The Second Pass at "X"

T H E G I V E N

Los Angeles

It is unlike many east coast cities – it does not have a “center”.

T H E P R O M P T :

Enriching the experience of driving

The German Autoban

"Recommended Speed"(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn) is about 81 mph but, 178 mph is "still something legal there" (www.nytimes.com/.../Subjects/T/Transportation)

T H E P R O C E S S :

The car is been villainized in recent history because of its energy consumption, increased traffic, pollution (you say Los Angeles and most people thing of stars and smog). Yet one can hardly deny that the freedom that the automobile brings is a vital component in west coast culture. With the car comes a sense of independence and adventure that cannot be matched by other modes of transportation.

Because of the stigma associated with individual transportation, I often feel that there is guilt associated with taking pride in car culture. For example – a Prius is much more honorable than Hummer, etc etc.

Sure there is something to say about how LA is not a pedestrian friendly city. However, it must be recognized that once a city is planned, born and now thriving you cannot pull out the infrastructure that has allowed the city to grow the way that it has, and characterizes so much of what makes LA, LA.

With new energy initiatives and research into effective alternatives to oil, I think the car will once again become a “hero” in the epic play transportation. It all comes back to infrastructure – slowly but surely replacing gas stations with newer means of fuel/power – electric/ hydrogen etc. However, replacing/ changing infrastructure takes time.

T H E T A N G E N T

Adventure

My problem is that I really don’t think there is a problem that needs to be solved but there is definitely an opportunity to enrich the experience of driving

But how does that matter? Why does that matter?

I guess coming up with an idea for a project specific to this topic is so difficult for me because I don’t see how it would help anything…or anyone, even though I love it.

I also don’t want to change this overall feel – I mean I know LA has its problems and its not pedestrian friendly etc but, every city has its pros and cons. Los Angeles, is successful and can sustain such a large population because it’s a network tied together by nodes not a city center knot with threads tying into it. It’s a very different dynamic. Its not tangible – its cool because when you meet people from different parts of so cal, you bond over the fact that you are from so cal but, you each have street knowledge to offer to the other person.

You never know every part of the city, every part that makes up the whole of Los Angeles…

I guess that’s something that could be addressed

T H E P R O D U C T

An elevated sense of adventure…

Some kind of thing that would make you aware of all of the different places that one freeway connects you too?

Or – something that heightened this sense of independence and adventure….a race track?!

The freeways system is the landscape architecture of Los Angeles.

I’m going to let this percolate – more articulation tomorrow.