Spring and Main’s ‘Whimsical’ New Median
Out with the old...
...And In with the New
The Times reported this morning that the construction of a new median at the Intersection of Main Street and Spring Street at the edge of the Fashion District has been completed. The large, colorful, half circles may appear odd at first, but they were designed to be different to give the street some charm.
The Times gives more details on the makeup and reasoning behind the median's design:
But the streetscape has changed dramatically in recent weeks, with workers erecting a median strip that grabs the attention of almost anyone who passes by, invoking as it does both the fantastical mind of Dr. Seuss and the earthbound pragmatism of horticulturalist Theodore Payne.
Bright green and blue hemispheres jut out from the ground and will be lighted at night so they look as if they were hovering over the street. They are interspersed with three floss silk trees, their trunks green and spiky, and ice plant with vibrant pink flowers.
The new median "wasn't what we were thinking about, but wow," said Kent Smith, executive director of the L.A. Fashion District Business Improvement District. "It's certainly going to be eye-catching and will certainly be something you notice when you drive by. It's a real conversation starter."
Hopefully the new streetscape will do more than distract drivers as they zoom past.
Whether we can expect to see more designs of this kind is yet to be seen. The success of the median will be determined based on whether or not it attracts more pedestrians to local restaurants and tenants to the nearby loft apartments.
Photo: Google Maps, Times
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