Public libraries

I ended a previous post ....

"Before I left Seattle I visited the public library.  It's a really interesting building architecturally as well as in other ways.  I'll upload some photos soonish - but I'm going to be on leave for a few days.  Talk soon."

... and then work and life got in the way so I forgot that I said share some photos back in June.  So a month later...

Seattle Public Library which opened in March 2004.

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1. View of ground floor bookshelves near the entrance  2. Shelves, study areas and yellow escalators visible from the books spiral (the "world's only

"His [Rem Koolhaas and his Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam, in partnership with the Seattle firm of LMN Architects] 11-floor, 362,987-square-foot library, a dazzling avant-garde symphony of glass and form, has many innovative features, including:

• A "Books Spiral" that displays the entire nonfiction collection in a continuous run;
• A towering "living room" along Fifth Avenue that reaches 50 feet in height;
• A distinctive diamond-shaped exterior skin of glass and steel.

The new Central Library's unorthodox shape, unlike any other building in Seattle, is the result of its use of five platform areas to reflect different aspects of the library's program; its form indeed follows its function. It includes a 275-seat auditorium and parking for 143 vehicles."

See Library History section on Seattle PL website.

I walked the spiral (well you have to don't you?) and wondered what it must be like to work in.  Staff are located in the (invisible to visitors) 2nd level so I don't have a feel for that, but as a visitor I was impressed by the sense of light and space, and the gentle flow of people without it feeling hectic.  The ground floor was occupied by book issuing and returns, a children's centre and a learning centre.  There is also a cafe and a library shop (nice mixture of merchandise and run by the Friends of the library).  I loved the floor in the learning centre, which (according to the website)

"is artwork by Ann Hamilton - a 7,200-square-foot maple floor featuring 11 of the languages found in the Library's collection. The letters are backward like the typeface traditionally used to print books. The backward letters recreate the experience of learning to read, where abstract symbols become meaningful."

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3. Maple floor (see above)  4. Cafe area

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5. Open view on level 1 - book issues/returns at rear   6. Fountain at Fourth Avenue entrance

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7. Friendshop bag   8. Multi-language Winnie the Pooh display in the children's area

One of the tourist leaflets that I picked up on arriving in Seattle urged "Visit Seattle's "crown jewel" the spectacular Central Library!"  It is certainly a striking building and that it houses the public library is to Seattle's credit.  Some great quotes on the architecture exist ("It pleases me that the most exciting new American building I've ever reviewed is a free, downtown public library open to all." David Littlejohn, Wall Street Journal), but I do wonder what the staff feel, as often beautiful and innovative architecture does not translate into practical and workable spaces. However, if the public are enthusiastic that should mean that the staff are at least half-way there to ensuring a valuable service.