L.A. Architects Demonstrate Livable, Affordable, Scalable Density

Architects Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa discuss their new exhibit and the challenges to planning and building affordable, livable density in Southern California today.

1 minute read

December 12, 2019, 11:00 AM PST

By Clare Letmon


Los Angeles Architects

Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa. | CalderOliver / Wikimedia Commons

DENSE-CITY: Housing for Quality of Life and Social Capital is an exhibition of projects by L.A.-based architecture studio Brooks + Scarpa exploring urban development, cultural equity, and access to public space. 

TPR spoke with principal architects Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa to discuss the exhibit and the challenges to planning and building affordable, livable density in Southern California today, explaining how:

"The exhibit is really to talk about the word ‘density’, which I think is a dirty word for a lot of people. Density is what makes a livable community, and so the exhibit is really a story to help people understand how density and livability are tied together. We looked at population density versus housing density. Some people get that confused, but they're two different things."

Read the full interview and subscribe at The Planning Report.

Thursday, December 5, 2019 in The Planning Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

AI-generated image of high-speed rail trail in elevated track in green hilly farmland.

Four Reasons Urban Planners Can’t Ignore AI

It’s no longer a question of whether AI will shape planning, but how. That how is up to us.

May 28, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Close-up of red Amtrak Borealis train at station.

Amtrak’s Borealis Exceeds First Year Ridership Expectations

205,800 passengers have boarded the St. Paul to Chicago line, well above initial MDOT projections.

45 minutes ago - Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Line of multi-colored big rig trucks drivign down highway with other traffic including a yellow school bus.

Study: 4% of Truckers Lack a Valid Commercial License

Over 56% of inspected trucks had other violations.

June 4 - FreightWaves

Pedestrian holding visual impairment cane pressing crosswalk button.

Chicago Judge Orders Thousands of Accessible Ped Signals

Only 3% of the city's crossing signals are currently accessible to blind pedestrians.

June 4 - DRA Legal

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.