Critiquing BIG's Oakland Ballpark Design
Published: March 29, 2021
A collision of my two favorite topics: biophilic design and Sporting venues. Yet, in this instance, the two could have been integrated much better than they were.
To me, the designer wasn't able to put their preconceived design personality aside and interjected it too forcefully into the design. I think green roofs and a baseball ballpark can co-exist—it just didn't all come together in this design.
Being that Bjarke Ingles Group is a Danish architecture firm, I question their understanding of the fan interaction elements that make Baseball America's past time. Why is centerfield so deep and angular, rather than rounded? Why is there little space for attendees to catch home runs in the outfield stands.
No Space for "Armchair" Umpires
Seats behind home plate are the most coveted in the entire ballpark and tickets sell for a premium price. This is because the most adamant fans feel the highest sense of interaction with the on-field product through proximity to the plate.
Here, they have a perfect view of the batter's box and see exactly where the pitch hits. As a sort of 'armchair' umpire, they find joy in determining whether the pitch was a Ball or a Strike.
The green roof is at its tallest height behind home plate, offering little opportunity for its occupants to even see the home plate, much less judge the pitch. This is a missed opportunity. These unwritten elements of fan interaction earn a ballpark its prestigious location amongst staples of American architecture.
No Longer a Brick and Mortar Typology?
As stated earlier, there is either a lack of respect or understanding for the history of Baseball and Ballparks from the architects.
Ballparks have a well-defined architectural aesthetic consisting of brick clad walls and expressed steel structure. To some, this jungle of steel trussing, bracing, and struts appears garish—to the adamant fans, it represents the grit of professional sports. As well, it harkens back to the steel-framing architectural boom of the 1920's (Roaring Twenties), when baseball was in its hey-day.
The ground-to-roof glazing on this Ballpark could be mistaken for the typology of Airports or Office buildings.
Nothing about this façade communicates 'Baseball'.
Who would Walk Up that Steep Ramp?
When a green roof ramps down to grade, it carries the expectation that people will traverse to the top. Yet, the only foot traffic I can envision are people looking for exercise and channeling Rocky Balboa (running up and down a set of steep steps repeatedly for a workout).
On a smaller building, this steep slope would be digestible. But this ballpark is easily one, if not two, hundred feet tall. And that goes without mentioning the walking paths are zig-zagging switch backs, not straight shots. That is a long walk for an event that should be relaxing.
This is a strenuous and long walk uphill just to arrive at a rooftop deck where the views of the Baseball Game are the worst.
My suggestion for this design would be to limit the ramping green roofs to the outfield areas, and opt for a more traditional system elsewhere.
Entry at the Least Dense Portion of the Ballpark?
This visual promenade into the Ballpark is probably one of the design's brightest spots . . . but still, I take issue with its logic.
Being such a manicured and directional space, this promenade is surely seen as a main entry into the Ballpark. BUT, where are they entering into? The path leads directly into the least dense section of the entire stadium, where there aren't actually any seats.
Wouldn't it make the most sense for this promenade to be on the other side of the Stadium where the vast majority of seating is? This way, people can reach their seats behind home plate, or along the base lines, with ease.
The Outfield Stands are Tiny
One of the most popular activities at baseball games is to bring your own glove and park yourself in the outfield. Here, you're primed to chase down and catch any Homeruns that leave the field. At any game, you will find plenty of adults and children doing just this.
Yet, in this design, there is hardly any seating or standing room in the outfield. The farthest regions of Left and Right Field, where most home runs land, are absent of any occupancy. For some strange walls?
The green roof in these areas are far too tall for home runs to regularly reach.
As well, where is the Pitchers' bullpens in this render? Why is center field so deep and angular? These are odd omissions and designs.
A Shipyard Gantry Crane as a Backdrop?
This Ballpark occupies an incredible waterfront location on the Oakland Estuary. Here, it is poised to look out on to the water and potentially have ships passing by as a backdrop . . . except, it doesn't do this. This seems like a large lost opportunity to me.
One doesn't have to travel far to see this done correctly. Just across the Bay in San Francisco, the Giant's Oracle Park has its right field butting up against the quay. Here, a tradition was born—people sit on the Bay in kayaks and try to catch home runs that leave the Ballpark. This is an activity that epitomizes the Oracle Park experience.
In Oakland, attendees will be left staring a shipyard gantry crane looming over the outfield. It neither looks nice nor offers an avenue for fans to interact with the game.
