frank gehry's grand avenue project proposal approved in L.A.
los angeles county supervisors have approved a re-imagined design for starchitect frank gehry’s proposal for the los angeles grand avenue project, featuring a mix of high-end apartments, businesses and public space across from walt disney concert hall.

 

seven years after frank gehry‘s original plans for the project were declined, developer related companies has once again turned to the renowned architect to establish the three acre site. the new $750 million USD scheme was submitted to city officials for approval on november 25th, and is intended to form an important part of the city’s emerging cultural district, injecting vibrancy through restaurants, shops and other areas of recreation. the proposal promises welcoming public spaces, opening access routes through the site to adjacent landmarks, including rafael moneo’s ‘cathedral of our lady of the angels’, ‘the broad’ designed by diller scofidio + renfro, and gehry’s own ‘disney hall’.

 

the revised plan – which adds $100 million to the project’s estimated cost – boasts an larger open-space plan, facilitating the connection between pedestrians coming from adjacent streets. it includes various shops and restaurants situated on each side by two towers, a four-star hotel and condo building with a public plaza opening onto grand avenue.

frank gehry's grand avenue project proposal approved in L.A.
at ground level dining and retail outlets spill out onto a newly formed public square offering views of disney hall
image via | main image courtesy of gehry partners/related companies

 

 

as reported by the LA times, the scheme is simpler and more efficient than gehry’s original proposal, with stacked cuboid volumes replacing the curved forms of the previous design. a 300 room hotel will occupy the taller tower, which also includes an open-air garden, while the shorter structure offers a range of affordable housing. the edge of the site will be activated through a series of dining and retail outlets spilling out onto a newly formed public square.

frank gehry's grand avenue project proposal approved in L.A.
the proposal promises welcoming public spaces, opening access routes through the site to adjacent landmarks
image via

frank gehry's grand avenue project proposal approved in L.A.
at ground level dining and retail outlets spill out onto a newly formed public square offering views of disney hall
image via

frank gehry's grand avenue project proposal approved in L.A.
plan view from W. 1st street and grand avenue
image via

 

construction in scheduled to start in 2015, and completion set for 2019.