OPTIMIZING THE STREET GRID
PARKING: A CRITIQUE
Create a street grid that is optimized for maximum accessibility and walkability by limiting the size of each block
Pushing parking underground opens up the site to a highly active realm. This master plan critiques the failure of ‘BigBox’ that destroys opendevelopment spacethatand is “Big-Box” retail Retailer accessed exclusively by Mixed-use mixes open car, characterized by large parking lots, spaces with commercial, housing, and accessed exclusively by car. superblock development, and giant single office space in highly accessible, smaller use floorplates
SAN FRANCISCO 420 X 275 FT
blocks
Larger grid equates to less street frontages (or destinations) within a half mile walking distance
*Green: 1/2 mile walk
By disallowing parking to service directly into buildings, this scheme forces drivers to interact with store fronts and landscape apart from work.
PORTLAND 200 X 200 FT A tighter grid is regared as the most walkable because it maximizes the amount of destinations within walking distance
underground parking *Green: 1/2 mile walk
STREET CHARACTER These main spines will play a special role in defining the active public life that mountainview needs to reinvigorate the suburban area and draw millenials to the site retail spine community corridor greenway spine
access point
OPTIMIZING THE FLOORPLATE A tight street grid limits the potential for large, expansive and ultimately desirable floorplates for tech companies. By connecting buildings through above ground passthroughs, the floorplate can be optimized for office space without compromising the walkability of the ground plane