The Expanded Sidewalk

Set in Leimert Park, an exciting area in Los Angeles with a strong sense of community enacted through informal gathering along the streets, The Expanded Sidewalk continues this informal gathering throughout the site supporting a more community focused museum. Located on a site with an adjacent metro plaza, the building’s footprint is minimized to maximize public space. The ground is then lifted, with the educational, lobby, and metro spaces located off the street. Finally, this lifted ground is manipulated to create a performance plaza for film screenings and various other informal performances. Through this, The Expanded Sidewalk opens the museum to the public and weaves the different citizen groups of the area to create a series of engaging spaces that support spontaneous and community enriching interactions.