Emerging Urban Designers Forum

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• 

  Amber Hawkes 1:01 pm on October 8, 2010 | 0 | # |
  

  Forum 11, October 20th, 2010: Looking at Open Space around Transit in Los Angeles @ Suisman Urban

   

  Suisman Urban Design hosted October’s open space forum on public transportation in Los Angeles. The forum explored the opportunities transit presents and looked specifically at the role of Pilot Projects in facilitating urban improvements.  How can Pilot Projects be used to get things done? What types of Pilot Projects can be considered when it comes to transportation improvements?  What Pilot Projects are cities around the US doing and what affect are these projects having on the urban realm? 

  An introduction by Doug Suisman and Eli Garsilazo opened the discussion with a presentation on their work on the Wilshire Boulevard rapid bus system and plans for a rapid bus system and comprehensive growth plan in Palestine.  The group also talked about what is lacking in the experience of public space as a transit rider. 

  7pm: The Discussion at Suisman Urban Design
  

  http://www.suisman.com

   8:15pm: The Social at Marix Playa
  
   

• Amber Hawkes 12:51 pm on October 8, 2010 | 0 | # |
  

  Forum 10, September 22, 2010: Urban Agriculture and Open Space in South LA @ Osborn Architects

   

   

  Osborn Architects hosted September’s Forum on urban agriculture in South Los Angeles. The forum explored how urban agriculture and access to healthy food can help shape open space in South Los Angeles and how ideas about open space can shape urban agriculture, especially in light of the City Council’s 2008 moratorium on new fast food restaurants throughout a 32-square-mile area of South LA.

  An introduction by Michael Pinto of Osborn Architects opened the discussion.  We looked at three South LA sites and addressed questions such as:

  • What are the possible synergies between open space and urban agriculture in Los Angeles and how can the city better support a local food economy?
  • How can urban agriculture be integrated into South LA communities?
  • Which types of locations lend themselves to urban agriculture?
  • Where will urban agriculture have the greatest impact on providing healthy and local food sources?
  • Can the infrastructure of urban agriculture generate a vision for healthier life styles and urban open space in South LA?

   

  7pm: The Discussion at Osborn Architects

  320 East Harvard Street

  Glendale, CA 91205

  818.246.3112

  http://www.osborn320.com

  8:15pm: The Social at Granville Cafe

  807 Americana Way

  (on Brand between Broadway & Colorado)

  http://www.granvillecafe.com
   

• Amber Hawkes 1:33 pm on April 13, 2010 | 0 | # |
  

  Forum 9, April 21st, 2010: Mini-Charrette, Finding Public Open Space in Los Angeles @ Rios Clementi Hale Studios

  Creating open space in an age of austerity

  April’s Forum was a session to brainstorm working methods and tactics for creating open space in the context of vanishing public-sector funding.

  7 pm: Mini- Charette at Rios Clementi Hale Studios

  Michael Sweeney from Rios Clementi Hale introduced the topic through a presentation about finding methods and strategies for open space. Discussion during the mini-charrette were based on questions such as:

  • In a built-out city, where can we find opportunities for public open space?
  • What latent or underutilized open space resources are available?
  • Do we need to make better use of Los Angeles’ limited open space resources or do we need more open space?
  • As a city, where can we find the money, the will, and the land for open space in LA?
  • As professionals, what opportunities do we see?

  Rios Clementi Hale Studios 639 N. Larchmont Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90004 http://www.rchstudios.com

  8.15 pm: The Social at Pueblo Viejo

  5722 Melrose Ave Hollywood, CA 90038
   
• 

  Martin Leitner 5:26 pm on January 20, 2010 | 0 | # |
  

  Forum 8, February 24th, 2010: Public Open Space Charrette for Hollywood @ Hollywood Community Studio CRA/LA

  In 2010, the Emerging Urban Designers Forum will focus on open space in Los Angeles. We will explore and envision how ideas and projects for public open space have the potential to evolve and shape this city.

  February’s Forum brainstormed and discussed the opportunities for public open space in Hollywood. Participants were encouraged to bring their ideas and expertise to this informal mini-charrette hosted by the Hollywood Community Studio.

  6:30 pm: Site Visit at Hudson and Hollywood
  The forum started off with a site visit at Hudson and Hollywood at 6.30pm. Meeting point was at the northwestern corner of Hollywood and Hudson in front of the Hillview Apartments. The Forum continued at the Community Studio at 7pm.

  7 pm: Charrette at the Hollywood Community Studio
  The mini-charrette focused on the opportunity of Hudson Avenue, just off the Walk of Fame, as a small public open space and more broadly on public spaces in Hollywood. Jessica Cowley, from the Community Studio, talked about the site and the possibility of creative open space development in the area.

  Hollywood Community Studio
  6671 Sunset Boulevard, #1517 in the Crossroads of the World Complex
  Los Angeles, CA
  http://www.hollywoodcommunitystudio.org

  8.15 pm: The Social @ Stout Burgers and Beer
  Stout Burgers and Beer
  1544 North Cahuenga Blvd
  Los Angeles, CA‎ 90028
  http://stoutburgersandbeers.com/

  We encourage everyone to take the Metro Red Line to Hollywood and Highland Station or to bike.
   
• 

  Amber Hawkes 9:07 pm on August 11, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Forum 7, September 9th, 2009: The Future of Open Space in Downtown LA

   

  The Future of Open Spaces in Downtown LA

   

  The Forum at: 

  Meléndrez Landscape Architecture, Planning & Urban Design

  James Oviatt Building, 11th Floor

  617 South Olive Street

  Los Angeles, CA 90014
  http:www.melendrez.com  

  (Take Metro Red or Purple Line to Pershing Square Station)

  The Social at:

  Seven Grand

  515 W 7th St.

  Los Angeles, CA‎ 90014

   An introduction by Valerie Watson on Meléndrez’ work with the Central City Association on the Envisioning Open Space initiative (EOS/LA) will lead the forum into a discussion about the future of public open space in Downtown Los Angeles.

  Conversation will be focused on questions such as:

  What is the grand vision for public open space in Downtown LA? Do we need one? What are appropriate open spaces for Downtown LA? What deficiencies can they address? Do innovative design approaches create opportunities for open spaces? How does the discussion of open spaces in Downtown inform the discussion citywide? Should it?

  Show-and-Tell: Please bring photos or boards of visual materials to illustrate your ideas, (no electronic files, please).

  8.15 pm: The Social 

  Seven Grand

  515 W 7th St.

  Los Angeles, CA‎ 90014

  RSVP to will@aialosangeles.org, capacity is limited.
   

• Amber Hawkes 9:35 am on July 8, 2009 | 0 | # |
  

  Forum 6, July 22nd, 2009:  Architecture Versus Urban Design

  Where: 

  The Forum at:  Urban Studio

  3780 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1100

  Los Angeles, CA 90010

  http://urbanstudio-la.com

   

  The Social at: Frank n’ Hank’s

  518 South Western Ave

  (just north of Western and 6^th)

   

  An introduction by Martin Leitner on Urban Studio’s work on the Hollywood Boulevard Urban Design Guidelines led the forum into a discussion about architectural and urban design visions for Los Angeles.

  Conversation was be focused on questions such as:

  Do architects’ and urban designers’ visions for cities differ? Should they? What is the role of individual buildings in the city context? Can urban design allow for individual creativity without losing a vision for the city? Can every building be an icon? What are the responsibilities of the architect and the urban designer when it comes to shaping Los Angeles?
   

• Amber Hawkes 1:50 pm on June 12, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: AHBE, culver city, green infrastructure, green streets, landscape architecture, public realm, sustainability

  Forum 5, June 10, 2009: Walk This Way: Exposing Urban Infrastructures

   

  Where: 

  The Forum at: AHBE Landscape Architects

  8729 Washington Blvd, Culver City, 90232

  The Social at: Father’s Office

  3229 Helms Ave., Culver City

  When: June 10, 2009, 7-9pm

   

  Conversation was focused on sustainable urban infrastructures and how they interface with the pedestrian experience.  We asked:

  How can the practice of urban design encourage and support sustainability and green infrastructures? How can existing infrastructures be transformed into greener technologies? What existing conditions restrict the implementation of green infrastructures? Should watershed and other infrastructural boundaries drive planning/zoning?  What impact do / should these systems have on the public realm? 
   

• Amber Hawkes 1:47 pm on May 14, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: affordable housing, AIA, housing types, los angeles, San Francisco, urban housing, Wiltern

  Forum 4, May 13th, 2009: Designing Urban Housing

   

  Where:

  The Forum at: AIA Offices

  3780 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA, The Historic Wiltern Building

  The Social at: Frank n’ Hanks

  Vermont Boulevard, one block north of the Wiltern

  When: May 13, 2009, 7-9pm

   

  Conversation was focused on questions such as:

  How does an urban design perspective influence housing design? How do residential buildings connect to the city and make neighborhoods? What housing types make for good urban design? How can we create opportunities for great housing design? And, what can we learn from San Francisco?
   

• Amber Hawkes 1:44 pm on March 26, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: density, EDAW, global cities, los angeles, urban design

  Forum 3, March 25, 2009: Densifying Los Angeles

  Where:

  The Forum at: EDAW

  http://www.edaw.com, 515 S Flower St., 9th Floor
Los Angeles, CA

  When: March 25, 2009

   

  Continuing the Urban Design Committee discussion on Livable Boulevards and density, the March Emerging Urban Designers Forum hosted an open discussion on densifying Los Angeles.

  An introduction by Gaurav Srivastava on EDAW’s research on global city densities led the forum into a discussion about densifying Los Angeles.

  Discussion questions and topics included:


  What is dense? How dense should Los Angeles be? What is the vision for density in Los Angeles? Which density models and solutions have been used around the country and the world?
   

• Amber Hawkes 5:21 am on January 29, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: los angeles, meeting, TCA, urban design

  Forum 2, January 28, 2009: Designing Residential Buildings for Downtown Los Angeles

  Where:

  The Forum at: Thomas Cox Architects

  http://www.tca-arch.com, 801 S Grand Ave # 1020, Los Angeles

  The Social at: O Hotel Bar

  819 South Flower St, between West 8th & 9th Streets, Los Angeles

   When: January 28, 2009, 7-9pm

   

  At this meeting we discussed the process of designing residential buildings for Downtown Los Angeles. Daniel Gehman of Thomas Cox Architects opened the discussion by giving us an insight into the design process of Little Tokyo Block 8, a 750 unit mixed-income and mixed-use residential development in Little Tokyo that Thomas Cox is designing.

  The rest of the discussion focused on questions such as:

  How do we bring people back to Downtown LA? How do housing developments in downtown integrate into the existing environment? What development strategies have been used in LA or in downtowns around the country? How do economics and city government influence the design process? How do amenities and public space integrate into market-driven developments? What are the economics of bringing housing back to downtown? What are the tradeoffs and costs when it comes to developing affordable housing options in downtown?

  Updated: The location of the Social was moved from Tranquility Base to the O Hotel Bar. See you there.
   

• Upcoming Meetings

  No more meetings scheduled for 2010

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• About the Forum

  The EUD Forum is a forum for emerging urban designers to discuss relevant topics about practice and explore the work and offices of fellow designers. The forum meets on a monthly basis in offices around Los Angeles. more...
  
  The EUD Forum is an extension of the AIA Los Angeles Urban Design Committee.
  
  Amber Hawkes, AICP, and Martin Leitner Assoc. AIA, are Co-Chairs of the Forum. Both Martin and Amber are urban designers living and working in Los Angeles.

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  • The Design Advocate

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  • AHBE Landscape Architects
  • AIA Los Angeles
  • EDAW Los Angeles / AECOM
  • Hollywood Community Studio
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  • Osborn Architects
  • Rios Clementi Hale Studio
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  • Thomas Cox Architects
  • Torti Gallas and Partners
  • Urban Studio

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