Dodger Stadium is one of my favorite parks in baseball. Completed in 1962, it’s architecture features everything great about the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Below are images of the stadium along with design concepts and historical images that I found on Walter O’Malley’s Official site.
Los Angeles Dodger's Vice President of stadium operations Dick Walsh show's off an early concept model for the new Dodger Stadium
The concept for a new stadium began with industrial designer Buckminster Fuller (pictured above with Dodger president Walter O'Malley) Fuller proposed a geodesic dome to cover the stadium which would allow for 365 days of great weather for baseball.
The decision was made to move the Dodgers to Los Angeles and the new stadium would be built in Chavez Ravine. Below are early artist concept sketches for the stadium. Some ideas made it into the final stadium, some did not.
Early concept for a viewing board
An early sketch of a proposed scoreboard on the fence. This idea was not integrated into the final design.
The scoreboard today
The viewing board as realized today. You can sit in "MANNYWOOD"
Concepts for checkerboard seat colors
Early installation of chairs.
The original seating configuration. Note the aqua, red and yellow seats.
The renovation and tossing of the original seats
The original gold seats.
The new seating configuration.
The new seats
A precursor to today’s stadium suites, an artist’s rendering of enclosing the dugout boxes was considered for Dodger Stadium. The dugout level would have been enclosed by glass and air conditioned for the ultimate in fan comfort and proximity to the players.
An artist’s rendering of potential stadium boxes for the use of Dodger Stadium. Hanging boxes would have provided another method of fan comfort and improving the enjoyment of viewing a game.
Visitors dugout and field level seating as realized today. Note the color-blocked barricade separating the field level and infield level seating areas.
Colored walls were proposed for the parking lot
Multi-colored bumpers were also considered
A special food section for Dodger fans that would incorporate casual dining and an ice cream parlor.
Great Dodger Dog sign in the stadium
A more modern Dodger Dog ad.
Signature Dodger garlic fries.
An early stadium model
A proposed sculpture for behind the stadium
Think Blue sculpture that stands behind the stadium today.
A fountain with multi-colored lights was proposed for center field, it would have been a stadium first.
The current center field.
More great details at Dodger Stadium:
Great fonts.
Atomic rafters in the bleachers
Stacked cinderblocks to create a textured effect.
More great ideas that never made it into the final stadium:
A monorail to take fans to and from the parking lot
Glass overpasses for fans in the parking lot
Moving sidewalks
Being from New York City, I couldn’t bring myself to wear an LA hat, so I brought out the classic Brooklyn Dodgers hat:
Related Post:
Infiltrate Oriole Park at Camden Yards
The Monsanto House of the Future was an attraction at Disneyland built in 1957. The attraction featured a conceptualized home of the future from the year 1986. The house featured kitchen appliances such as microwaves (that had yet to be commonplace in most homes) The attraction was unfortunately torn down in 1967.
The floor plan below from an article in “Popular Mechanics”:
Below are some of the original concept sketches for the interior. You can see the influence of Charles and Ray Eames, Nelson, Miller, Knoll and others.
Above concept art via JustinSpace
German Architect’s Television Tower Models 1950’s – 1970’s
January 24, 2010
These amazing models of DDR communication towers were made in Germany. I’m obsessed with them. They look amazing in groups!
I saw this amazing mid-century modern model of the Berkeley West Building by architect Charles M. Wickett on Ebay.
Raymond Loewy House – Palm Springs
July 8, 2009
Raymond Loewy had an amazing house in Palm Springs. Check it out below.
Loewy in the pool with his family
The swimming pool goes right into the living space!
Loewy's bathroom
Raymond Loewy relaxing at home
Loewy at work in the living room
Loewy entertaining guests at the bar
The house was equipped with a custom Studebaker Avanti painted brown to match the house and parked in the driveway
Alert to all Associate Operatives:
Operatives from the Office of the Director have been following me. They are seeking information regarding my resignation. The shutters in Amsterdam below are a code which will pin point my future whereabouts. I have been able to breach this channel to alert you. Please proceed to rendezvous point X27 after deciphering code:
Purple Shutters (flickr)
Apricot shutters (flickr)
Red shutters (the invisible agent)
(the invisible agent)
Indigo shutters (flickr)
X shutter (the invisible agent)
– The Invisible Agent
Great Door Knocker in Amsterdam
April 14, 2009
More Great Space Age Architecture
December 29, 2008
Here are a few more of my favorite space age buildings in addition to the Jested Tower:
The Space Needle in Seatle - 1962 World's Fair
Capital Tower in Hollywood CA - 1955-1956
CN Tower in Toronto - Designed in 1968
Bubble House, France - 1968 Designed by achitect Antti Lovag
The interior of Lovag's Bubble House
My new Office - Image from the 1964 LA Times
Vacation Destination – Jested Teletower in the Czech Republic
December 13, 2008
I’m already planning my winter vacation for next year. I will definitely be staying at the Jested Teletower in the Czech Republic. Aside from great skiing, the Jested Tower is an incredible 1960’s futuristic building. The Jested Tower was designed and built between 1963-1968 by architect Karl Hubacek. The tower is in the shape of a hyperboloid, and resembles a “futuristic” space ship. I love that the tower is a hotel that also serves as a television transmitter. The interior hasn’t changed that much.
The Jested Teletower's outside view. I love the hyperboloid shape
The original bar - Great bar stools!
The bar as it looks today
The original restaurant - I'm obsessed with the chairs!
The restaurant today - The hanging lights are great! I'm glad they're still hanging today!
Another view of the original restaurant
Another view of the current restaurant
The current hallway has hanging chairs
Another view of the hallway - I love the Louise Nevelson-"esque" sculptures
One of the original hotel room interiors
Another view of one of the original hotel rooms - The old television set received it's signal directly from the tower!
Here's how the rooms look today. Even more space age! I can't wait to wear a tuxedo the whole time I'm here!
The view from the top of the mountain makes you feel as though you're flying
Transmitters in the tower are still used today for televison broadcasting
More technology for broadcasting inside the tower
The Invisible Agent 