Building Dodger Stadium: Walter O’Malley’s search for nature and modernism in Los Angeles

In the mid twentieth century, a time in which modernist principles of planning and design were influential, the Brooklyn Dodgers sought a new stadium in Southern California. Increased emphasis on an auto-dominant built form aligned with the construction of freeways that would provide access for the growing suburban fan base. In addition, finding a site in an ever-expanding metropolitan region with topographic variability, required significant engineering prowess. Once acquired, the site design emphasized access, comfort, and efficiency. The modern stadium served as a window to the surrounding rugged terrain, while simultaneously meeting the expectations of a suburban populace.