John Kaliski Architects (JKA), working with MIG, were contracted to conduct an urban design survey for Smoky Hollow, City of El Segundo. As part of this exercise, JKA observed and documented field conditions within and immediately surrounding the Smoky Hollow Study Area. Tasks include site visits conducted in the summer and winter of 2014 and the spring of 2015, spatial analysis utilizing geographic information systems data, and interviews with community stakeholders.

JKA, working with Dyett and Bhatia, undertook photo-documentation and community walking workshops to study the identities of a variety of single-family neighborhoods. These communities, ranging from hillsides to flats as well as equestrian communities, are characterized by distinct building masses, bulks and heights, architectural styles, and landscape features. Using the photo library and 3D visualization, JKA established a framework of known conditions that characterizes the suburban quality of these neighborhoods and then proposed urban design guidelines to conserve the street and neighborhood characters.

After in-depth studies of the site, JKA presented observations encompassing the characteristics of the urban form, statuses and styles of buildings, street conditions, and the community’s perceptions of the site. Based on these observations, JKA further developed themes and preliminary recommendations for the long-term physical, environmental, and urban design for this area, to facilitate the drafting of the forthcoming updates in Smoky Hollow’s specific plan.