2 block circumference

I have been lucky enough to be working in one of the more significant buildings to have been built in the world in the last few years, the new Seattle Public Library. Rem Koolhaus designed it and it came in on time and under budget... pretty good for a public work, and one that is cutting edge, design-wise. It is essentially a big glass tent with structures inside for various functions. This pic is near the top in the reading room. The square white structure up top is administration. At the back of this photo there is an atrium that plunges down 8 stories. The building is full of light and space.



Right across the street is a Henry Moore sculpture, and some nice interior spaces that are holding up well. That is a huge painting in there. In winter classical musicians play in that space over lunchtime, how pleasant.



Leftover from the previous library building was this fountain by George Tsutakawa. I could not figure how to get clean pics of it with my dig, so I scribbled it out instead. This was his first public fountain, and he told one of our librarians that this fountain would make or break him, that if he did not get it right, he would never get another commission. He later did the fountain at Ala Moana shopping center, and down by the ferry, among many others. The one at Seattle Benihana is dry with flowers in it. Write a nasty letter to Benihana to get them to fix it: http://www.benihana.com/contact.asp

This particular fountain at the library is my fave, though the blocky one at Ala Moana is cool too. Another factoid: His son did the mitt with the hole in it at Safeco field.



The brown in the foreground, the Seattle Tower, is the closest thing we have to the Empire State building. It has a neat lobby, full of marble and wild asian-pacific detailing. The Cobb building is on the left, and Rainier Square tower (wince) in the background.



Cobb building. Not enough of this sort of thing around, better enjoy what you get.



IBM building. One of my favorite interiors. This lobby is the highest order of style. It is painfully appointed, so formal. The staircase is elegant. I would have fought for a better picture, but you can see the camera in the extreme left toggling over at me... too many guys talking into their collars here. Thanks 9-11, yeesh.


The fountain, the Moore, and the bigass painting! -e