Monday, March 28, 2011

March Recap > CaliFERnication

We had a (very) full house for our Inglewood visit with (fer) studio. Principals Doug Pierson and Christopher Mercier, both alums of Frank Gehry's practice, greeted 65 visitors to their studio tucked into a semi-hidden complex between La Brea and Crenshaw Blvds.

After drinks and refreshments, Doug and Chris presented their vision for a proposed masterplan for downtown Inglewood to a packed room. Centered on Market Street, and utilizing an empty 3-acre plot of land (that is currently in dispute between the city and a former owner who defaulted on a loan), (fer) devised a transit-oriented plan around a proposed Expo line stop. The plan aims to provide a cultural and commercial mix that draws on the existing infrastructure of the pedestrian-friendly street.

The masterplan also includes innovative eco-conscious elements, including solar wind systems, a self-contained water reservoir, planted towers, and vertical gardens. The architects are taking on an unusual role, as activist and advocate for the city. What began as an internal project bloomed into a larger plan, with the masterplan now submitted to Cascadia’s Living City Competition. Yet the firm has a long road ahead, as it pushes the vision to Inglewood's city council.

For more on the firm's vision for Inglewood, check out the Architect's Newspaper's excellent article here.

No comments:

Post a Comment