Multi-Ethnic Third Place: Community Garden Center in Wilshire Neighborhood of Los Angeles

Abstract

Many different ethnic groups have moved to United States and built their own ethnic enclaves and neighborhoods. In recent years, some newer ethnic communities are facing social conflicts due to overlapping ethnic boundaries and competing ethnic identities. The objective of the design portion of the thesis is to explore a series of urban design and architectural strategies using the concept of "Third place" introduced by an urban sociologist, Ray Oldenburg. The project introduces community garden as a cross-cultural buffer space in the multi-ethnic neighborhood in Los Angeles and provides negotiating stage for better public community life. The community garden, retail shops, and wide range of housing options allow people to meet, share, and negotiate on neutral ground for every ethnic groups in the Wilshire neighborhood. The whole facility addresses to re-tighten community bond on many levels and offers to have people's own "third place" in their lives.