Title HereSub Title Here

1 Prado’s Web

The National Cultural Center of the Native AmericansPrado Regional Park

Chino Hills, CA

Prepared by:Andrew Witschonke

Johnny JaquezKim Mok

December, 2008

Acknowledgements:Claire LataneAndy Wilcox

PostOp Group MembersOur Fellow Students

Introduction 6

Regional Context Location 14

Transportation 16Land Use 22

Water 26Energy 28Wildlife 30

Conceptual DesignDesign Concept 36

Site Plan 37Regional Transit 38Cultural Center 40

Nation Seed Bank 41Resort 42

University 43Multiuse Zoning 44

Agriculture 45

Conclusion 47

Table of Contents

6

Introduction

The current model for human expansion has

become ineffective and out of touch with the natural

systems from which we evolved. We develop hugely

complicated systems to overcome challenges that

should have never existed to begin with. Some prime

examples of such systems are the Los Angeles freeway

system, which exists so that individuals can work

great distances from their homes. Another example

is the parking lot, a huge impervious area which only

functions as a place for cars to be stored while taking

up huge amounts of open space. The Prado site has

the potential to work as a new model, incorporating

cultural education, historical and natural preservation,

low impact development, and a restructuring of the

modern community to accommodate the utilization

of the land and the resources provided by the

community’s specific surroundings. The underlying

concept behind this design is that of a spider’s web, an

interweaving of multiple elements to create a singular,

interconnected whole. By interconnecting natural,

commercial, cultural, educational, and residential

functions through an efficient mass transit system, the

National Cultural Center of the Native Americans can

serve as a template for the future of development in

the Los Angeles/Southern California region.

7

The Prado Regional Park site was selected

as a possible site for the National Cultural Center of

the Native Americans. Located thirty-five miles east

of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los

Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange

counties, Prado Regional Park is roughly three-

thousand acres of constructed wetland imbedded into

the grid of planned communities and shopping centers

that makes up the Los Angeles region. The Prado site

became a possible location for the National Cultural

Center after the project was removed from the Irvine

Great Park project plan. The goal of the center is to

provide an exhibition and educational destination

specifically geared towards Native American culture,

art, and history. In addition to the educational

elements, such as an arts center and university, this

project would incorporate commercial, residential,

and agricultural facilities as well. These facilities would

aid the site in becoming a self-sustaining entity, both

economically and environmentally.

The wetland came about as a by-product of

the Prado Dam (3.5 miles south of site), which was

completed in 1941, as a part of a regional system for

controlling the seasonal flooding of the Santa Ana

River. As a result, the site has now become one of

the only wetland habitats in the region and serves

8

IntroductionContinued...

an important function in local ecology. This is why

it is crucial that the wildlife potential be increased

as this site is developed. This calls for a different

pattern of development than is currently in use, as a

wetland would not make for a suitable site within the

current design framework. With this in mind, the site’s

environmental elements were analyzed and a strategy

capable of providing habitat and migration functions

for local wildlife was developed. This strategy must also

be able to accommodate the seasonal water changes

due to the fluctuations of the Santa Ana River and was

laid as the basis around which the remainder of the

design was created.

The development of the National Cultural

Center of the Native Americans on the Prado site raises

several issues, but at the forefront is connectivity. No

matter what is eventually built, or how great it may

be, the Center will suffer if it is not sufficiently tied into

the regional transportation infrastructure. This is why

a “transportation-oriented design” philosophy has

been implemented. Simply put, ease of movement

across the site and connectivity to regional transit

systems formed the skeletal system on which structures

and other elements could be developed. Also, by

tying the site into the regional transit systems it acts

as a point of connection between multiple systems,

9

such as the existing rail and bus infrastructure, and

increases opportunities for residents to utilize public

transportation to commute across the region.

The National Cultural Center of the Native

Americans, including the Art Center, Tribal Education

Areas, Performing Arts Center, North American Native

Seed Bank, and University campus, forms the second

layer of the site frame work. By weaving these cultural

elements amongst the site’s other functions, a sense of

community and identity for the site begins to evolve.

These elements would draw visitors to the site, creating

an economic base for the rest of the site to build

from. In addition, the events taking place within these

cultural elements would contribute to the definition of

the site’s character.

The last layer would be the basic building blocks

of the site’s community land use infrastructure, such

as residential, commercial, and agricultural areas. A

multiuse retail/commercial center will help this site

be self sustaining. The plan calls for an establishment

where residents would have the ability to live, work,

and obtain basic goods and services all within walking

distance of their residences. This would minimize the

energy needs for transporting people and goods while

serving as another economic base for the site. With

10

IntroductionContinued...

the incorporation of on-site agriculture (including

both crops and bison herds), much of the individual

resident’s diets could be provided with products that

were grown on-site, also minimizing transportation

costs and increasing overall efficiency, as well as

lessening the site’s dependence on unreliable outside

sources.

The Los Angeles Region’s current pattern of

expansion is not a sustainable one. This development

strategy must be revised if people are to continue to

prosper in this part of the world. The site proposal

here addresses many of the issues that can be seen

in past developments within the region. By weaving

the site plan together using transportation and

natural elements as a foundation, a more harmonious

and cohesive system begins to be developed. The

interwoven strategy developed here, when applied on

a wider scale to communities across the Los Angeles

region, addresses many of the concerns regarding

development strategies that will move the region

towards a sustainable future.

11

Regional Context

14

Site LocationRegional Map

4 Mi

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Site LocationLocal Map

1 Mi

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Transportation IssuesFreeway Congestion The Los Angeles region has been living with congestion for decades. The spread of development further west and south from Downtown Los Angeles in an attempt by developers to find cheap, available land has created a demand for large amounts of transportation systems. In this region, freeways make up the majority of the transportation infrastructure. However, freeway systems are hard to expand once they have been constructed and improvements come with very high costs. The exponential growth in the region, coupled with lack of alternative transit systems, means some local freeways move in excess of half a million cars per day.

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Transportation IssuesExisting Rail Infrastructure Currently in the Los Angeles Region, commuter railway transportation is accomplished by the Metrolink system. Metrolink uses diesel-powered locomotives, with each train capable of carrying approximately 450 passengers. Although this system is quite effective at transporting commuters east to west, the lack of connections traveling north to south, which can be seen on the map opposite, limits the usefulness of the system for many potential riders. As an example, a rider traveling on the current Metrolink system from Claremont would have to ride all the way to either the Riverside Station or Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles in order to travel just a few miles south to the Corona Station.

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Transportation OpportunitiesCar Storage/Car Free Transit Community-scale transportation within the region needs to be reconsidered. Residential communities could be redesigned to be car-free environments. At the entrance to these communities, there would be a parking structure, or “car storage facility”, where vehicles could be deposited and secured while in the community. Alternatively, mass transit, such as rail, could potentially be used to reach the entrance to the site. From the storage area, bus/shuttle services could provide regular service between major nodes, while biking and walking could meet the majority of transportation requirements.

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Transportation OpportunitiesNorth/South Rail Lines

By adding connections between the existing three east-west Metrolink rail lines, the opportunity for local residents to utilize the system for their daily commute increases dramatically. These additions could come in the form of addition rail lines, light rail, busses, monorail, or high-speed maglev depending on estimated usage and budget available. However, given the high volume of commuter traffic in the region, any system would be able to pay for itself from ticket revenue if given a long enough period of time.

site

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Los Angeles is currently the second largest city in the United States. However, relative to other big cities the current average population density per square mile is quite low, with only 3000 people per square mile. By comparison, New York City, the first most populous city in the country, has an average density of 27,000 people per square mile. This dramatic difference is primarily due to the difference in development strategies, where New York City has expanded vertically and Los Angeles horizontally. Although many people prefer the lower density, it results in an increased demand on the urban support infrastructure.

Land Use IssuesLow Population Density

3000 People perSquare Mile

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Land Use IssuesDevelopment Strategy

The current model for development in the region is fragmented, disjointed, and has little thought given to the relationships between zoning areas and how they relate to one another. Under the current system, as is evident by the diagram to the left, the relative distance between amenities, such as housing and commercial areas, is quite large, making the car the only logical means of traveling between zones. This form of development is based around devoting large areas to a single purpose, such as housing developments or commercial parks.

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Land Use OpportunitiesTransportation-Oriented Developments Transportation-Oriented Development is a rethinking of the development strategies that are currently being implemented. By focusing design around connectivity and ensuring numerous integrations into the mass transit systems, the possibility to create communities that are no longer solely dependent on cars for transportation needs becomes a reality. These communities could have connections to both local bus and rail systems, thereby reducing residents’ requirements for personal transport. Also, by designing communities where the majority of the residents’ needs can be addressed by walking or biking, the need for a car is further diminished.

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Land Use OpportunitiesMulti-Use Developments

Mixed-use development helps address some of the shortcomings of the development strategies currently being implemented. Using a mixed-use strategy, individuals can live, work, and shop all within easy walking distance. The primary benefit of this style of development is it minimizes the distances required to be traveled, therefore reducing energy consumption and the need to use regional transportation infrastructure, such as freeways, for community transportation (i.e. grocery shopping).

Residential

Office/Commercial

Retail

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Current home plumbing does not discriminate where water goes, or where it comes from, based on its intended purpose. There is drinking-quality water in the sink, in the shower, in the washing machine, in the toilet. After this water is used, it is then channeled out of the house and into the sewer system for eventual processing at a waste water treatment facility before being released back into nature. Because the system is indiscriminate, using drinking-quality water for all applications, there are huge amounts of waste. As a result of all water being sent into the sewer system, regardless of relative contamination/cleanliness, treatment plants have to deal with very large volumes of water, most of which does not warrant such a thorough purification.

Water IssuesLinear Plumbing

House Fixtures Treatment

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Water OpportunitiesDynamic Plumbing

Developing home plumbing systems that only use drinking-quality water where necessary would allow for a substantial savings in water usage. Water would enter the home and be used for clean-water functions, such as showers, sinks, washers, etc. After that, it could be used in either a toilet or used to water outdoor landscaping, as the residue soaps and other contaminants would not be of sufficient quantities to damage the plant life. This way, only the dirtiest of water ends up being sent through the sewer system to a treatment plant, minimizing strain on the plant’s facilities and allowing for a greater capacity without increasing the size of the plant.

House Fixtures

Landscaping

Toilet

Treatment

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Currently, the Los Angeles region is heavily reliant on dirty energy sources, in particular coal, making up a staggering 52% of the power produced in the region. Although the 48% being represented by cleaner sources is better than the national average, it is by no means ideal. Natural gas is a cleaner alternative to coal, as it does not produce the black carbon soot associated with those types of power plants. However, as it is burning hydrocarbons it is still emitting greenhouse gasses. Nuclear power is currently the highest producing form of energy production, but is marred by poor public opinion due to past incidents regarding nuclear technologies. The hydroelectric power in the region comes from the Hoover Dam and California Aqueduct. Last, wind and solar make up a meager 5% of regional production, despite high potentials for both.

Energy IssuesDirty Power Sources

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Energy OpportunitiesSolar Potential

As shown in the chart at left, the solar potential of the Prado site is extremely high. If photo voltaic panels were to be incorporated into the architecture on the site, whether on roof tops or as a part of shade structures, much, if not all, of the site’s power needs could be met using solar alone. Photo voltaic panels do have a financial drawback, taking upwards of twenty years for a system to pay for itself. However, as other energy sources become increasingly more expensive and the technology surrounding the manufacturing of photo voltaic cells becomes increasingly more affordable, solar power is becoming a more attractive and feasible option all the time.

30

The rivers in the Los Angeles region are highly prone to flooding on a periodic basis without much warning. This potential problem has traditionally been dealt with by channelling the rivers in giant concrete culverts. Although this system has been effective at containing the seasonal flooding and preventing damage to local communities, it all but eradicates one of the most important habitats in the region, the riparian corridor. Many local species, both plant and animal, have evolved along local river ways. As the region grows, more rivers are being contained and channeled,

Wildlife IssuesRiparian Corridors

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Freeways dominate a large portion of the region’s landscape, weaving and overlapping with each other to provide the foundation of the regional transportation. These large expanses of concrete and asphalt act as barriers for local wildlife, being impassable due to both the construction of sound walls along the edges of many freeways and the extreme speeds and constant presence of traffic. This presents a problem at the intersection of the 91 and 71 freeways. The 71 freeway divides the Chino Hills State Park from the Prado Regional Park, while the 91 separates it from the Cleveland National Forest to the south. This not only isolates the state park, but, because Prado Regional Park connects to the Santa Ana River watershed, a primary connection to the San Gabriel Mountains, it bisects the only migration path from the coastal mountain ranges to the San Gabriel Mountains.

Wildlife IssuesDivision of Habitat

32

Many cities facing similar issues to the Los Angeles region have adopted a different strategy for their rivers that still meets the requirements for flood control, but leaves them to be utilized as open space for both residents and wildlife when the water levels are not at their peak. The insert at right shows how the City of San Jose, California has implemented such a strategy, utilizing the space as a linear park for pedestrians and bicyclists. It also provides a protected wildlife corridor that is isolated by the channel walls and is below street level. At the convergence of these corridors, constructed wetlands could be developed to provide habitat as well as act as a natural filtration system for the river.

Wildlife OpportunitiesRiparian Parks/Constructed Wetlands

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Wildlife OpportunitiesWildlife Bridges

The issue of the 91 and 71 freeways bisecting Chino Hills State Park from the Prado Regional Park and Cleveland National Forest could be easily remedied by the addition of wildlife bridges. Bridges like the one shown at left are being used in many areas where local deer populations crossing freeways have been the cause of major accidents. These overpass-like structures provide safe passage for the animals and keep them off the road and out of harm’s way, resulting in a safer driving environment as well as a more connected habitat system.

Conceptual Design

36

Design Concept

The current model for human expansion has

become ineffective and out of touch with the natural

systems from which we evolved. We develop hugely

complicated systems to overcome challenges that

should have never existed to begin with. Some prime

examples of such systems are the Los Angeles freeway

system, which exists so that individuals can work

great distances from their homes. Another example

is the parking lot, a huge impervious area which only

functions as a place for cars to be stored while taking

up huge amounts of open space. The Prado site has

the potential to work as a new model, incorporating

cultural education, historical and natural preservation,

low impact development, and a restructuring of the

modern community to accommodate the utilization

of the land and the resources provided by the

community’s specific surroundings. The underlying

concept behind this design is that of a spider’s web, a

interweaving of multiple elements to create a singular,

interconnected whole. By interconnecting natural,

cultural, commercial, educational, and residential

functions through an efficient mass transit system, the

National Cultural Center of the Native Americans can

serve as a template for the future of development in

the Los Angeles/Southern California region. On the

following pages, we will be discussing what elements

would be necessary to accomplish this goal.

37

750 Ft

38

Euclid Avenue is a North/South oriented, four-lane street which incorporates a 55 foot wide center median for the majority of its length. It crosses the three existing East/West rail lines and is a major connection between the Cities of Upland and Ontario, and continues south almost to the City of Corona. This street would be a perfect location for a North/South transportation corridor, acting as a bridge between the existing East/West rail infrastructure. The first option, with the lowest cost and smallest amount of new infrastructure required, is to simply improve the existing bus routes/schedules to perform more regular service along the avenue, with more stops and traveling along the entire length of the street. This option would require little investment and could be used by commuters using the rail system as a connection shuttle between rail lines.

Regional Transit CorridorLow-Cost Solution

39

On the other end of the cost spectrum is a high-speed maglev train. These trains move at very high speeds and would be capable of doing a 16 mile journey from the existing Upland station to the Corona station, including a stop at the Ontario station, in roughly fifteen minutes. During this trip it would travel at speeds of roughly 125 MPH, but would be able to do so without making more noise than regular road traffic. This is because the train is being levitated using magnetic repulsion, so there are no parts making physical contact to create noise. These trains also have the benefit of being run on overhead guideways, as shown at left. This would allow for it to be integrated into the existing median without major disruption. Lastly, the system would have a 100,000 riders per day capacity, over two-thirds the current daily usage of Highway 71.

Regional Transit CorridorHigh-Cost Solution

40

At right is a conceptual rendering of the Multicultural Art Center (far) and Performing Arts Exhibition Hall (near). The Multicultural Art Center would be a compilation of artwork, both classic and contemporary, created by the indigenous populations of North America. Aside from a thorough permanent collection, there would be cycling exhibitions highlighting the works of specific regions, tribes, artists, or eras. In this way, there would always be something new to see. The Performing Arts Exhibition Hall is a place where musical or theatrical performances can be held. The concept behind this structure is that it could be used by visiting groups as an education platform, or by community members as a community cultural element.

Cultural CenterArts, Exhibitions, Education

41

The National North-American Native Seed Bank is a concept borrowed from Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom. The objective would be to gather a collection of seeds representing every plant species native to North America (roughly 200,000 distinct species). These seeds could then be stored at the seed bank for indefinite periods of time, with the intention being that if a species ever began to decline or near extinction, the seed bank would be able to propagate it. This helps to preserve the natural diversity of North America while functioning as a research/educational facility for those studying native horticulture.

National Seed BankNorth American Species Preservation

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The traditional model for a five-star hotel, with its monolithic-like proportions, did not seem to fit into the context of the site. Instead, the resort will be a central lodge, surrounded by small bungalows. Each of these bungalows will be designed with the environment in mind, utilizing “green” building techniques and solar technologies to make them energy-independent. Aside from the five-star accommodations, the peace and solitude that go along with the resort’s location along the banks of the wetland would make it a beautiful destination, with each season showcasing a different experience. During the winter months, a guest could see nothing but the reflection of the sky in the glass-like smoothness of the water during its high season. Or in the spring, a guest could see a flock of hundreds of geese taking off for a morning flight.

ResortFive-Star Retreat

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The incorporation of a University Extension Campus, possibly from Cal Poly Pomona or one of the Claremont Colleges, into the site provides huge learning opportunities. Students could participate in the running of the activities at the cultural center, conduct studies of the wetland ecology and biological systems, tend to a herd of buffalo, learn how to maintain a farm, or aid in the management of the resort. These are just a few of the unique opportunities that students could partake in because of this site’s diversity, making it an entirely unique curriculum.

University Extension CampusLearning on Location

44

As discussed earlier in this book, multi-use zoning is a more efficient model for community development, allowing for individuals to live, work, and shop all within walking distance. At right is an example of what this community may look like, with retail shopping at ground level, commercial office space on the second floor, and residences occupying the third. This area could become a regional shopping destination as well as a highly desirable location for businesses looking to associate themselves with this project’s forward-looking ideology.

Multiuse ZoningResidential & Commercial

45

Having agriculture on site, such as crop production and herds of buffalo, allows the site to be a more self-sustaining community than any other in the region. Most food has to be shipped great distances from where it is produced to the shelves of local shops. By having the production and sale all located on a single site, the added cost of transportation is eliminated. It also would provide a continuous supply of food to the residents with incomparable freshness. In addition, since all of the food would be grown using low-impact techniques, there would be an added health benefit for consumers as well.

On-Site AgricultureSelf-Sufficient Food Production

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47

Conclusion The Los Angeles Region’s current pattern of

expansion is not a sustainable one. This development

strategy must be revised if people are to continue to

prosper in this part of the world. The design proposal

outlined in the previous pages addresses many of the

issues that are associated with past developments

within the region. By weaving the site plan together

using transportation, cultural, and natural elements as

a foundation, a more harmonious and cohesive system

begins to be developed. The interwoven strategy

developed here, when applied on a wider scale to

communities across the Los Angeles region, addresses

many of the concerns regarding development

strategies that will move the region towards a

sustainable future in which man can live harmoniously

within a natural system, not imposing his own upon it.

Prado’s Web