“Los Angeles Freeways are the Ruins of the Future” – Dutton Architects
Below is part of Dutton Architects’ proposal for the systematic transformation of the freeway system of Los Angeles. Their observations about the extent of the sprawl and freeways linking many towns are correct. Los Angeles is not one city, but an aggregate of many, and Greater LA has an area of 12,562 km² (4,850 sq. miles)
Comparing Los Angeles’ iconic freeways to the fortifications or aqueducts of old cities, Dutton Architects makes a case for reclamation and reuse.
Their proposal strikes me as perhaps more romantic than practical, but that is not intended to diminish it in any respect. Their vision of zip cars, light-rail, metro, bicycle paths, promenades, public squares and children playing is entrancing, and vertical farms would be the icing on the cake.
Los Angeles is perhaps one the most extreme examples of a city having been developed solely around the automobile, but there are plenty of other cities similarly afflicted. I would be interested to hear your views, as many in urban areas suffer from massively inefficient transport, lack of green space and inviting public spaces, and similar ailments.
Full information is available on their site, www.DuttonArchitects.com and LA Greenway can be downloaded here.
LA differs due to having large open spaces, but some of these concepts could be adapted to Cairo or London or any number of cities disfigured by freeways or plagued by congestion (in fact, Mayor Boris is often photographed pedalling his way to work). Does this proposal go too far, or not far enough?
Again, the full proposal can be downloaded here.
Comparing Los Angeles’ iconic freeways to the fortifications or aqueducts of old cities, Dutton Architects makes a case for reclamation and reuse.
Their proposal strikes me as perhaps more romantic than practical, but that is not intended to diminish it in any respect. Their vision of zip cars, light-rail, metro, bicycle paths, promenades, public squares and children playing is entrancing, and vertical farms would be the icing on the cake.
Los Angeles is perhaps one the most extreme examples of a city having been developed solely around the automobile, but there are plenty of other cities similarly afflicted. I would be interested to hear your views, as many in urban areas suffer from massively inefficient transport, lack of green space and inviting public spaces, and similar ailments.
Full information is available on their site, www.DuttonArchitects.com and LA Greenway can be downloaded here.
LA differs due to having large open spaces, but some of these concepts could be adapted to Cairo or London or any number of cities disfigured by freeways or plagued by congestion (in fact, Mayor Boris is often photographed pedalling his way to work). Does this proposal go too far, or not far enough?
Again, the full proposal can be downloaded here.
Tags: angeles, architects, dutton, farms., freeway, greenway, los, traffic, transport, vertical
Comment
-
Comment by Manuj Darshan on July 2, 2009 at 3:55am - Amazing!
Welcome to
MyarchN
To share, enjoy and discuss architecture and related arts. By using this site you agree to our Code of Conduct.
© 2010 Created by Rafael Marxuach.
You need to be a member of MyarchN to add comments!
Join MyarchN