Meeting minutes 10-22-09

Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
Landscape Design Meeting
Thursday, October 22, 11:00am
Present: Carina Bien-Willner, Aaron Leppanen, Lisa Lee Benjamin, Karla Dakin
Minutes

The conversation started around technical aspects of the building design with regards to the green roof area. Aaron said there is a mininum 6” depth for growing media. There needs to be 6”-24” of media to cover beams. They have the drainage plans in place. They are using EPRO waterproofing. Carina has sent us the specifications. There is a question of whether the membrane system includes a root barrier, especially up the sides of stem walls.

We talked about retaining the growing media on steep slopes and the potential need for additional material (i.e. Hydrotech plastic web product). This decision should be flushed out before the roof is poured and the waterproofing membrane installed.

Lisa recommends installing the International Leak Detection Service and will pass on the contacts to Carina so she can contact them directly.

There was conversation of about the budget as the Landscape team felt that $200,000 is too low. Aaron spoke about getting materials donated and soliciting additional donations from Countries will to “sponsor trees.”

Museum programming: archival and temporary exhibits. Educational component huge and a strong affiliation with the LA Public School District.

Scheduling:

Design: Weekly meetings, to collaborate on design with Carina and Aaron, will take place on Thursday at 10:00am pacific time until late December. We will include Hagy and Mark to seek approval on design milestones.

Construction: (Carina will send updated schedule)
Roof pour 12/30/09
Waterproofing 1/15/10 (43 day float)
Landscape install 4/19-5/19/10*
Flatwork complete 4/19-5/19/10

*Landscape installation will have to be staggered to accommodate all exterior building construction to avoid destruction of landscape.

Conceptual Framework:

Avoid prickly or strong architectural forms. They like voluptuous, voluminous grasses or plants with a similar feel. The palette should be relatively subtle and simple. BIG FLUFFY DOG.
Building materials: concrete and glass. The concrete is Colton concrete which has a whiteness to it.

The color accents in the palette of the planting design should be minimal so there are punches of color at different locations. There could be variations of blue and green. Don’t bring a lot of attention to it. It is important how it integrates into the adjacent park. They like the idea of subtle movement in the plant material. One grass with two unique features that is evocative. Greens that contrast with grass of the park, a variation of grass. Sea Green and/or gray greens. No chartreuse.

The glass on the building is 55% translucent, white film with a green tint. Whitish, grayish, green aluminum (clear, anodized) framing around the glass. Stainless steel railings. The monument is polished black granite. No water features as part of the plan.

Existing trees are California Sycamores which cast beautiful shadows on south walls- there are 3 large ones which are staying. There is also a concrete amphitheater adjacent to the building.

Pedestrian access: 3 main entries. The view sheds of the se approaches are important to the experience of the museum:
Entry= long ramp underground. Plants flush with guard rails. An opening cut out of the earth. The entry symbolizes the world as it was (pre WWII). The audience experiences the content together. The story gets darker and the group experience gets separated. Dark no light, descends into the earth, low ceiling. As the future progresses with the story of Israel, light comes back into play. Memory and story are being told underground and under the park. The park or landscape is oblivious but also could be one of reflection. Landscape is like the time before Adam and Eve.

Another area of interest is north of the monument. The mechanicals need to be screened. 2’ soil depth here. Needs to be softened.

12” is the average soil depth.