Shortlisted Proposal for Pershing Green in Los Angeles
The masterplan and gardens for Culver City Hall is led by the WHY Landscape Workshop. The project consists of layers of civic, commemorative, cultural, and botanical interventions, the first of which is Lafayette Place Garden: a resilient, colorful, and playfully programmed environment for all city residents to enjoy.
The masterplan is informed by extensive input from community members and local stakeholders. Key considerations include the integration of historic Neo-Mission style buildings with the surrounding landscape and public space, as well as introducing opportunities for art and cultural programming. The landscaping acts as a connective tissue, binding the civic buildings to the surrounding streetscape.
The botanical scheme of Lafayette Place Garden is characterized by native species and drought-resistant planting to reduce water usage. Species such as salvia, alumroot, Little Sur coffeeberry, ceanothus, silver bush lupine, and sand dune sedge require less irrigation, and blend naturally into the surrounding hillsides.
“We asked, what does it mean to have a city hall? It has to be civic and inviting, with layers of garden and open space.”