Concept diagram by Daniel Guimera. It illustrates education journey and mutual collaboration. Images on Cover and this page by Daniel Guimera Image 3: Central Park, New York (Source: viajejet.com) Image 2: Seville, Spain (Source: picasa.google.com) Image 1: Florence, Italy (Source: Great Streets, Jacobs) Carlin’s remarks are over-the-top comedic devices that illustrate a real problem: Urban Sprawl, which is the result of the Image 4: Irvine, CA (Source: Great Streets, Jacobs) Image 6: Traffic Congestion (Source: Kevork Djansezian) Image 5: Suburbia (Source: accessible-mortgages.com) Pedestrian Plaza at Chatsworth St and Zelzah Ave Bike Sharing Station at Porter Ranch‘s New Civic Center Orange Line Light Rail Station in Porter Ranch. All images on this page by Daniel Guimera. Image 7: Paris, France (Source: blog.paris-sharing.com/paris-christmas2010) Image 9: Mayor Bertrand Delande (2001-2014) reclaimed the public realm by establishing exclusive pedestrian areas and street calming. (Source: Mairie de Paris) Image 8: Storefronts and cafes at street level; residences, studios and offices above. This civic mix affords eyes on the street 24 hours daily. (Source: pps.org) Image 15: Interesting Streets. (Source: pps.org) Image 11: Parks and gardens occupy 25% of the city. (Source: pps.org) Image 14: Velib Bike Sharing Station. (Source: aparisiancyclist.blogspot.com) mage 16: Dedicated bus lanes. (Source: humantransit.org) Image 13: Movable tables and chairs. (Source: pps.org) Image 12: Significant tree canopy coverage. (Source: flickr.com/photos/stas_porter) Image 19: Circulation Study by Daniel Guimera. Base map by Carto Urbanismo. Image 17: Modal share of cycling has increased from 0% to 10% in eight years. (Source: newcycling.org) Image 20: Light rail and pedestrians share the public realm. (Source: flikrhivemind.net) Image 21: Metropol Parasol large adaptable open space for public events. (Source: totallycoolpix.com) Image 22: City of Buenos Aires. (Source: Google Earth) Image 25: Newly Pedestrianized Street. (Source: Citylab.com) Image 24: Avenida 9 de Julio’s new dedicated bus lanes. (Source: Citylab.com) Image 23: One of many pedestrian streets. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 27: New Mixed-use projects at walking distance from transit stations. (Source: frederickqfondrens. blogspot.com) Image 26: Twenty two districts and 57 neighborhoods. (Source: frederickqfondrens.blogspot.com) knows your name. Manhattan is also privileged by healthy food choices (Image 28), lots of eyes on the street at all times, and the grandest of all parks: Central Park (Image 32). Image 28: Healthy food options. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 29: Reclaiming the public realm at The High Line. (Source: thehighline.org) Image 30: Movable tables and chairs at Bryant Park. (Source: sdgreatstreets.org) Image 31: Dedicated bus lanes and buffered bike paths. (Source: chi.streetsblog.org) Image 33: Pedestrianized Street. (Source: chi.streetsblog.org) Image 32: The grandest of all parks: Central Park. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 34: Valencia, Spain. (Source: galileoschool.com) Images 36 & 37: City of Arts and Sciences. Landmark and Imageable Institution. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 35: Valencia’s Town Square. Eyes on the street at all times. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 38: Extensive Public Transportation Network. (Source: carjet.com) Image 41: Valencia is framed by seven mile long Turia River Parks and Gardens. (Source: Google Earth) Image 40: Fresh food options at Central Market. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 39: Eyes on the street at all times. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 43: Paella Valenciana at local restaurant. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 44: The dry riverbed has become a gathering place for Valencians. (Source: Ispaniatravel.com) Image 49: Fox and Laurel Park and Garden. Successful use of vacant lot by Pacoima Beautiful. (Source: Daniel Guimera) mage 51: Fox and Laurel Community Garden by Pacoima Beautiful. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 48: MEND building in Pacoima’s Civic Center. Meet Each Need with Dignity. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 50: New Pacoima City Hall building. It houses City of Los Angeles Dept. of Building and Safety, District 7 City Council's office, Pacoima’s Neighborhood Council, and Pacoima Beautiful. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Bikesanos del Valle is another non-profit Image 53: Community sketching mural on wall. (Source: Kristy Sandoval) During an interview after the completion of the mural, | asked artist Rah Azul his thoughts about establishing a Mural Hall of Fame along the existing Mural Mile on Van Nuys Blvd to provide a venue for local artists, and pocket parks / outdoor classrooms for children. He said: “Having workshops, painting, and mural classes promoted at this location would be great to attract more people to help support all future projects.” mage 54: Artists and community at work. (Source: Agustin Flores, Tia Chucha’s) Image 55: Healing Through The Arts Mural. (Source: Agustin Flores, Tia Chucha’s) “Image 58: Participants at mural unveiling. (Source: Mabel Guimera) Image 64: One of eleven vacant lots that | have identified along the Mural Mile of Van Nuys Blvd. Opportunity for outdoor classrooms for after school art programs for kids, and outdoor museums for the community. This type of intervention will increase property values and attract investment for cafés, restaurants and art galleries. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 65: Precedent at Paley Park, New York. Art, sustainable water features, increased tree canopy, different seating options will create spaces that provide community pride and sense of place. The Mural Mile “Hall of Fame” would become a destination for art enthusiasts. (Source: blogstudiog) Image 69: Precedent of Failed shopping area redeveloped into a successful urban core. (Source: Retrofitting Suburbia by Ellen Dunham-Jones & June Williamson) Image 67: San Fernando Swap Meet occupies a 22 acre parcel. The area is not fully used. Large portions of massive parking lot remain empty at all times. Great opportunity for mixed-use, live-work development with affordable housing component. (Analysis by Daniel Guimera. Base Map: Google Earth.) Image 68: Existing conditions at San Fernando Swap Meet. This is what the Swap Meet looks like at the end of the business day. On windy days, debris flies into the Pacoima Wash located to the left of this image. Opportunity to develop this area into a mixed-age, mixed-use urban core project. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 70: Twenty three acre vacant parcel located across Hansen Dam. Source: Analysis by Daniel Guimera. Base map: Google Earth) Image 74: Precedent of urban farming to help community towards road to self-reliance. (Source: urbanfarming-org) Revitalization of neglected areas will likely increase property values. This could have the unintended consequence of forcing long time residents to move out of the area because they can no longer afford to live there. Several residents expressed their concern about this project's gentrification aspects. Many of them have been residents of Pacoima for several generations. This is their home. You are home when the place you call home reminds you of shared stories and memories. For example, the place where you planted your first tree is home. The place where you gather with your neighbors to share stories through music, dancing, poetry or food is home. The twenty-three acre site located across Hansen Dam is a vacant hilly parcel surrounded by residences. This is an ideal location for olive groves and urban farming. Both will help with self- reliance, and this type of gentrification will have positive side effects. Membership will be offered to residents; local restaurants and markets to engage the concept of local fresh food options from the farm to the table A park and trail will complete the site. Images 72 & 73: left image shows proposed olive oil that would be produced with olives harvested at this site. Top image shows potential olive grove. (Source: Oli-ve.blogspot.com) Image 80: Boyle Heights Land Use Map. (Source: ZIMAS) Image 79: Boyle Heights Vicinity Map. (Source: laalmanac.com) Image 81: Boyle Heights Park and School Map. (Source: ZIMAS) Image 82: Mariachi Plaza Sketch by Daniel Guimera Image 88: The Gold Line light rail from Boyle Heights at 1st Street. Sketch by Daniel Guimera. Image 84: Los Angeles River at Six Street Bridge. Sketch by Daniel Guimera Image 89: Mixed-age community. Sketch by Daniel Guimera Image 91: City of Los Angeles skyline view from Boyle Heights at 1st Street. Sketch by Daniel Guimera Image 87: Mural located at Homeboy’s parking lot. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 92: Precedent at Melrose Commons, residents preferred smaller parks. (Source: mapaarchitects.com) Image 85: Lack of tree canopy coverage contribute to Heat Island Effect. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 86: Unsafe bike riding.(Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 90: At the left of the statue, mariachi members await their next performance on a Sunday afternoon. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 101: North San Fernando Valley Park and School Map. (Source: ZIMAS) Image 99: North San Fernando Valley Vicinity Map. (Source: laalmanac.com) The area includes the neighborhoods of Porter Ranch, Granada Hills and Northridge Image 121: 460 feet long by 20 feet wide by 20 feet high tunnel crossing under the 118 Freeway from Aliso Canyon to the Utility corridor. Currently, wildlife is able to cross freeway safely. Opportunity for pedestrians and bicyclists to use tunnel as well. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 116: Seven mile long by 80 feet wide Wilbur Creek. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 115: 54 acre shopping center and 54 vacant lot in Porter Ranch. (Source: Google Earth) Image 117: Underutilized street at Chatsworth & Zelzah, Granada Hills. (Source: Google Earth) Image 122: California State University, Northridge is an educational, cultural and social anchor for Porter Ranch, Granada Hills and Northridge. Its state of the art Performing Arts Center and educational facilities help the community to link its past with its present, and its future. Opportunity to establish local bus service to connect residents to CSUN. (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 124: Four out five shops are vacant at this strip center located at Woodley Ave and San Fernando Mission Blvd, Granada Hills. Opportunity to revitalize area, including the streetscape, to attract trendy “third places” (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 125: At Woodley Ave and San Fernando Mission Blvd, there is mid size shopping center. Its main anchor has been vacant for an extended period of time. Opportunity for redevelopment of shopping center into a mixed-age, mixed-use project. (Source: Daniel Guimera) The civic life of the city is enriched when its public realm is meaningful, interesting and worth visiting. A city is healthy when it is designed around plazas, parks and memorable streets that are accessible, walkable and bikeable to its citizens. If a towr is small, a plaza or two might suffice; but if the city is large, it will require many parks, gardens, and other “third places” that provide vibrancy to the civic fabric. The city consists of places where we live-“first places”; work and study-“second places”; and venues where we gather with family, friends and neighbors: "third places”. How a city is laid out, and how we travel from place to place determines the success or failure of its civic life. Image 111: Tree Canopy Coverage and Heat Island Effect Mitigation Study by Daniel Guimera) Image 112: Walkability Study of sample area within site by Daniel Guimera) Image 113: Area Restaurants and cafés as Third Places by Daniel Guimera) Image 110: Urban Sprawl Study of sample area within the North Valley by Daniel Guimera) I. 111: Volunteers at Caltech Harvest. (Source: laweekly) |. 112: Volunteer during harvest. (Source: laweekly) I. 110: Ready for pressing at Caltech. (Source: S. Pakah) |. 113: Olive oil tasting at Caltech (Source: laweekly) |. 126: Pacifica Gardens, Pacifica, CA. (urbanfarming.org) |. 127: Pacifica Gardens, Pacifica, CA. (urbanfarming.org) Image 123: Remnants of yesterday. At CSUN, a Historic Orange Grove made up of 500 mostly Valencia orange trees from the early 1900s has been preserved. (25) (Source: Daniel Guimera) Image 128: Initial Concept Diagran Image 130: During Concept Development and site research, the process led to a Pattern Language of typologies that comprises the Design Blueprint for Healthy Communities. This Pattern Language is encompassed by 64 typologies. All the typologies are enabled by one or more of the goals met by this thesis project. Image 129: Initial Regional Concept Image 131: Goal 1 Typologies to Activate Urban Core. Image 144: Porter Academy at Downtown Porter Ranch. By Daniel Guimera. Image 145: New Rinaldi St road diet at Downtown Porter Ranch. By Daniel Guimera. ~ Image 143: New Orange Line Metro Station at Downtown Porter Ranch. By Daniel Guimera Image 142: Urban Core, Phase 1: The New Downtown Porter Ranch By Daniel Guimera. Base map: Google Earth. Image 149: New Pedestrian Plaza at Chatsworth & Zelzah. By Daniel Guimera. Image 148: Olive Groves and Urban Farms at The Grid Line. By Daniel Guimera. mage 156: New Downtown Porter Ranch Pedestrian Circulation Study. By Daniel Guimera The black on this drawing represents pedestrian circulation. It is a faithful representation of the design concept. Pedestrian access and circulation dictate the layout of the site. Pedestrian access and circulation dictate the layout of the site. Image 165: Orange Line Metro Station in Porter Ranch. All renderings by Daniel Guimera Image 162: Civic Plaza Site View Image 166: Bike Oriented Development. By Daniel Guimera. At the intersection of Civic Plaza and Porter Alley, there is a giant Orange Peel sculpture representing the history of Porter Ranch, Granada Hills and Northridge which used to be mostly orange and olive groves. Along with the Orange Peel Art, and the Orange Line Metro Station, you will also enjoy the Orange Slice reflecting pool, and the Orange Sculptural Parasols. These parasols are located at strategic locations throughout the new downtown as markers of important destinations. They are also utilitarian as they collect solar energy used to power the filtration and irrigation pumps for the retention ponds that catch storm water and excess irrigation run offs. As you continue your travel through the mall, you'll be able to sit at one of the movable tables and chairs. Once you move one of the chairs into the proper location; shade or no shade, or somewhere in between, not only you own the chair, you also own the space, the park and the city. You take ownership and pride for your new downtown. Image 172: Main Street Plan View and Section. Image 169: Main Street Concept: Sideways. Connecting with pedestrian side streets. Image 177: Outdoor dining at Porter Alley. Paving changes to announce the transition between the public to the semi-private spaces. By Daniel Guimera. Image 178: Tuesday Fish and Farmers Market. By Daniel Guimera. Image 179: Cafés and People watching at Porter Alley. By Daniel Guimera. Image 180: Shaded areas show underground parking locations. By Daniel Guimera. All renderings by Daniel Guimera Image 182: Los Olivos Grand Park. Axonometric View. Image 185: Meet your friends at The Grand Park. By Daniel Guimera. to $270,000. This money will contribute to administer the Olive Grove enterprise and maintain all the gained shared open spaces for the community. (29) As harvests will vary year to year, those trees will produce 25,000 to 27,000 bottles of olive oil. At $20 per bottle, and expecting $10 overhead expenses for milling, pressing, and bottling per unit; the communities of Porter Ranch, Granada Hills and Northridge should foresee an annual net profit of $250,000 Image 191: An academy to foster curiosity and knowledge. By Daniel Guimera. Image 193: School playground is accessible to residents on weekends. Parents are talking among themselves while their kids are at play. By Daniel Guimera. Image 194: Eyes on the street create a safe environment for all. All renderings by Daniel Guimera. Image 195: Sky Café and Martini Bar. Image 203: Sense of Place and Local Pride. By Daniel Guimera Image 204: Farmers Market Scene every Thursday. By Daniel Guimera Image 205: Framing the View; Framing the Experience. By Daniel Guimera mage 216: The community farming and preparing for their annual olive harvest. Reclaiming their land and establishing their home base. By Daniel Guimera Image 212, 213 & 214: Concept Development for New Pedestrian Bridge. 460 feet long x 25 feet wide x 25 feet high tunnel under the 118 freeway is a wildlife corridor between Aliso Canyon and the Grid Line. New bridge design concept mirrors the tunnel. By Daniel Guimera Image 210 & 211: Concept Development for New Pedestrian Bridge. From Alison Canyon to the Grid Line across the 118 Freeway. By Daniel Guimera Image 215: Key Map. Base map: Google Earth Image 217: The new Pedestrian Bridge crosses over the 118 Freeway from Aliso Canyon to the The Grid Line. It provides mobility and connects Porter Ranch, Granada Hills and Northridge’ s residents to their high schools and California State University, Northridge. By Daniel Guimera Image 218: The new Pedestrian Bridge crosses over the 118 Freeway from Aliso Canyon to the The Grid Line. By Daniel Guimera RECLAIMING THE PUBLIC REALM CHILDREN AT PLAY UNDER SCULPTURAL PARASOL. AN ACADEMY TO FOSTER CURIOSITY & KNOWLEDGE. PARENTS ATTENDING THEIR CHILDREN’S RECITAL.
