Colorful Rocks Added to 9th and Main Median
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
Once landscaping finishes, these colorful balls of rock should give the median a look straight out of Dr. Seuss.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The new median at 9th and Main moved one step closer to its whimsical final design this week, as domes made out of colorful rocks were installed into the triangular space.
Each dome has a single string of lights embedded into it, providing nighttime light and color. Other lights shine up from beneath the recently installed trees.
When work is complete, the median should provide a point of light to center the emerging restaurant district in that corner of the Fashion District. Three restaurants – L’Angolo, Woodspoon and Tiara Cafe – within a block of the median have nighttime hours.
Work on the project broke ground in January. The trees were installed in late May.
Comments
While I hate the design, I do like that there’s something there to comment on.
Also, New Moon Cafe has night hours -sometimes- but don’t ask me what they are.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 03:09 PMWhy Dr. Seus? Having so many talented fashion designers and artist in the community whom would have been happy to contribute to a more appropiate addition to the Grand entrance of this side of town. Who’s idea was to install this ??? .
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 05:14 PMI love it. We need some brightness in this neighborhood. It is not just another boring median. The area is too dark at night.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 06:05 PMI agree Rich. For those driving by, it may look like a pocket park was taken over by Hostess Sno-Ball cakes painted blue. Just having grass and trees with good lighting would have made the corner special.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 06:15 PMI say wait and give it a chance to get finished up before making a judgment. Personally, I think it’s going to look cool.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 06:22 PMHorrible design, I have to agree. very unfortunate. This is reminiscent of the lackluster geometric shapes/designs at Pershing Square. Who is designing these things?.?. really.. There are so many great landscape designers around LA, but downtown get this? The trees are great, and a little more landscaping, grass and subtle uplighting would have been great.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 06:30 PMBut almost every landscaped street median from here to Timbuktu (or all the predictable newer suburbs of America) contains those very same things. Therefore, such islands are easy to drive by and either overlook or shrug off.
However, I will withhold judgment until I see the location at 9th and Main Streets from a greater distance. But it appears that the new median at least will be a conversation piece, instead of a case of “oh, look at the trees and ground cover. Next!”
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 06:41 PMJust drove by and got a glimpse. I personally like the new addition. Brightens the place up, and brings in a nice contrast. Think it will look even better at night.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 08:12 PMGiven the large number of cars I’ve seen go up the wrong way on Spring at this intersection, this can’t be anything but good at night.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 08:46 PMBen – that is, of course, if the new median will have any bearing on how they perceive the one-way streets. I’m sure they’ll still go the wrong way up Spring.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 09:32 PMPODS? Oh gawd, the POD people have finally arrived.. Why does everything have to happen in L.A. first?
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 10:15 PMNo taggers yet. Fashion District usually gets things off in 24hrs. The lights aren’t on yet either.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 10:21 PMThinking how much we all respond and speculate over development plans, or how public space is proposed to be used, we rarely wait to pass judgment.
But OK, I’ll wait.
# on Jun.11.2008 AT 10:28 PMMy four-year old daughter likes the new look. I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Her sense of aesthetics can be erratic. However, her presentation skills are sweetly beguiling.
One thing you have to admit is the design is definitely eye-catching. Again, not sure that’s praise. I’d be interested to know how the decision was made to use this design. Somebody somewhere in the city bureaucracy had to make the case to someone who had to sign-off on the design. I’d also like to know what the alternatives were. I also wonder how this design will age.
But, I agree. We should let them finish before passing judgement.
Oh yeah, it sure beats the rocks installed in the island at San Pedro and 8th. Now that’s ugly and in the Flower District no less. You’d figure those guys would know something about landscape design.
# on Jun.12.2008 AT 12:17 PMWhy does L.A. have to put all these weird designs around the city? Why can’t we have nice lit water fountains or a nice sculpture like any other city.
# on Jun.13.2008 AT 09:06 AMYeah, I agree this is the same as Persian Square. Uggly colors and ugly design. Do they get designers that are on Acid or something.
# on Jun.13.2008 AT 09:08 AMGreen? That’s colorful; it would have been nice and useful had they planted some grass on that lot for a small (fenced) dog patch.
Many cities around the world make use of small pocket spaces such as these for such public use.
# on Jun.13.2008 AT 10:18 AML.A. never seems to get it right. Maybe they should talk to the residents and see what they want before putting up crappy stuff like this. As Norbie seven rights this will get all tagged up soon and it will become another eyesore.
# on Jun.13.2008 AT 12:03 PMThey remind me of the colored glass walls used in the new state park in chinatown. They are also lit at night and are quite beautiful i think.
# on Jun.13.2008 AT 01:00 PMDog Patch?
You mean you want dog turds on Main?
Sounds like a new Indie group.
# on Jun.13.2008 AT 02:02 PMThis looks like a brand new, mini, Pershing Square inspired eye sore. We are downtown. We know where we are. We’re surrounded by several million tons of asphalt, concrete, steel and other non-natural, assaultive shapes, sights and sounds. Radical thought: What’s wrong with a little calming green, as in grass, plants, trees; or flowing water, as in a fountain or maybe a pond?
# on Jun.17.2008 AT 01:53 PMThe flowering trees are great and I assume there will be some grass/shrubs around the glass objects. As for the rest, like all construction - until the project is totally finished - it’s hard to know how it will look - day or night.
# on Jun.17.2008 AT 07:05 PMI think it’s great.
I don’t get the comparisons to Pershing Square. Pershing square is an overdone, overwrought, monolithic concrete jungle. This is a simple design solution that adds visual interest to an otherwise totally unremarkable street median. You want to stick a fountain there? Give me a break…
# on Jun.23.2008 AT 01:38 PM





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