SMALL AT LARGE

BRIDGES AND ECO CANOPY, JOSHUA TREE CA. SEE BLOGS: “JOSHUA TREE 2016”, AND “MIRAGE OR OASIS”

TO MY SURPRISE THE GALLEY SHOW ” SMALL AT LARGE” AT TAYOR JUNCTION IN JOSHUA TREE FROM APRIL 8TH TO APRIL 23 RD 2017 , CURATED BY ROLO CASTILLO AND MYSELF WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. THE PROMOTOR BEING THOMAS FJAILATAM WHO WAS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND IS THE DIRECTOR FOR LIFE SPAN, BRIDGES AND ECO CANOPY FOR JOSHUA TREE.

THOMAS GOT THE LAND OWNERS WITH FRONTAGE OF HWY 62 TO THE SHOW: CROSS ROADS CAFE, ALL AMERICAN REALTY, AND THE PIZZA COMPLEX GIVING THE THUMBS UP, THEY ALONG WITH TAYLOR JUNCTION AND RANDY POLUMBO ART QUEEN COMPLEX ALL IN FAVOR. THE MOMENTUM IS BUILDING.

ROD CHAPPLE A CLIENT AND FRIEND OF MINE FROM OREGON SPONSORED THE SHOW FOR THE PRINTS ON DISPLAY. MARK LUNQUIST THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR FOR JAMES RAMOS SHOWED UP WITH HIS WIFE. THE PRESS : THE HI DESERT STAR , PALMS SPRINGS LIFE MAGAZINE AND THE DESERT SUN ALL DOING ARTICLES.

THE DESERT SUN CLAIMING THE LIFE SPAN BRIDGE WAS ” PIE IN THE SKY” MAYBE TO SOME, BUT THAT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY WHEN DOING SOMETHING NEW. THEY DID INCLUDE THE SUSPENSION STRUCTURE LIFE SPAN BRIDGE RENDERING THAT SELLS ITSELF.

THE BOTTOM LINE OF SAVING LIVES CREATES A MUST HAPPEN SCENARIO.

A GRANT WRITER HAS SHOWN INTEREST IN PROMOTING THE LIFE SPAN BRIDGES. I NEVER HAVE FELT RAISING MONEY WAS THE ISSUE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A WORTHWHILE CAUSE, MONEY WILL HAPPEN.

THE DOWN SIDE BEING THIS HOLISTIC URBAN DESIGN TAKES TIME AND HARD WORK TO PULL OFF.

* Leslie Shaw photo and article for hi desert star

THE CONCEPT BEING TO MAKE A PEDESTRIAN LOOP OF DOWNTOWN JOSHUA TREE WITH PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES AT EITHER END OF TOWN. A WALKING EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE ABUNDANT GALLERIES, SALOON, RESTAURANTS, CAFES SHOPS AND POCKET PARKS.
ELEVATORS AS WELL AS EXPOSED STAIRS CREATING A POSITIVE CROSS OVER EXPERIENCE. THE ELEVATORS BEING A FIRST FOR PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES FOR CALTRANS. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A COMMON FUNCTION IN AIRPORTS.

YES, THIS IS GENTRIFYING JOSHUA TREE, BUT WHEN YOU ARE CHARGED 3 DOLLARS FOR A COOKIE, THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.
MAKING A HANDS OFF SPECIAL LOW SCALE DOWNTOWN ZONING KEEPS THE CHAIN STORES OUT.

THE TWIST BRIDGE WITH PARTNER RANDY POLUMBO . THE CONCEPT TO HAVE ACTIVITIES HAPPENING WHILE CROSSING THE BRIDGE. DANCING WITH LIVE BAND IS OCCURRING IF YOU LOOK CLOSE. THE MID POINT BEING 32’ WIDE. KINETIC SEATING ISLANDS ADJUST AND ROLL AS NEEDED.
THE SOLID ELEMENTS BEING ELEVATOR AND EQUIPMENT SHAFTS. THE OPEN STAIRS OPPOSITE. RANDY TO DO AN ART PIECE.

THE BRIDGES ACTING AS WELCOME TO DOWNTOWN JOSHUA TREE.

EXISTING

THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM BEING A LATTICE STRUCTURE THAT ACTS AS A SIMPLE BEAM WITH THE MID POINT HIGHEST AND TAPERING TO THE SIDEWALKS.

THE TWIST BRIDGE MODEL, REVIVING MY SOLDERING DAYS.

A TWISTING SHADE SKIN THAT WRAPS AROUND THE BOTTOM

THE WIDTH OF THE ROAD IS 160 FEET FROM FACE OF BUILDINGS TO FACE OF BUILDINGS. 20’ SIDEWALKS FOR PARIS ACTIVITIES. PARALLEL PARKING , DROP OFF AND BIKE LANES FOR 30’ AND FIVE 12’ LANE HWY WITH CENTER LANE TURNING.

THE STAIRS AND ELEVATORS WITH GUARD RAIL COMING DOWN IN PARALLEL PARKING LANE.

EXISTING

MODEL IN WHITE

MODEL IN WHITE

ECO CANOPY SYSTEM SHADE, MISTING, PONDS, SWALES, SOLAR, RECYCLE, PLANTS ETC. LEAVING THE EXISTING IN PLACE AND THE LANDOWNERS DOING THEIR THING OF DESERT FUNK. CLUE ME IN IF YOU HAVE EVER SEEN THIS SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES OR EVEN IN THE WORLD?