Library Escalators

19 comments (Comments closed)

1. At 8:24am on 24 jul 2004, Yannick L. wrote:

Very interesting. Although not quite the colour I would expect in a library, I kind of like it. As a matter of fact from the pictures taken by Jason the whole library looks interesting.

Nice photos. =)

2. At 9:21am on 24 jul 2004, Ryan Prins wrote:

Yeah, the new library is very different than anything that I have seen before. I also made a trip to the Seattle Central branch about a week and a half ago and I also took some pictures. I’m still undecided if I like the design, but from a first glance I think I do.

3. At 9:46am on 24 jul 2004, Colly wrote:

That very staircase features in a recent music video for Interpol’s ‘Obstacle 1’ (you can view it on their website I think). I assume the band had to keep the music down in the library. Very striking staircase - it looks fluid. The more I read about Seattle, the more I want to live there…

4. At 10:21am on 24 jul 2004, lisa wrote:

I can see why this escalator attracted you. It won’t surprise me if this image turns up someday in a banner. It could easily become very Doug.

I have family in Seattle, and the place definitely makes demure Connecticut seem very dull.

5. At 11:02am on 24 jul 2004, Geoffrey wrote:

Nice shot. The library here in Seattle is pretty amazing. Here’s some more photos I took a few weeks ago if anyone’s interested.

6. At 11:22am on 24 jul 2004, Douglas Bowman wrote:

Nice photos, Ryan and Geoffrey. Seems this place is inpirational for all kinds of interesting photography. The patterns of the external steel and glass structure, the cast shadows, non-standard lines, wide open spaces, and the stark contrast of vibrant color against lots of white and silver is stunning. If anyone else has photos of the Seattle library, feel free to add links to them. I didn’t get to tour around the entire library, so the extra photos help me fill in some of the gaps in my short-lived experience there. I’m sure others who haven’t yet seen the library will find them intriguing too.

7. At 11:48am on 24 jul 2004, Martijn ten Napel wrote:

How funny: the folds of the “Kunsthal” combined with the green of the bus station roof in front of the central station, both in Rotterdam. Only this time it ain’t ugly :-)

8. At 2:34pm on 24 jul 2004, Yannick L. wrote:

Nice pics guys. I am really really liking the lime green escalator. The red room is kind of odd though.

9. At 3:11pm on 24 jul 2004, Howard wrote:

What an incredible architectural design! All those bright colors to warm up the gray rainy days in Seattle. It’s been about ten years, but the escalator sort of reminds me of the neon people mover at Chicago O’Hare.

10. At 4:46am on 25 jul 2004, David House wrote:

One of my favourite photos ever was of an escalator.

That library looks beautiful :) Libraries seem to be a common place where more modern architecture is found, nowadays.

11. At 7:51am on 25 jul 2004, AkaXakA wrote:

Wow, nice escalator!

If you’re into Rem Koolhaas design you might want to visit the dutch embasy in Berlin sometime, it’s stellar.

Also, pretty much all the other embasies in Berlin are worth looking at too, as they’re practicly all new ones. This is due to Berlin now being the capital again, after an intermezzo having Bonn as the capital.

12. At 8:52am on 25 jul 2004, Dean Sabatino wrote:

I like the look of some of the rooms…the color is nice. But - the open design and high ceilings make me think that it might be a loud library? It looks cool but how does it “read”?

13. At 2:39pm on 26 jul 2004, Nicole Jacquelyn wrote:

The whole place reminds me of Discovery Zone when I was a kid. The colors around you cast a weird glow on everyone and you’re always wandering around trying to find a new passage, to highest tower, or a way out. It truly is amazing. It’ll be nice once the tourists and photographers finally leave though. :) Then maybe I can actually study there without hoards of people swarming through gawking and bumping into me.

14. At 2:50pm on 26 jul 2004, Douglas Bowman wrote:

Nicole:

<Doug raises hand>

Uh, yeah, sorry. One of the “hoards” gawking and bumping into you would be me. Had I known, I should have introduced myself… ;-)

15. At 11:07am on 27 jul 2004, Camilo wrote:

Amazing, but in tune with the importance of libraries. You would like them to be inviting places, full of details and discovery, of gorgeous design and comfortable environment.
I have always thought of them as modern cathedrals, slightly irregular but powerful nonetheless.

16. At 8:27am on 29 jul 2004, Marcus Tucker wrote:

There are 3 possibilities…

1) There’s something seriously wrong with my monitor

2) There’s something seriously wrong with my eyes

3) There’s something seriously wrong with your eyes… the escalators are yellow, not green!!

:p

17. At 11:43pm on 29 jul 2004, Howard wrote:

#16) Definitely Shrek lime-green. Here’s a better picture in the natural sunlight.

18. At 12:14am on 4 aug 2004, Shel wrote:

Wow- I would love to take a trip there…
MmmmHmmmm… Library heaven.

There is a great virtual tour at the Seattle Times site:

Getting to Know the New Central Library

I need Rem to come by and help me ‘spruce up’ my home office!

19. At 2:52pm on 18 aug 2004, John Morse wrote:

The Phoenix central Library by Will Bruder is also pretty good. Bruder and Koolhaas share a resourcefulness that I admire.

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