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Urban Design Observations, Los Angeles Edition

By Rain Noe - April 11, 2018

in Urbanism

In L.A.'s tony neighborhood of Marina Del Ray, here's something you'd never see in New York:

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Yes, they're free.

There are three cardboard tubes inside (the side ones are empty). I also found it hilarious that they have instructions for how to use these printed on the bottom of the box face. In fact I'd say everything printed beneath the dispensing hole is a mini design fail, as the text is unnecessary and is obscured by the bags protruding from the holes.

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This circular bench seems simple but is attractive, and a fine example of what you can do with a tapering jig for a table saw. I can see the builder in my head making a cut, flipping the piece around its long axis and making the second cut with the jig.

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Also, while the bench does not look new, the wood doesn't look like shit like most wooden outdoor stuff does in New York. Los Angeles' better weather makes wood a much better materials choice for outdoor furniture.

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Finally, this utility box.

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Unadorned, these things typically look like shit, and I'm impressed that the neighborhood beautification committee, or whatever they have out here, took the time to wrap it in this graphic. It looks a damn sight better than the sheet metal would.

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Alex Netz

6 years ago

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you have a good eye, these are interesting observations, thanks for documenting them.
a typical tapered jig would not actually work the way you described it, if you flip the wood , now you have the freshly cut surface against the jig, the piece would be a assymetrycal trapeze...

also, the wood is not your typical cheap wood, it is either ipe or teak. these weather beautifully, especially in a warmer climate (like you noted), but they are many times more expensive than typical big box wood and much harder to work with.

on s different note: what do you think would happen if they would not print out the instructions on the doggy poo bags? are these pictograms too complicated for the public? is there a wrong way to use them?
I'm sure that these stations in NYC would have different text: "clean up after your dog: IT'S THE LAW! fines up to $1000 for 1st time offenders. for more information dial 311". and a graffiti after that.

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Scott Urban

6 years ago

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Cleveland's University Circle did something similar with its utility boxes. Student's from the Cleveland Institute of Art decorated them with old timey illustrations (google the ArtBox project for more info) https://www.flickr.com/photos/cleinstituteart/sets/72157636117445553/

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Ken Mori

6 years ago

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Joshua Callaghan is the artist who did the photos on utility boxes. http://www.joshuacallaghan.com/Playa-Vista-Phase-II

Did you also see the low water fountains for dogs?
Also, the area shown is Playa Vista.

Also, nice to meet you Rain!

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Brad Johnson

6 years ago

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All of the utility boxes are hand painted murals where I used to live in Long Beach, which is a little South West of LA. You can just google "long beach painted utility box".

They're pretty cool, and either really well maintained or left alone because I rarely saw any tagging on them.

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Sean Thackston

6 years ago

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At first I thought the utility box was clad in a mirrored surface and was reflecting the surroundings. I think that might have been a bit better as it could function as a makeshift teeth-check after a meal. Houston did a similar thing but with a more handmade aesthetic:

http://www.houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs/tsccartprogram.html

And for a different reason, probably; to deter the spread of crap graffiti.

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Prescott Perez-Fox

6 years ago

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We have dog poo bags dispensers in Brooklyn. I've seen them along Eastern Parkway, as well as in front of my sister's old building in Kensington. Can't say I've seen them in Manhattan, there's not a lot of space for _anything_ new on those sidewalks, but now that I work in a pet store part time, I see the world a little differently, and notice pet-related objects in the wild more regularly.

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