The Connection between Downtown Los Angeles and Bunker Hill

The link between Downtown Los Angeles and Bunker Hill has been tenuous since the widespread demolition of the initial buildings on Bunker Hill in the 1960s. Bunker Hill is a historic prominence that used to separate Downtown Los Angeles from the city to the west before the hill was traversed by a tunnel in 1924. By the end of the 20th century, the hill’s elevation was lowered, and the entire area underwent redevelopment. The old brick and concrete structures were replaced with modern skyscrapers and other facilities for residences, business, entertainment, and education. Today, Bunker Hill stands as the area where the modern center of Los Angeles is located. Since the 1960s, new constructions have soared skyward. However, even as the area’s density approached pre-development levels, it never seemed to reconnect with the old downtown.

The Bunker Hill Steps, cascading down from Hope Street to Fifth, are a thoughtful attempt to remedy this situation. Designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin and completed in 1990, this massive concrete staircase provides a pedestrian route from Bunker Hill to the Los Angeles Central Library. It passes just west of the U.S. Bank Tower and is heavily utilized by area workers to traverse the five-story height difference between Fifth and Hope Street.

The staircase is bisected by a simulated mountain stream of rock-like concrete forms. Its water originates in a round fountain at a plaza at the top and ends in a small basin. The 1992 sculpture by Robert Graham of a woman offering the bounty of water is at the center of the fountain. The staircase is punctuated by a series of terraces and landings containing small cafes, shops, and dining spots, giving it the feel of an urban street. Flowering trees and other vegetation line the edges of the staircase, which meander among artworks and into a wall of grottos and sculpted fountains. An escalator on the west side ensures that this pedestrian route is accessible to everyone.

Halprin likened the role of a landscape architect to that of a choreographer, believing his task was to guide human movement through the environment in a positive way. As a monumental landscape feature bridging two worlds, his Bunker Hill Steps have proven to be a visually striking pathway that promotes an enjoyable stroll between old and new Los Angeles.