The Harbor in Los Angeles’ Marina Del Rey is the largest man-made small craft harbor in the world, which is a valuable resource for boaters. Unfortunately for avid cyclists, runners and pedestrians looking to experience the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail, the harbor forces them to take a four-mile detour inland through busy streets and active parking lots before reconnecting with the urban beach path.

The proposed bridge span would be roughly 1,400 feet wide and over 100 feet tall, allowing for continued boater access to the marina. Lacking supportive columns, LaLa Bridge would consist of two spiral ramps —one at each end—connected by a straight thoroughfare. The pathway is a five percent sloped spiral ramp nestled within a latticed shell structure. The resulting form is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that not only reconnects the beach front North and South of the Marina but reconnects the Marina to the greater Los Angeles area as an iconic gateway and viewing platform. The monumental bases contribute to the spatial and social experience by becoming a special event spaces. The bridge will be both a practical public infrastructure as well as a poetic gesture to signal entry into Los Angeles from the Pacific Ocean.

CHALLENGES: Two diametrically opposing obstacles were the main guiding forces dictating the ultimate design of the conceptual solution. The structure must respect the clearance required by tall sailboats entering the harbor, but simultaneously it needs to present as a gentle grading beckoning approaching pedestrians and cyclists. The designer analyzed pathway lengths to determine the ramp distance required to accommodate the height most sailboat masts. From there, further studies led to a pedestrian and cyclist friendly-slope that showcases an artistic vision for what could easily be a utilitarian form.

The resulting design utilizes an efficient and innovative solution by integrating the ramp within the structural system to form one complete bridge-ramp system. The structural base is an ellipse which has been aligned perpendicular with the length of the bridge to give it rotational stability. The top of the arch transitions into a vertical ellipse that gives the bridge structural depth for the needed span. The resulting elliptical hyperboloid is defined by its diagonal lattice cladding giving the bridge a sense of visual lightness and, where necessary, a structural density.

The dynamic form is both spatially open and closed elevating the crossing of Santa Monica Bay into a unique user experience with multiple experiential touchpoints. When viewed from the passenger planes streaming near-constantly into LAX, the LaLa Gateway Bridge becomes a physical manifestation of the diverse and perverse design culture awaiting visitors to the City of Angels.