CALIFORNIA CITY (United States, 2010-2011)
In the 1950s the Czechoslovak sociologist Nathan K. Mendelsohn developed plans for California City, a utopian city in the desert that could relieve the pressures of population growth in Los Angeles and San Francisco. A grid of 52,000 parcels was laid out on 330 square kilometres of land, along with expressways, streets and utilities. There was also a park, the world’s largest lake with a plastic liner, golf courses and model dwellings. Although initially all the lots were sold, California City still has only 14,000 residents. Elian Somers’s project combines her photography with reproductions of old photos and a parcellation plan.
