Breaking Down Barriers in Mar Vista, CA

Built on the American premises of individualism, the private garages, fences, and lots that permeate much of Mar Vista’s urban fabric serve as barriers to much of the public realm. Pockets of social infrastructure are segregated from both residential areas and other public amenities. As seen in the original map of the city (bottom right), the housing sector, which extends to the left and right, separates the public schools and community garden (light orange, most public, not reliant on indiviudal automobiles) from concert venues, museums, and restaurants (medium orange, pay to get in, reliant on individual transportation).

Ideally, these different sectors would be integrated, both as a means of facilitating social interaction and daily life, as well as reducing the need for carbon-emitting personal cars.

The small scale interventions are a means of increasing walkability and pedestrian access to all corners of the neighborhood. Today, bus routes run along one road, and there are only two bike docks. Interventions would include adding more bike docks in locations near the most accessed roads as well as putting in pedestrian footbridges along the busiest roads to aid in access to those who may need assistance crossing the road. The interventions would make it more possible to access the semi-public ammenities from the fully public or fully private areas.

The large scale interventions are based loosely on Leon Krier’s principle of architectural stutter and Dolores Hayden’s Non-Sexist city. This involves reprogramming the alleyways of the residential areas for diversified purposes and integrating more into the residential areas of Mar Vista. Hayden suggests implementing spaces to distribute domestic work, a concept that should be revisited, especially with the Child Tax Credit policy. Krier’s model promotes mixing in of cultural and economic elements within residential elements. Small spaces could include small live music venues, worship sites, pocket parks, or community gardens.

Moving forward, this system will reduce reliance on cars and break down barriers that exclude some community members from some areas of their communities. These solutions work to mitigate carbon emissions as well as improve social infrastructure in Mar Vista.