LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.
Issue link: https://landscapearchitect.epubxp.com/i/150657
shallow basement extensions became a formidable issue, affected the sidewalk pavement cross slopes, elevations, drainage, placement of bus shelters, lighting and plant material selections. There were sidewalk side slopes in excess of 2 percent, the maximum for ADA compliance, and existing curb heights that were already at a maximum of 8 inches. To solve this gradient dilemma a seat wall was designed to allow the sidewalk adjacent to the building to be raised to meet the ADA compliant cross slope, while making up the grade differential in a strategically placed retaining wall for convenient seating. Another design challenge was the overhead electrical wires with support poles that serve the mid-street Metrorail. These overhead wires made locating and installing shelters, lights and tall palm trees a delicate operation. Developing a shoreline gallery theme to tie the architecture, paving, art and planting to the coastal city's character and history was an ambitious approach for a public transit installation. The most obvious theme innovation is the bus shelters, whose custom designed large wave-like tensile fabric canopies are suspended from transparent mesh-clad towers. The suspended canopies are dramatically uplit with customized color LEDs that complement the colorful supersized mosaics beneath each shelter. The towers have state-of-the-art digital message boards, backlit transit maps and illuminated display cases for exhibiting local art. LED bars recessed into the support structure emit high illumination down lighting for night time safety. Fiber optic cables at each structure link the computer controlled accent lighting, and allow for future communication upgrades. Mosaics Shoreline-themed mosaic art by Robin brailsford showcases coastal plants and animals. the sidewalk mosaic designs are keyed to the lettered bus shelters, e.g., the barnacle at Shelter b, and the crab at Shelter C. brailsford, along with Lee and Ron Shaw, is a co-inventor of "LithoMosaic." her artistic tiles are whiteglued to paper, then set on hardibacker board with thinset. the art is then set by the mason into a monolithic concrete pour à la Lithocrete technique. August 2013 49