Excavating L.A. : urban design futures of new transit

Abstract

After decades of planning, recent voter approved tax initiatives have enabled Los Angeles to expand its mass transit infrastructure. Fast tracked construction projects of subway and light rail lines will connect areas of the city for the first time since the early 20th century streetcar era. Increasing levels of population growth currently challenge LAs low density, horizontal, suburban form to fold inward and build upon itself in new ways and the city has embraced transit oriented development (TOD) as a strategy for accommodating this new growth at higher densities. This moment provides a unique opportunity for architects, urban designers, and planners to rethink large scale urban design projects in LA and generate urban forms that reflect the identity of the city, as opposed to importing outside models. This thesis explores urban design futures through the lens of the TOD and aims to create an LA-specific model. In a city that is defined by multiple layers of massive infrastructural systems, designers need to think about how projects fit into larger-scale systems in order to mediate these systems and find design opportunities within them. What are the LA-specific urban design goals that should guide new transit oriented development? How can this scale of urban design project leverage large-scale infrastructure systems and landscape elements to enhance the public realm, mediate the environment, and create an intermediate symbolic orienting structure for the city? This thesis research explores these questions through three forms of inquiry: theory, mapping and design. Theory research aims to understand what is meant by "LA urbanism" and creates a framework by which to understand future project within. Mapping research generates a design agenda and attitude about the project. Design research tests this agenda through a new LA-specific TOD strategy through both site specific and prototypical design processes.