Redlands Sports Grove
Introduction
What if we understood stadiums differently? What people believe is a place to host events, I see as a space to rebuild communities. With the use of strategic circulation, this project understands and utilizes the power of spectatorship to rebuild and revitalize communities beyond only sports.
This project was designed in alignment with my thesis research.
PROCESS
A Stadium in the Heart of Redlands
Downtown Redlands is the heart and soul of colorful Redlands with local business owners, community markets, and generations of history on full display here. Yet sitting directly in the center of it all is the Redlands Mall, currently abandoned and unused. This void of space breaks the urban flow of a walkable downtown Redlands, increasing homeless and crime in the area.
Understanding the complete surroundings of the site, my goal was to rebuild this urban flow, and continue making Downtown Redlands a destination for tourists and locals. With the LA Metrolink station north of the site, Downtown State St., a bustling pedestrian street east of the site, and local homes and our historical Redlands Bowl and Public Library in the south of the site, it is important to find something that connects everything together.
Form Inspiration
I take inspiration from the whole ideas of oranges and orange groves, which is a big part of Redlands culture and history. My space finds form in the the structure of fallen oranges, fruit stands and the grove itself.
Material Strategy
My material choices is influenced by my scape strategy, with a focus on blending the north commercial district with the south residential zone, rebuilding an urban flow in the busiest part of Redlands. In order to combine my hardscape with landscape, I used a range of materials from something powerful like Corten steel, to historical brick pavers that unites with downtown, and bringing comfort through landscape and locally sourced timber from the San Bernardino mountains.
1. Corten Steel
2. Clay Brick Pavers
3. Sandstone Pavers
4. White Concrete
5. Red Oak Lumber
6. Grass
7. Corrugated Metal
FINAL
DESIGN
A Welcome From State St.
For a space to be truly connected with the city, it must blend with its surrounding. State St. being the main street in Downtown Redlands host a range of activities and events including a farmers market, and this project opens up with welcoming arms to visitors local or foreign, enjoying a tradition and a historic culture of Redlands.
The Central Gateway
A look into the heart and soul of our diverse culture. Redlands can be defined as a city of many colors, I remember walking through downtown Redlands overhearing a young kid ask her parents why Redlands was so colorful, and that is something I wanted to embrace through the many murals and public art Redlands already offer. This dome structure is designed for people to walk on top and underneath, combining a hardscape concrete with landscape to create a softer feeling and provide shade and seating for pedestrians above and below the dome structure.
A perforated Corten steel facade attached to the dome creates a light and shadow effect as the sun goes up, showcasing circular light spots on the ground to represent fallen oranges on the ground. Around the structure is plaza space, giving people a community-driven place to eat, rest, or play. This plaza allows others to picnic from local restaurants or it can serve as a stage for those who want to perform in front of a public audience
A Spectacle of Excitement
Sport courts have a power to influence people to play or to watch. One underutilized aspect of sport stadiums today is that all these fans watching the game will get the urge to play as well. Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers is one of the first stadiums to implement a basketball court just outside their arena, allowing fans to play with each other.
This idea of spectatorship and it's ability to hold a person's attention, even for a few seconds, is the driving solution to revitalizing a space and a community. Putting sports field and courts at a lower elevation gives the audience the ability to spectate beyond what is in front of them.
The Weaving Terrace
From hardscape plaza, to a bike path, to an uninterrupted walking path through a park, to a grass field, each level offers a different activity, each weaving through each other hoping to catch the attention of others.
The Multitude Park
With the south of the site being a residential zone, a park is implemented to give locals a place to rest or a place to play. Especially with the library nearby, this gives visitors an opportunity to read or study outside.
The Stadium
A stand for synchronous passion. No stadium can be defined without a seating area for sport fans. This find inspiration in the structure of local fruit stands, as it rises above the neighboring orange grove to become a landmark for the city and a place of pride for the fans.
With the orange groves being a part of the stadium, it becomes its own program that showcases the culture and the history of Redlands to visitors. What people see as a stadium, I see as a space to influence lives. To me this becomes more than just a place to host events, it becomes a social and cultural hub that connects people to people and people to place that forms communities beyond just sports.
