Vehicle attacks on crowds are on the rise, either by terrorists or dangerous drivers. This is impacting the design of public space, with officials placing security bollards -- the short, sturdy pillars that rise out of the ground -- near pedestrian areas that draw large crowds. But how do you protect pedestrians without making them feel they are in a hostile space? The Compton-based company Calpipe made the bollards that stopped a car on a deadly rampage at New York’s Times Square. We talk about designing bollards to protect not fortify, the ways in which they can disguised as street furniture, and the public spaces in Los Angeles where you might find them.
Rob Reiter, Dylan Markus and Greg Davidson pose in front of hydraulic security
bollards at Calpipe Industries, Inc. in Compton. (Photo by Avishay Artsy)
