On a donated property in Elysian Valley (“Frogtown”) the project’s design is generated from an investigation into the site’s most prominent existing feature: the riverside recreation path. As it approaches the site, the ground level path would bifurcate to create an inclined exit ramp with access to an elevated plaza, where leisure riders, walkers, tourists, and runners can rest. A cantilevered viewing platform brings the visitor outward for a view over the river, a visible exaggeration of the recreation path itself. Below the plaza is a multipurpose space dedicated to the community and to the arts. Adjacent to the site, the Army Corps is scheduled to spend $1 billion on upgrades to the Los Angeles River for new recreation options and restoring the natural ecosystem.
Our client, River LA (formerly the Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation) is a nonprofit whose mission is to ensure the 51-mile Los Angeles River integrates design and infrastructure to bring people, water and nature together. We champion river-oriented policy and sustainable public spaces, while creating innovative models for community benefit and participation.
