cities implicate specific plan that encourage development that seeks to increase density and making the city more efficient. Downtown Santa Monica is an example of planning base on new urbanism concept. It addresses a lot of the major issues in Los Angeles including reducing traffic congestion and increase the supply of affordable housing. It’s planning department layout an integrated plan with transportation strategy to make the city highly pedestrian orientated for the retail and entertainment function. It also look at public space such as Tongva park to create urban parks as both an attraction for tourist both also buffer to step down to the residential zone. The new urbanism concepts in Santa Monica serve as guideline to design for a sustainable city.
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New-Urbanism viewed streets, buildings, and blocks together as a integrated system
American Retail
Since the 1850s, retail mall have become a major building type and experiment ground for architects. From the early arcades to the department stores, it has gone through various evolutions to become what it is today. Among the many successful architects, Victor Gruen and Jon Jerde are the two major figures to develop the modern mall typology. Gruen simplified the building parti to dumbbell shape, anchoring the major department store at each end and filling in the link with smaller individual retails. Jerde further made malls into a celebration of the modern life style. Instead of making retail as a straight line shopping experience, his architectures are attractive visually, and are mixed with entertainment program that always keep the visitor interested. He introduced a communal experience into the mall, where need can be fulfilled. From Jerde’s success in place making, it leads to the discussion of a themed experience, whether it is the reality that is valued or is it just an illusion, an atmosphere people enjoyed. However, it can be argued that places like Las Vegas had grown out to become its own type. Although the architecture is clone of something, the whole experience of the strip was invented into new social and cultural criteria. These ideas are important topic when we are discussing California’s case, a place where suburbia is dominating the landscape. Making unique space with identity is critical to attracting people. Especially since people needed to drive to get to where ever they want to go in California, mix-use program is revolutionary in bringing in people and keeping people in a place. With people staying, it responded in generating revenues.
Gruen mall Jerde mall
Pattern in contemporary landscape: Field and Figure
It is a common observation that contemporary landscape designer uses pattern as a critique of the conventional form in our environment. According to Synthetic Pattern by Karen M’Closkey, she believes that pattern can be used as a bridging mechanism between a landscape’s utilitarian and aesthetic function. Therefore, she sees pattern as a means to organize landscape. In organizing the process, it is critical to then first clarify what makes up the pattern. M’closkey emphasized on the distingsion between figure and field. A field is a simple pattern that is simple and easy to guide. I would see it more as a background in the landscape. A figure is a more complex system which is adjustable into site specific condition. It is intend to be with more symbolic meaning. Although pattern doesn’t dedicate to how an individual will experience the environment, both figure and field allow people to move from one point to another with some kind of interaction to the landscape. Also mention in the article, elements such as landmarks and signage etc. are implemented into the figure/field pattern. With these elements, now the space experience transfer from a two dimensional to three dimensional fields, and allows an different experience. In conclusion, using pattern as a diagram process has the potential to bind together oppositional categories, which is often the critical issue in space design between the architecture and the landscape. Pattern serves to connect system with composition, function and aesthetic. Such pattern design required to look as site specific condition, as there are no standardized solutions for success.
Pattern as a connecting method to link spaces
Urban Pattern and Sustainability
A city is a complex system including housing, infrastructure, transportation, utility, water supply, sanitation and many others. Not only does it need to satisfy the need for human activities, the land itself is also a part of the how a city has form into how it is by adapting to topography and site condition. Further, bigger urban area also has satellite cities or suburbs that branch outward. Therefore we look at different urban pattern to compare how cities operate. The figure- ground map of Rome drawn by Giambaattista Nolli in 1748 is the first well known example of studying how an urban pattern is meaningful. It looked at cities as a combination of streets and open space as part of public space carving out of the mass of building. In his illustration the white represent a public accessible space, in compare to the black, private space. In further analysis, the streets pattern can became grid like, breaking down the mass scale of a city into smaller part that has a relationship that is easier to understand. According to Spiro Kostoff, urban pattern is shape by the city’s history; it clarifies the how it is developed- step by step. On the other hand of looking at cities, recent interest in sustainability also transform city development. Vishaan Chakrabarti wrote in A Country of Cities, “long-term health and safety of the natural environment/…would ensure the longevity of our species.” He argues that sustainability should be embraced within a city. It further extends the concept of urban pattern to a third element of land use. As Nolli map is critical to understand how people build; now, designers will also need to look at the content of what is being built and the sustainable future of it.
West Hollywood: The Creative City
Becoming a city on its own in 1984, West Hollywood is not a city that sprouted out in a sudden. It has long been a densely built-out urban community with unique characteristic. Surrounded by the City of Los Angeles and bounded by the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, the cities physically serve as an East-West corridor connecting the City of Los Angeles to Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean through Santa Monica and Sunset Boulevards and also major north-south corridors connecting Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills to Los Angeles through La Brea Boulevard, Fairfax Avenue and La Ciniega Boulevard. With it unique site condition, the city has a spine along Sunset Boulevard and expanded a little more to Beverly Boulevard after La Ciniega. Like any other cities, West Hollywood is composing of a variety of neighborhoods. Beside of typical residential housing, there are minimal industrial activities. The city is characterized more on retail and entertainment programs, with various hotels, restaurants, and high-end retail stores. With that being said, the streets and sidewalks are the largest form of public space within the city. The pedestrian experience is among the priority on the city streetscape upgrade plan. Many streets such as Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Boulevard have interesting retail facades along the sidewalks, with various amenities such as benches, landscaping, and street trees that aim to create a safe, comfort and aesthetic quality that can further attract visitors. Interesting and well-designed signage is a distinguish feature in the streetscape of West Hollywood that reflect and also promote the city value of creativity. Large billboards, screen video, as well as high walls combined to create a unique urban landscape. The architecture of Pacific Design Center designed by Cesar Pelli is also an iconic sign. Being an internationally known center of art, fashion and furniture design, it is truly a building that can represent West Hollywood.
Green linkage extend from West Hollywood Park
Green spaces are slightly inadequate in West Hollywood. Yet the city still holds two major parksWest Hollywood Park, on the western side of the City, and Plummer Park, on the eastern side. Other open space are scattered throughout the city in form of pocket parks, community green space and open plaza. One of the most known features is its gay community- a population of over 41%. The area is one of the most gay-friendly community and atmosphere in the world. With rainbow painted crosswalks and bar along the streets, the annually LA PRIDE Parade and Festival is the largest LGBT event in the Los Angeles area and a celebration of the city’s continuing gay culture and history. Overall, Characterize by the high quality signage and innovative designed streetscape, West Hollywood is a city known for its hospitality, creativity, and entertainment environment that is unique on its own in the Los Angeles area.
COMMERCIAL ORIENTED STREET LOTS OF RESTAURANTS AND BARS
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PARK CONNECTION HISTORIC FACTORY RELATIVELY QUIET SUIT FOR HOTEL PROGRAM
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PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY LOTS OF SMALL RETAILS CONNECTED TO THE PARK
MORE PRIVATE MORE SILENT FEW RETAILS
Street Analysis
Building and Space in Urban planning
Introducing to urban planning, the first step is to understand what public landscape is and how it is formed. According to Professor Wilcox’s introduction lecture, there are performative and operative roles in these public spaces. These spaces can be summarized as catalyst, contextualist, programist, infrastructuralist, and idealist. In the cases presented, these designs are successful because it all revolved around a central concept. These spaces incorporate a certain role that is a response to the site condition; not only designing objects solely for aesthetic but also in functional and analytical ways. The central concept is essential to the space giving it an urban task, or else it would likely end up being a bland and inactive place. The following lecture by professor Hoyos explained how retail design evolved. Again, it is a project type with a performative task to create certain atmosphere that attracts people. From the earlier design of attraction through a landmark domination, to the later approach of an anchor department store, designer look at ways to create environment with an unique experience to the shopper. The experience continued to the shopping circulation. Designer attempt to create a fluid sequence for people to walk in, and continue to explore more shops. Transportation is also a major aspect in creating a successful retail space. The lecture uses the cases in Los Angeles to explain how automobile lead the change in design. Different scheme are tested to allow the most convenient path for shoppers.
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Successful retail environment considered transportation issue
These introduction lectures are important in emphasizing both the public landscape and the program will take a position in urban strategy that leads to the success or failure of the design project. When we are dealing with a commercial development project, not only are we designing the architecture, but also we are designing the impact and transformation to the site location. In designing successful public space and retail environment requires examination on the shopper experience in how they get there, what they will be attracted to and finally how the physical environment influence the shopping experience. Taking account to our own project, the initial reaction I have is how we treat the park connection as a public space and also our position on the cultural significant of the historical factory. It is a critical move to set the tone of the site atmosphere in what kind of experience it is going to later become. For example, in keeping the factory, it is logical to preserve the building as a separate mass with appropriate setback to other building mass. It easily leads to a park like organization in the center of the site plan. Therefore, the program space is separate into the two halves- the Santa Monica front and the space at the rear of the site. The design issue at this point then become to address the relationship of what program function work with Santa Monica Blvd, and vice versa the rear of the site. This thought process demonstrated what kind of urban impact just the placement of program could have in a design.
Urban Design/ Urban Landscape/ Urban Architecture/Robert S. Harris To distinguish the different between urban design, urban landscape and urban architecture is an important concept in Mr. Harris lecture. One needs to realize what are they really design for- the intent and social impact of a project. Any project that is designed to be built all at once is urban architecture. It is a phase of urban design, which is more referenced to a strategy for the development of a node or district or region for over a period of years. Lastly, it is important to understand both Urban Design and Urban Architecture are completely dependent upon the open space network and ecology of the landscape. Therefore, architecture and the city should all be seen as a part of landscape events. Building on this concept, it can be understand that in designing any of the three, the vision of the other two should be retained. It is a chain reaction that a piece of architecture can influence the overall landscape. The Bilbau Effect created by Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum can be said as the most significant example of this relationship. However, the same relationship can also be understood through how a new building’s façade can change a streetscape. In the lecture, Mr. Harris argued that the façade walls are always in the middle. Walls make space inside and outside. Consequently, architects are not only responsible for the content of the building but also how the buildings give form to the space of the city. There are no true vacant sites; architects should really look at themselves as a second designer, to determine what to carry forward in a project site. Several questions should be asked before designing. What are the existing values? Is it valuable to preserve? What should be changed? What is missing? Lastly, what should be inspired? A great example that was brought up was the Jazz Center proposal by Morphosis. It is a project that imagine beyond the architecture itself but in the form of urban renewal.
outdoor room
indoor room
A wall enclose both indoor room and outdoor room
This was a very inspiring lecture on our design philosophy, and became a driven force on our project. It took us back a step to think what is on the site and that is worth to carry forward. Asking ourselves these questions made the design process simple and logical. Seeing the cultural value in preservation, our site plan had respect the historic factory, and programed other spaces in response. With the appropriate setbacks created a central plaza in our site. The concept of the wall is inside and outside has also become a primary emphasis in our project especially the commercial front facing Santa Monica Boulevard. In order to respond to the street activity, we rejected bulky building masses, and break down the building scale to retain the small intimate retail environment along the street. Playful architecture is designed to attract people, and transparent faรงade are used to create interactions. We saw the connection between how the architecture is connected to the city and the landscape, thus, we hoped that our architecture is serving the purpose to bring new energy to the site while revealing the original meaning of the factory through a new program.
We re-imagine a easy approach, transparent building wall along Santa Monica Blvd, with a tall landmark tower.
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I have always admire the firms that dedicate to affordable housing. Housing is not only a social responsibility for designer to believe in, it is also a basic human rights issue that should be address in professional practice. Clifford Beers Housing is among one of those, whose name isn’t unfamiliar; the developer of 28th street Apartment- the 2015 recipient of national AIA housing award- in collaboration with the award winning firm- Koning Eizenberg. Strange as it sound, many would question how does a developer for affordable housing pair up with a high-end design firm. Yet, this practice method is embedded in the design philosophy of Clifford Beers Housing. Their projects are often some of the finest architecture in a community. Affordable housing is not only to design cheap house so people can live in. The deeper concern is to create a good living environment so it can be accepted by the surrounding community and also improve the lives of its residence, so they move on to a better direction. Clifford Beers Housing is a nonprofit organization that works with Mental Health America of Los Angeles. To achieve their goal, their collaboration practice is not only limited to the construction of the physical building, but expend to the post-completion operation management and supportive services. They often pick up left over buildings in the city, and renovate them to fit modern living standard. In this way, the money is not spent on acquiring the land as it’s often cheap, but directly into the architecture people lives in and its operation. The courtyard housings in Long Beach are great examples. Although built with cheap material and standard construction, an extra effort was put onto the street façade to alter the public preconception on supportive housing.
28th St apartment is another great success by Clifford Beers Housing. It is by far my favorite housing project for two major reason- it adapt a historical building to continue its significant in the community and it gives back to the community by opening its program to the public. The designerKoning Eizenberg Architects well integrated historical elements into contemporary design, keeping the authentic appearance in the old part, yet made a new life of the new complex. The take away from this lecture is not so much about housing application on site but more on the thought of what is the social responsibility while developing in an urban scale. Linking ideas from R. Harris’ lecture, it is a chain reaction that a building can influence an urban environment. Having in mind that housing justice is the architect’s responsibility, we should also be careful we potential gentrification that our design might result in. Although it might be unavoidable, we would need to carefully think through the tradeoff and community benefits. Another take away is the way how a historical building is treated in a redevelop process. Applying to our project, how can the historical factory be respected in both physical and spiritual way but remake a new life is the challenge. Conflict can exist between the old building and new program, however, it is possible to resolve and use the element of time to reveal cultural depth that can characterize a sense of space.
The historic factory will integrate into the new building complex
Urban Introspection – West Hollywood, CA
Although, traditional urban planning look at method add density and height along the major boulevard, we believe that it is not suitable for every single site and required examination on specific location. We rejected the idea of creating a massive high density building wall against Santa Monica Boulevard on this project. The site is located at a high public orientated location, which has a direct connection to the West Hollywood Park, and as well a historic factory that local people has a strong identity tie to. Opposing, typical planning concept, we thought a low scale frontage is a more appropriate direction, and can slightly raise up as it progress to the La Peer side. Our vision was to create an inviting urban environment that continues to preserve the identity of West Hollywood’s creativity by restoring the factory into an art production facility. The historic factory will be re-made into the central focus point that is anchored by a public plaza which extends from the West Hollywood Park. A green belt will be created to brings the natural atmosphere into the site Scattered, shifted, and rotated, we imagined a human scale village that is free flowing on the land and attracts visitors to the site through various amenities, and multiple exciting space experiences. Street culture will be preserved and celebrated, as Santa Monica front maintain small retails, Robertson maintain the boutique stores, and La Peer keeps the relative quite environment. We introduced playful curvature into our design that created a unique form and fun experience. Activities happen above and below. Through transparency, a visual interaction is created by the architecture between the user and the street pedestrians. With the placement of vegetation within and around the site aid in welcoming visitors and residents into this revitalized creative village.
Lower scale retail are preserve in the front as taller hotel is placed toward the back of the site.
Photo Essay
One of our interest lay in looking at the existing streets. What is already there? What make it the place it is? What is good about it? and what need to be changed? Along Santa Monica has always been low scale retails. It is what the place is like. Does it need to be changed, or can it be improved?
We are interested in the preservation. Old building provide a sense of time that make a place unique. Not strictly approching it as preservation, we believe more in flexible adaptive reuse.
The green connection is requested by the city planning department. Yet, how can the nature environment be actually introduce to site, instead of just planting trees on the two side.
We propose a scale that can blend into to existing urban context, not overwhelming surrounding buildings, but can connect to the future development in next block.
Our plaza will make true public green space, instead of rows of street tree-like planting
Court yard will be placed so light can enter every curtain wall people can actually see trees around the build environment.
The factory will be integrated with the new hotel building so it became a single operation. It will provide benifit to create a unique boutique setting, and also ensure the factory can be reuse in a proper way.