Urban Streetscape Design Process

Los Angeles streetscapes have become one of the city’s primary sources of open space. By considering our streetscapes as an integral part of our green space network, we can approach their design not only as transition spaces, but as engaging destinations in their own right. In a city dominated by cars and roadways, providing a comfortable, safe, and green pedestrian experience is a priority in our design approach for urban streetscapes.

Opportunities from Constraints

Access to public green spaces, walkable streets, and exposure to nature has become limited, not just in Los Angeles but in many cities, as development increases and required infrastructure takes the place of planting areas and tree canopy. Streets are increasing in importance throughout communities with children playing in the parkways, vendors selling food or goods, and people taking strolls with friends or their dogs.

While our starting point is informed by the constraints of utilities, vehicular and pedestrian safety, and city guidelines, our design approach uses these “rules” as opportunities to build upon and create an experience that has both community and environmental benefits.

In a recent streetscape project in Los Angeles, a particularly deep right-of-way and setback affords us the opportunity to create a unique experience along a wide boulevard. Our initial studies built from City of Los Angeles’ Complete Streets Design Guide and identified three important spatial zones within the public right-of-way with the widths needed to provide accessibility and safety.

As an additional layer of information, we studied the impact of underground utility locations, vehicular visibility, and existing streetscape infrastructure like streetlights and bus shelters. By layering this information together, we could identify appropriate tree locations and begin to spatially layout the circulation pathways.

Streetscape Plan

Community Improvement Vignettes

Restorative Design for Community Benefit

By incorporating restorative principles of landscape design and working within the framework of traditional streetscape design, we were able to develop and propose a new way of experiencing the street at a pedestrian level.

Meandering pathways set back from the street allow for moments to pause, gather with friends, and sit amongst the shade of large planting areas and trees, while the primary promenade allows for efficient circulation under the canopy of a double row of trees.

Both the community and environmental benefits were driving forces behind the design. From a community perspective, increased safety from the adjacent roadway, opportunities to gather in a public space, and access to nature and comfortable walking paths became the guiding tenets for the programmatic and spatial design.

Providing an opportunity for increased stormwater infiltration, wildlife habitat, and reduction of pollution and heat island effect, were equally important components to address environmental conditions within an increasingly urban city.

The increased planting areas assist in expanding the urban forest which has immeasurable benefits for environmental and human health and well-being. These components together align with the City of Los Angeles Complete Streets goals of a vibrant green network linking its communities.

Section Studies

Studying the streetscape through section drawings also helped us compare the scale of the pedestrian versus vehicular experience and understand the impact that providing this additional public open space could have on the community in this area. Beyond the minimum dimensions and traditional sidewalk design, which are important for safety and accessibility, streetscapes also have the opportunity to become more about placemaking within a community.