Frommer's Seattle 2010 by Karl Samson

Frommer's Seattle 2010 by Karl Samson

Author:Karl Samson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
ISBN: 9780470497715
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Published: 2010-03-10T10:00:00+00:00


5 Architectural Gems

Of course, Seattle’s most famous architectural landmark is the Space Needle , which, when it was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, was envisioned as the look of things to come. Now that the 21st century is upon us, the reality of 21st-century architecture is far stranger than was imagined. Frank Gehry’s design for the building that now houses both the Experience Music Project and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is one of the city’s most bizarre buildings, but it faces stiff competition from the skewed glass-cube architecture of the Seattle Central Library.

Chapel of St. Ignatius Lest you think subtlety is a concept unknown to architects commissioned to design contemporary buildings in Seattle, pay a visit to this tasteful little chapel on the campus of Seattle University, a Catholic institution. Designed by architect Steven Holl, the chapel was conceived as “seven bottles of light in a stone box,” with each of those bottles reflecting an aspect of Catholic worship. The “bottles” are basically a means of channeling light into the chapel, and though the exterior seems rather stark and angular, on the inside, soft, multihued light suffuses the rooms. The chapel is something of an exploration of the ways natural light can illuminate a building, and the overall effect is positively enchanting.

Seattle University, E. Marion St. and 12th Ave. E. 20 6/296-5588. www.seattleu.edu/chapel. Free admission. Mon–Thurs 7am–10pm; Fri 7am–7pm; Sat 8am–5pm; Sun 8am–10pm. Bus: 12.

Seattle Central Library It isn’t often that the library is considered one of the coolest places in town, but Seattle’s downtown library is such an architectural wonder that it is one of the city’s highlights. When the building opened in 2004, its design created a rift among many locals, who either loved it or hated it. Indeed, there wasn’t much of a middle ground with this giant glass cube and its diamond-patterned steel girders and strange angles. Regardless of your reaction to architect Rem Koolhaas’s design, you can’t help but notice that in a town known for its gray skies, this library abounds with natural light. There are also colorful spongy chairs, floors of bamboo and brushed metal, carpets printed to look like plants, and an outdoor garden designed to meld with the indoor carpets. On the first and third Monday of each month, from noon to 1pm, you can catch “Thrilling Tales! A Storytime for Adults,” a program of lunchtime readings aimed not at kids, as is usually the case, but at adults. Oh, and if you need to use the Internet, this place has hundreds of computer terminals, too.

1000 Fourth Ave. 20 6/386-4636.www.spl.org. Free admission. Mon–Thurs 10am–8pm; Fri–Sat 10am–6pm; Sun noon–6pm. Closed New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas. Bus: Any Fourth Ave. bus.



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