Perkins and Will break ground on outdoor celebration of Black LA
by Stu Robarts | 04 Mar 2020
Credit: Perkins and Will
– Zena Howard
Perkins and Will have broken ground on Destination Crenshaw, a 1.3mi (2.1km)-long outdoor art, culture and museum area celebrating Black Los Angeles (LA).
Running along Crenshaw Boulevard, Destination Crenshaw was conceived to celebrate the energy and accomplishments of Black LA, to document and preserve its 200 years plus of history, to seed a "community-driven, counterbalancing force against gentrification" and to drive economic security and opportunities for local residents.
The project, being delivered for LA's Council District 8, will provide an open-air space for people to enjoy, transforming sidewalks, business façades and public structures with art installations, pocket parks, culturally-themed street and landscaping improvements, new trees and green space.
Four themes will serve to inform the experience for people as they move through the area. 'Improvisation' will focus on the community’s resourcefulness, 'Firsts' on past and present African-American pioneers, 'Dreams' on community’s ability to create space for itself and 'Togetherness' on the area’s cultural infrastructure.
In addition to the completed destination providing business and career opportunities for local residents and supporting and helping to launch the careers of local artists, employment opportunities will also be created during the construction phase.
"Destination Crenshaw has been entirely driven by the community itself, and honours not just the neighbourhood as a creative hub, but also Black LA's impact on popular culture and social change," explained Zena Howard, lead architect and art curator at Perkins and Will. "Our role as architects is to translate, through design, the very real, very significant voices and energy of Black LA."
Perkins and Will Destination Crenshaw art culture museum Los Angeles
It will take the form of an outdoor art, culture and museum area Credit: Perkins and Will
The destination will provide an open-air space for people to enjoy Credit: Perkins and Will
One aim is to seed a 'community-driven, counterbalancing force against gentrification' Credit: Perkins and Will
There will be a raised public space that will provide views of the surroundings Credit: Perkins and Will
Four themes will serve to inform the experience for people as they move through the area Credit: Perkins and Will
The project will drive economic security and opportunities for local residents Credit: Perkins and Will
It will run along Crenshaw Boulevard Credit: Perkins and Will
The project will drive economic security and opportunities for local residents Credit: Perkins and Will
There will be culturally-themed street and landscaping improvements Credit: Perkins and Will
Pocket parks will provide spaces to sit and chat Credit: Perkins and Will
The project will provide additional green space for the area Credit: Perkins and Will
Over 2,000 community residents, business owners and artists gathered for the groundbreaking event Credit: Perkins and Will
14 Dec 2018
Sneak peek at Perkins + Will’s open-air museum in Los Angeles
FEATURE: Interview – Gabrielle Bullock
Perkins and Will have broken ground on Destination Crenshaw, a 1.3mi (2.1km)-long outdoor art, culture and museum area celebrating Black Los Angeles (LA). Running along Crenshaw Boulevard, Destination Crenshaw was conceived to celebrate the energy and accomplishments of Black LA, to document and preserve its 200 years plus of history, to seed a "community-driven, counterbalancing force against gentrification" and to drive economic security and opportunities for local residents. The project,
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