LA is a large sprawling metropolis, but the city has expanded to its limits and must grow denser and expand vertically rather than expand horizontally. As a way to add density, Maltzan (current architect on the LA project) proposes to build a new street level on top of existing buildings, creating a new ground plane, green space and residential areas a couple stories up. Now this in theory sounds like a solution to overcrowded and dense cities but is it just me or is there something worng with this picture? Were are turning into all the sci-fi movies we watch! Not my cup of tea, I say.
In the future, the boundary lines between home, work, and play will blur, and part of that blurring will affect the urban fabric or work life. New offices must be more open and interactive, providing more opportunities for spur-of-the-moment meetings and encounters along with easy access to green space and other amenities.
LA has a sprawling network of roads already, but in the future the city must rely more heavily on other modes of transportation like rail and possibly even the expansive river network. Also, new designs must have multiple functions — Maltzan envisions bridges and transportation hubs that provide for all forms of transportation through railways, roads, pedestrian paths, and even river routes. Maltzan seems to be utilizing every possible open space available. It sounds to me like it will look like a matrix of different paths and routes.
Homes will still be places to seek privacy, but they will become more compact and more useful. Technology will help provide more amenities, relaxation, and entertainment in the home, but the home will also become more interconnected with the community. Rooftops will become useful living space, and many homes will share common areas. Again from the suggested mock-up on the left, it looks like a rat maze to me.
cityLAB envisions that big box retailers will shift their focus from just selling products to selling experiences. Big box stores will become interactive destinations, and the future of retail work will center on relationships and public service. Ladies n Gentlemen welcome to DISNEYLAND!! :(
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