Standard Design Enlivens LA PARK(ing) Day with Topiary Adorned Sandboxes

<a href="http://www.standard-la.com/" target="_blank">Standard Design</a> celebrated this year's Los Angeles’ <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/photos-new-yorkers-take-to-the-streets-to-celebrate-parking-day/" target="_blank">Park(ing) Day</a> LA in a big way with their LOCAL PARK project. Inspired by the infamous Hollywood sign, the team designed a mid-street oasis and sited it in front of <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/5/572351/restaurant/Silver-Lake/Local-LA">Local restaurant</a>. Four <a href="http://inhabitat.com/topiary-joes-incredible-green-garden-sculptures/" target="_blank">large topiary letters </a>reading “PARK” faced the street, while mini sandboxes with beach chair loungers capped the back for restaurant patrons to enjoy.

Facing the heavily trafficked Sunset Boulevard, the green PARK sign calls to passers by. As cars, busses and bicycles passed the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/off-the-grid-tropicana-billboard-is-powered-by-what-it-advertises-oranges/" target="_blank">enigmatic sign</a>, they couldn’t help but notice, and be left with a green impression.

The multi-message installation calls cars to come to park their cars - and thus come into <a href="http://silverlakelocal.com/" target="_blank">Local restaurant</a>, which serves sustainable local produce. But the green sign also brings attention to the need for more green space in the dense urban setting, like in its <a href="http://inhabitat.com/los-angeles-black-hole/" target="_blank">neighborhood of Silverlake</a>.

The letters themselves, evoking the Hollywood sign in their L.A. context, also <a href="http://inhabitat.com/beijings-facade-of-shrubbery/" target="_blank">bring greenery to the block</a>.

The temporary “park” like spaces extended the sidewalk and created a sitting area for pedestrians and restaurant visitors. <a href="http://inhabitat.com/project-h-builds-their-first-learning-landscape-in-uganda/" target="_blank">The sandboxes</a>, ballasted at each letter’s base, attracted children and adults alike!

Visitors plunked down in the loungers, sinking their tired feet into the cool sand, while toddlers brought their own sand toys and played in the sandbox.

Standard’s green PARK installation then made the rounds to the <a href="http://ulifall.org/" target="_blank">ULI Live Conference</a> at the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/labc-celebrates-the-best-of-los-angeles-architecture/" target="_blank">LA Convention center</a>, and will be present in next April’s Durfee Foundation. But rumor has it, Local restaurant owner Jason Michaud was so pleased with the extra space, that the PARK installation may soon call the front of the restaurant its new home.