Comments on: Seattle Central Library / OMA + LMN

By: OMA + LMN – Seattle Central Library

OMA + LMN – Seattle Central Library — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:20:51 +0000

[...] pictures and info on ArchDaily Related Posts:BIG – National Library in Astana, KazakhstanBIG – Shenzhen International Energy [...]

By: AD Round Up: OMA Part I - Style of Design

AD Round Up: OMA Part I - Style of Design — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:21:11 +0000

[...] Seattle Central Library (with LMN) The Seattle Central Library redefines the library as an institution no longer exclusively dedicated to the book, but as an information store where all potent forms of media-new and old-are presented equally and legibly. In an age where information can be accessed anywhere, it is the simultaneity of all media and, more importantly, the curatorship of their content that will make the library vital. Flexibility in contemporary libraries is conceived as the creation of generic floors (read more…) [...]

By: Glen Buschmann

Glen Buschmann — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:53:22 +0000

After one visit I wrote a harshly critical letter to SPL admin and got the “sorry you had a poor experience, there was ample time to give input beforehand” letter. I agree with much of the criticism about flow, color, signage, noise, and general hospitality. and won’t reitate that.

One criticism I’ve not read and yet seems to sum up the poor planning is the spiral floor. It is deliberately uneven. The Spiral wierdness was made both more unfriendly and more expensive by the flooring. Why deliberately install ridges? NO-ONE would consider a flat floor with such ridges, but somehow it was perfectly acceptable to put bumps to stumble over on a slanted floor. When hiking I expect to encounter roots and rocks and unevenness in going up and down a trail. Not so on a floor of a building, ramp or level grade. People with arthritis, other foot and walking troubles, and general balance issues, are unable to comfortably negotiate this unevenness.

By: new/ stuff » seattle library/ if you haven’t seen it, go!

new/ stuff » seattle library/ if you haven’t seen it, go! — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:39:55 +0000

[...] and some shots from Arch Daily: [...]

By: Judit Bellostes : el lugar del conocimiento - Seattle public library , Estudio de arquitectura

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:14:42 +0000

[...] The Seattle Public Library – REX architecture (artículo con texto, ilustraciones y fotografías) + Seattle Public Library – Arch Daily (artículo con texto, fotografías y [...]

By: SeattleGuy

SeattleGuy — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:20:54 +0000

Well, the stairs does not connect at every level in the same way and *contrary to what is depicted in the book spiral diagram above* there is only *one* escalator going up. The rest of the escalators are pairs, but the escalators from the “mixer” or whatever they call it to the top is one way only. There is no return escalator (this was cut due to reduce cost) instead there is either the choice to walk through the spiral until you find the stairs, find the elevator, or make it to the bottom.

It is frustrating and ugly. I wish I could find the other concept books that were submitted online.. but it’s almost impossible to find other than this particular vision for the library..

By: Xing

Xing — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:02:41 +0000

I heard lots of complaints about lost in finding the way of up and down: could not find the stairs. Is that true?

By: SeattleGuy

SeattleGuy — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:15:21 +0000

I have to say, I live in Seattle and I HATE this building. In person it’s ugly, features a “suicide leap” where one could jump from the top of the center shaft to the concrete floor 5 floors down, a confusing and relatively unusable fluorescent lit “spiral”, and the public art throughout the building is very subpar. In person it is NOT bright and crystaline. It is neon, dark in any area that is not adjacent to a window, simplistically furnished with materials that are already scuffed, dirty, and nasty, and in a certain sense oppressive in the book stacks. The old building, which was from 1960 and sadly replaced a Carnegie library from 1906, was in some ways better than the current library.

Blech.

By: Óscar Cornejo

Óscar Cornejo — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:34:00 +0000

Pretty cool building, have been there several times and has a lot of awesome different spaces.

By: Franco

Franco — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:24:40 +0000

Ingels! Ingels!