FAB Park: OMA and landscape architects MLA win competition to design Los Angeles' latest civic green space
by Kim Megson | 13 Jun 2016
A design team led by landscape architect Mia Lehrer + Associates (MLA), and featuring Rem Koolhaas’ OMA, has been selected by the City of Los Angeles to design “one of the most important civic spaces in the city’s vibrant downtown core”.
Located on First and Broadway and known as FAB Park, the project incorporates themes of food, art and land to celebrate LA’s diversity.
The City’s Department of Recreation and Parks organised a design competition for the commission on the 1.96 acre site.
"Each level activates diverse experiences ranging from café to test kitchen to amphitheater seating.”
The winning entry features a lushly planted grove of mature trees with a split level restaurant and sculpted shade canopies at its heart. A collection of shaded outdoor rooms for small group gatherings will be created for food fairs, art installations and other community events.
According to design architects on the project OMA, the vision “maximises the site’s potential to draw in the diverse mix of people that live, work and visit downtown, providing a comfortably cool space of respite and a dynamic place for cultural events.”
OMA Partner Jason Long said: “FAB park will be a meeting point for civil servants, journalists, arts patrons and Downtown LA residents.
“Our design for the restaurant is a dynamic building that facilitates two distinct levels of service: quick and casual on the ground, refined and elegant above. Each level activates diverse experiences ranging from café to test kitchen to amphitheater seating.”
The project will be managed by the City’s Bureau of Engineering and global design and innovation firm IDEO will design the park’s programming.
FAB Park is anticipated to open in 2019.
The City of LA is driving the development of its parks and green spaces. A design team led by French architects Agence Ter recently won an international competition to revitalise the downtown park at Pershing Square.
FAB Park OMA Los Angeles LA Downtown Mia Lehrer + Associates IDEO architecture design green space
Thw FAB Park project incorporates themes of food, art and land to celebrate LA’s diversity Credit: OMA and MLA
OMA partner Jason Long said: 'Our design for the restaurant is a dynamic building that facilitates two distinct levels of service: quick and casual on the ground, refined and elegant above' Credit: OMA and MLA
The City’s Department of Recreation and Parks organised a design competition for the commission on the 1.96 acre site Credit: OMA and MLA
A collection of shaded outdoor rooms for small group gatherings will be created for food fairs, art installations and other community events Credit: OMA and MLA
03 Jun 2016
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13 May 2016
Agence Ter win international design competition for revamped public park in LA's Pershing Square
A design team led by landscape architect Mia Lehrer + Associates (MLA), and featuring Rem Koolhaas’ OMA, has been selected by the City of Los Angeles to design “one of the most important civic spaces in the city’s vibrant downtown core”. Located on First and Broadway and known as FAB Park, the project incorporates themes of food, art and land to celebrate LA’s diversity. The City’s Department of Recreation and
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"Culture is the beating heart of this project"
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