CALA

CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN LOS ANGELES

2015 Spring

Instructor: Ed Woll

410 S. Main St, Los Angeles, CA

This project is the design of the new Center for Architecture and Urban Design Los Angeles (CALA). CALA is envisioned as a home for all who are interested in architecture, urban design and the built environment in Los Angeles. The site is 410 S. Main Street, which is an end block site of approximately 14,000 sf.

The site sits at the NE corner of Main Street, a broad and noisy street that carries the major circulation; while Winston, a narrow and quiet street that carries the minor circulation compared to Main Street. It is interesting when people make a turn at the corner and have dramatically different experiences. So the proposal for CALA is based on this contrast between major and minor circulation when turning at street corners. The idea is inspired by the presence of street corners, therefore, I carved some L shapes out of the volumetric block both on plans and sections so that people could always have a change in direction after a short distance of a straight walk way in the space. This enables people to experience each corner of the building and have an interesting travel experience both horizontally and vertically. Finally, I have this 4 bar-shaped complex and each bar embodies different functional purpose. Programs near the street are more public, and they gradually change into private spaces from the street to the alley.