And Now, for Something Completely Different

3_3_10_odbc_2.jpgPhoto: odile decq and benoit cornette architects via Design Boom

One of the great things about the passage of Measure R is that it inspired many people to dream about a Los Angeles that isn’t car-dependent.  Apparently, it’s inspired people outside of Los Angeles, and I mean well outside of Los Angeles, to dream a little dream as well.  Via Inhabitat:

The measure also inspired a competition to design new transport solutions, and Paris-based Odile Decq and Bonit Conrnette Architects
have proposed an extensive plan to make the ‘freeway city’ a little
greener. The project proposes large stretches of green space, a system
of small vehicles with designated transportation lanes and parking
stations, and a complete overhaul of the city’s streets, overpasses,
culverts, right of ways, power lines, and underutilized rail lines.

As much as I cringe at the mention of Los Angeles as a "Freeway City" and as sceptical as I am that anything resembling a PRT system would succeed in L.A.; the design above, and those after the jump, of a green design for the area around LAX are really something to behold.  Even if the hot air balloon is a little hokey; Los Angeles currently has lot of problems designing bus stops that are bicycle and pedestrian accessible and this plan has greenspace connecting the entire city to itself and even to our airports.

3_3_10_adbc_airport.jpg
3_3_10_odbc3.jpg

  • I love the concept of freeway cover parks, the price tag is always going to be a serious obstacle but they offer the best opportunity for reclaiming public space from unpleasant freeways. PRT? Not so much.

  • I also love the concept of freeways over parks. The idea of hot air balloons on the final approach to landing at LAX, as in the first photo, not so much.

  • DW

    Actually, StatsDude, those are parks over freeways. I wouldn’t be too big on a park under a freeway.

  • LOL. My dyslexia is really showing lately.

  • Marcotico

    Oh les wacky francais!

  • For more on Personal Rapid Transit in southern California (videos, links, studies): http://www.prtstrategies.com.

  • Spokker

    The PRT Strategies people are like spam bots now.

    You don’t have to post a link to your propaganda on every article that mentions PRT. If people think it’s cool they’ll go find out more about it.

  • Why not eliminate the freeways if you’re being so visionary?

  • Alek F

    My goodness…
    How many times can we repeat… again and again – PRT will not work!!
    We need a Mass transit system, not another “Personal” transit system that’s doomed for failure (except, the PRT will require even more investment…)
    We need Subway, LRT, better Bus service,
    but PRT?… gimme a break!
    P.S. I love the idea about the parks though. LA desperately needs park and green spaces, as well as improved Pedestrian environment – citywide.

  • Mike C

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

The Hyperion Bridge Uprising Storms the Gates

By Damien Newton |
I’m going to make a little confession. When I first wrote about the Glendale Boulevard-Hyperion Avenue Complex of Bridges redesign project, I was resigned to a negative outcome. I believed the Bureau of Engineering was too far along in the process, and city leaders too entrenched in the outcome. At the time, the city noted […]

The Week in Livable Streets Events

By Damien Newton |
Big week.  Huge week.  Really Monday – Down in Long Beach, an interesting panel discussion concerning how cities use their space, and how they could use their space, to become better places.  Should cities consider tearing down freeways to consider park space?  Read more details, here. Tuesday – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors […]

A Walkability Prescription For Downtown Los Angeles

By Shawn Dunn |
Transportation has always played a dominant role in shaping our urban environment. Historically, cities were built around the basis of everyday activities on foot; consequently, the prominent urban form was dense, compact, with high concentration of mixed-use development. As transportation technology progressed, the design of cities dramatically changed, in many ways to the detriment of […]

A Look at Parklets from the L.A. Forum: L.A. Interrupted

By Martina Dolejsova |
(The following article appeared in the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design Fall 2013 Newsletter, available here. For information on how to join the forum, click here. In addition to other benefits, members receive a paper copy of the newsletter in the mail. – DN) Last February, urban designers, architects, landscape architects, politicians, and […]

Mike Antonovich’s Tortured Point and How the Mayor Should Have Reacted

By Damien Newton |
Yesterday, at a meeting of the Metro Board of Directors Construction Committee, L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich became the first public official to throw cold water on Mayor Villaraigosa’s transit dreams by denouncing plans to place an extension of the Measure R half cent transportation sales tax indefinitely. Much of the coverage of Antonovich’s complaints have […]