Sunset Triangle Plaza: LA’s First Pedestrian Plaza Conversion is Now Open!

A brand new green polka-dotted pedestrian plaza has come to the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and Griffith Park Blvd. in LA! Spearheaded and designed by <a href="http://www.rchstudios.com/" target="_blank">Rios Clementi Hale Studios</a>, <a href="http://www.livingstreetsla.org/?page_id=1130" target="_blank">Sunset Triangle Plaza</a> is Los Angeles' first pedestrian plaza conversion. The new public space will host a bi-weekly farmer's market, moveable bistro tables, umbrellas, and chairs, and it complements an existing mini-park on the corner. Only open since the beginning of March, Sunset Triangle Plaza has already been <a href="http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/03/check_out_sunset_triangle_plaza_las_first_pedestrian_plaza_1.php" target="_blank">deemed a success</a> and it will serve as a demonstration project for future plaza conversions around the city that will add more open space.

Silver Lake residents are mighty happy to have LA's first pedestrian plaza converted from a normal city street.

Located on a street short cut from Sunset Blvd to Griffith Park Blvd, Sunset Triangle Plaza is now a 11,000 sq ft car free zone filled with bistro tables, bike parking and plenty of room for play.

The project was led by Streets For People, a new initiative dedicated to creating more pedestrian friendly and open space ares in urban settings. Designed by <a href="http://www.rchstudios.com/" target="_blank">Rios Clementi Hale Studios</a> and carried out by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

The new plaza provides a secure space for the twice-weekly farmer's market that has already been going on for some time now.

The plaza is cordoned off by large heavy planters to keep cars out, while moveable bistro tables and umbrellas provide space to rest, relax and socialize.

The green polka dot-painted street along with the native and drought tolerant plants, generously donated by Monrovia nursery in Azusa, CA, provide a literally green space.

“In predigital printing, dot patterns created halftones, and Sunset Triangle Plaza represents a site in transition—a halfway point—from street to plaza,” Frank Clementi, AIA, AIGA, principal at Rios Clementi Hale Studios.

“Also, the dots play off of D.O.T., the abbreviation for Department of Transportation, which is integral to the Streets for People program.”

Sunset Triangle Plaza is the first of what is expected to be many new pedestrian areas created in and around LA.

The <a href="http://www.livingstreetsla.org/" target="_blank">Streets For People</a> initiative is working to quickly and inexpensively reclaim under-used street space and involve local residents and businesses in the design and maintenance of these spaces.

Rather than spending millions of dollars building brand new parks the initiative hopes to transform spaces using paint and planters to recapture the streets for people.

Sunset Triangle Plaza before the transformation.

Masterplan for Sunset Triangle Plaza.