Seattle Central Library
 |
| Seattle Central Library http://www.archdaily.com/office/oma-lmn |
Seattle Central
Library is designed by OMA and LMN. OMA is short for
the Office of Metropolitan Architecture. LMN is Seattle-based local
architecture firm. The design of the building seems to focus on the shape and structure.
The unique design of this building is the program. The library no longer serves
the purpose of storing books exclusively. It also serves the function for
people to access media, internet and audio, which is the new challenge for
designing a library. From my point of
view, the building emphasizes the
flexibility, which allows different function can merge in together. On the
other hand, the functionality did not separate the space. Instead, the
architects are trying to put certain service areas jointly in a giant space. The experience of walking or escalating the building also emphasize the idea of “Flexibility.”
Olympic Sculpture Park
 |
| Olympic Sculpture Park http://www.archdaily.com/101836/olympic-sculpture-park-weissmanfredi/bb-opening-day |
The project is
located on the waterfront of Seattle downtown. It is designed by Weiss Manfredi. The project serves as a new urban
model for Sculpture parks. The Original site is an oil facility, which has vast
land contaminated by oil waste. The new landfill soil comes from the construction of Seattle Art Museum project.
The park elevates
up 40 feet top from the site of the water’s edge. From the city to the
seashore, the intention is to use a hybrid pedestrian infrastructure to give a different experience for people who was walking
the parks. The park is also cross a highway and a trains tracks, the
infrastructure interaction is very critical in this project. The architecture uses a descending pavilion to connect all the
infrastructure and the pedestrian walking experience.
Space needle
 |
| Space Needle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Graham_%26_Company#/media/File:SpaceNeedleQAClose.jpg |
It is an observation tower and landmark for
the City of Seattle. The original purpose
of the tower is to serve as the center for 1962 World’s Fair. The tower
used to be the tallest structure on the
west coast. Due the weather of Seattle, the Space Needle has the capability to
resist 9.1 magnitude earthquake and withstand 200miles per hours wind. It also has 25 lightning rods to resist the danger of
lightning bolt.
The design of space needle is a compromise between two people Edward Carlson
and John Graham Jr. Mr. Carlson as a business man, he has an idea of giant balloon
rising from the ground. However, the Mr.
Graham has a sketch of flying saucer. This the reason the two parts of the
tower is different.
I actually just wrote my post on my first trip to Seattle this weekend! I was able to see the Space Needle and Olympic Sculpture Park. It is amazing how Seattle makes such great use of unused land and has turned so much of it into park space. Although the Space Needle isn't such an efficient use of space it is definitely a great site to see and an iconic symbol for the city. I think I read somewhere when I was there that the idea and name for the Space Needle were first written out on a napkin as so many great ideas were born back then!
ReplyDeleteI just realized that I have been to the Olympic Structure Park, although I had no idea it was a thing! I was there to see all the giant cruise ships.
ReplyDeleteSeattle architecture really is cool - it's so innovative!
ReplyDeleteWHOA I never been to Seattle but always wanted to go. It looks so nice !
ReplyDeleteOMG!! Thats is so cool, I never been to Seattle before but after looking at the picture, I really wan to visit there. Especially the Seattle Central Library. It looks so cool.
ReplyDeleteArchitecture is interesting to me. Some buildings are beautiful and some buildings are plain simple but cost so much. I am not an engineer but I do think that many of the work done by architecture are beautiful but not efficient. They all wast so much space.
ReplyDeleteI went to Seattle last spring break and really liked the city. The city indeed has some amazing architecture which you pointed out. I love the weather and pike place market.
ReplyDelete