LA river master plan reveals proposals from frank gehry and OLIN

the first images of the re-imagined los angeles river have been revealed as part of a draft of the project that has been made available to the public. to draw up the ‘LA river master plan’, the county of los angeles selected a design team that includes gehry partners, the firm led by architect frank gehry, and landscape architecture and planning firm OLIN. the project covers all 51 miles (82 kilometers) of the river, from canoga park through the san fernando valley, downtown los angeles, and the gateway cities to its mouth in long beach.

an aerial view of the site illustrating an elevated park over the river
all images courtesy of the LA river master plan

the team behind the LA river master plan is led by LA county public works with support from geosyntec, the engineering firm responsible for the project’s technical water and engineering elements. joining geosyntec are OLIN and gehry partners. meanwhile, nonprofit river LA leads the coordination of an extensive community engagement and outreach process. the public draft is available for public comment until march 14, 2021 on the project’s official website, while a four-minute video recapping the scheme can be watched at the top of this page.

the ferraro side channel provides additional trails and open space

‘we have a vision for the LA river to become 51 miles of connected public open space that provides landmark opportunities to reduce flood risk and improve resiliency, support healthy and connected ecosystems, address potential adverse impacts to housing affordability and people experiencing homelessness, promote healthy, safe clean water, and create jobs while fostering opportunities for arts, culture, and community engagement,’ says a statement on the LA river master plan website.

during flooding, the channel plays an infrastructural role — transporting water downstream

specifically, the project identifies opportunities for over 200 potential sites that will create local jobs, as well as thousands of acres of publicly accessible open space that will help address public health issues, especially in the most disadvantaged communities. the master plan also includes room for ‘innovative multi-benefit projects’ that assist in mitigating future disasters, such as flooding, drought, and extreme heat events, while enhancing ecosystem function. the plan, which serves as a framework for future community engagement projects, also includes provision for affordable housing and ways to combat homelessness.

a platform creates new connections across the LA river while offering users an elevated view

after receiving public feedback, the plan will be finalized to serve as a template for the project’s development over the next 25 years. see designboom’s previous coverage of the news here.

a typical lower river condition with a bike path on top of the embankment