LA River Downtown Design Dialogue

 The project LA River Downtown Design Dialogue, asked designers to create potential schemes for development of the Downtown Corridor that “focus on interventions to improve connectivity and access to the river” and “imagine how to achieve function while embracing bold, world-class design,” while integrating in river adjacent projects currently in development

Looking at the section from Spring Street to Cesar Chavez Avenue, the design aims to create a series of stepped terraces that gradually meet the existing river bottom. The terraces expand as they reach the river, creating a broad, swoopy promenade.

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The proposed plan offers multiple elevations from which to experience the river, starting with an observation tower above and, lower down, terraced seating that alternates with plantings that cover its banks. Finally, pavers lead to artificial islands, where children can wade next to herons and other seabirds. One side of the river is given over to winding pedestrian and bike paths, the other to native plantings.

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Project Publication links:
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https://www.archdaily.com/874134/7-firms-reveal-plans-for-los-angeles-river-revitalization
https://www.architectmagazine.com/design/making-invisible-infrastructure-visible_o
https://www.lariver.org/blog/la-river-downtown-design-dialogue
https://archpaper.com/2017/06/la-river-restoration-renderings-revealed/
https://urbanize.la/post/seven-architects-reimage-la-river-through-downtown
https://landscapearchitecturemagazine.org/2017/06/22/the-los-angeles-river-cut-loose/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIZL2R5BDi8