When the Oakland Coliseum opened in 1966, it was hailed as a Brutalist gem that could house two sports in an elegantly simple, circular design.
A half-century later, it is perhaps America’s most hated sports stadium. Players and coaches deride it. The Oakland Raiders are fleeing it. [...]
Even these pages have called it “a bland, charmless concrete monstrosity” that “isn’t worthy of preservation.”
— The New York Times
Writing in The New York Times, Jack Nicas embarks on a spirited defense of the Oakland Coliseum, warts and all.
Nicas writes, "Yes, the Coliseum is ugly, but it is cheap, gritty and fun. The spacious confines allow fans to roam around, spread out and enjoy a comprehensive view of the game. And the park’s dinginess fosters a freewheeling atmosphere, where bleacher die-hards bang drums and heckle outfielders, while upper-deck denizens pack picnics and pass joints," adding, "It all adds up to a baseball experience that stands out in the increasingly homogeneous ballpark landscape."
The 53-year old stadium is due to be replaced by a new facility designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, Gensler, and James Corner Field Operations on a different site. The existing stadium, under the plan, will be scraped to create a sunken amphitheater that would serve as the heart of a new housing and park complex planned for the site.
Listen to architecture critic Paul Goldberger discuss the BIG-led proposal in episode 142 of Archinect Sessions:
15 Comments
The existing stadium will be 'scraped' or 'scrapped'? There is a difference.
Scraped rather literally, the proposal calls for basically demolishing the structural elements of the stadium and just leaving the playing field. Bjarke has described the plan for the coliseum site as one that will create a "21st Century ruin" out of the existing ballpark.
If it works and is well built, why not clad it and decorate it? Looks like it has enough symmetry to work with.
I'd really enjoy this, but it's far more enticing to spend other people's money on the archifad of the decade.
Germany is still using their stadium built in the early 30s for the 1936 Olympics. The roof is an add-on, but still looks more attractive than the Oakland Raider digs did new. I shudder to think what Bjarke Ingles will come up with. The HOK designed Mercedes Stadium in Atlanta is the most claustraphobic, sun-deprived, ugliest stadium place I have ever been.
Also still using the stadiums in Munich. The Olympiapark is really lovely, and quite well used.
The original stadium was a very nice design by SOM. It was covered up with lots of horrible expansions and "improvements" that wrecked the circular geometry, covered up the expressed structural framing, and took away all of the surrounding lawns and greenery. The stadium should really be restored via the removal of all the accretions of later junk.
The stadium is also one of the last purpose-built dual use baseball-football stadiums in the country, if I am not mistaken, though it's no longer used that way.
Another is the Aloha Stadium in Hawaii, designed by Charles Luckman (Luckman Partnership) in 1975. Though this one is also locked into one use now. Picture below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Stadium
The rationale for driving an old car is useful here, too: At least it's paid for.
It also uses less resources.
That, too! Of course, all this wisdom toward conservation and efficiency faces the gauntlet of corporate interests and sport-cultural expectations. But wouldn't it be great if a city, team, and developer joined forces and flouted The Latest Thing to focus their efforts on sustainability? It could end up as a distinctive branding advantage if done well.
If their thinking sustainability, better to re-use it and spend your money on extending BRT or a street car to the site and in-fill the surrounding parking lots with a dense neighborhood integrated into surrounding neighborhoods. It would make a great studio project as this kind of work will certainly be on the upswing. As opposed to this... https://archinect.com/features/article/150158482/postgraduate-students-present-final-projects-at-sci-arc-s-edge-symposium
^ In all fairness, someone has to design the sets for the next six 'Terminator' sequels...
True, and I’m glad you said that because exercising one’s conceptual and sculptural thinking has its place, just not as the core of one’s education.
Does anyone here live (quarantine) in Oakland or the East Bay?
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