Your thoughts on the architecture of the Seattle Central Library (earthquake, design)

[shoegal111]

I like it. I love the fact that some cities blend old and new styles of architecture. It gives a city character.

[jr75]

I love the Central Library! I am a fan of modern architecture and think it looks like something that would be built in Copenhagen or Stockholm. Appropriate given our Scandanavian heritage here in Seattle. I am not afraid of new forms in buildings and don't wish to return to a time of Corinthian columns and brick/stone facades. They had a time and place in history and if attempted today would look cheap and silly.

[sean98125]

The library exemplifies everything wrong with recent architectural trends. It is a monument to the vanity of the architect, and a monument to the provincialism of the design committee that was wowed by the presentation.

It fails at it's primary task - being a library. It is spectacular, with plenty of light and interesting spaces. But it fails at holding a collection of books and at being usable. The architect had cool ideas of how people would use the library, but those ideas were formed in some castle in the clouds in which the architect resides where he doesn't have to deal with the ways in which we mundane mud dwellers want to use the library.

Stainless steel floors? Wayfinding that is so poorly thought out that library staff has to tape signs on the door telling patrons how to exit? Foam furniture? Glossy and non-durable surfaces? An escalator with eyeballs staring at you from TV screens?

Instead of being a monument to the joys of reading and the exciting worlds that the printed word can open up for you, it is a monument to Rem Koolhaas' ego.

[jzt83]

Originally Posted by jr75

I love the Central Library! I am a fan of modern architecture and think it looks like something that would be built in Copenhagen or Stockholm. Appropriate given our Scandanavian heritage here in Seattle. I am not afraid of new forms in buildings and don't wish to return to a time of Corinthian columns and brick/stone facades. They had a time and place in history and if attempted today would look cheap and silly.

I'm not advocating that the library should have been built in the Beaux-Arts design (though it would have been nice), I'm just expressing how I think the library fails on many accounts. People seem to either hate it or love it, and I think whoever is responsible for designing and approving the design were audacious and selfish for deciding to go with the design. I'm not anti-modern per se, but it seems that most modern buildings are ugly and poorly thought out. But there are some decent modern buildings out there. So what if some Scandinavian country would have such a building and this Koolhaas monstrosity, it doesn't take away from its hideousness and poor function. What's with all the glass? Do you know how labor intensive it is to maintain all that glass with cleaning and repairing cracks? I also am doubtful of how the building will withstand the next big earthquake. But who cares about all that, it looks cool and makes Seattle "internationally recognized". Who cares about design residents are proud of and like. Who cares if the interior is a confusing ugly maze. Who cares if the furniture is cheap crap. Who cares about maintenance costs. Who cares about books. At least this library is the envy of architects and is internationally known and that's all that matters right.

[Deep_Vee]

Originally Posted by motor80

IThe stacks are spiraled making using an elevator unnecessary to find the book you are looking for.

Untrue...you HAVE to use the elevator to get back down....as they didn't put in a DOWN escalator or stairway other than the fire stairs!

[JesseJB]

If Seattle locals hate it, it's because its not boxy and beige. So I like it.

[seattlenextyear]

A truly efficient King County library only needs a holds area and checkout computers. The rest is superfluous.

[Anders15]

i like it

[SeattleWA]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

A truly efficient King County library only needs a holds area and checkout computers. The rest is superfluous.

Actually it's a Seattle Public Library branch, not apart of King County Library system.

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by SeattleWA

Actually it's a Seattle Public Library branch, not apart of King County Library system.

Ah right. Well, the same holds true.