The Architect’s Newspaper wrote that Santa Monica has selected a short list of landscape architects, architects, and urban designers to create the Palisades Garden Walk and Town Square, which will cover seven acres between Santa Monica City Hall and the pier and border residential development. The six finalists include: Peter Walker and Partners, Gehry Partners, James Corner Field Operations, Studio Works, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, and SWA Group. Ken Smith, a leading landscape architect, and USC architecture dean Qingyun Ma are part of the selection panel.
According to Architect’s Newspaper, the town square, which is next to the city hall, will become a multi-functional civic and cultural event space. The planned “garden walk” will focus on the ”city’s unique ‘cultural’ and ‘horticultural’ offerings, including a botanical element and water features.” There will be a range of street improvements — pedestrian and bicicyle paths will be added to better integrate the city and the park.
The city will spend $25 million for design and construction of the project. Construction will begin in August of next year.
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Image credit: City of Santa Monica
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