A reader, Phoenix, sent me the following email about the new projects lacking innovative architectural design. I think I have to agree with him.
I have a question that anyone who has any interest in the Seattle/Bellevue condo boom might find interesting.
I have a huge interest in architecture and what a city’s skyline say’s about a city and what I have noticed about the skyline in Seattle and Bellevue is that all the buildings are all boxed shaped. It looks boring and doesn’t have anything really unique except the Smith building, Escala and a few others. Look at the skyline of Atlanta,Georgia for example, they aren’t afraid to think outside the box. The city has unique buildings i.e. smaller versions of the Empire State building in New York City and it looks great.
I just think Seattle is more than that and I hope a developer or an architect comes across this message and thinks about it. Are we gonna continue to build big boxes or think outside the box. You can still be somewhat conservative if that’s the issue and it doesn’t have to be too dramatic. I am so excited for Seattle and Bellevue. I want to see a highrise go up and say that is so cool!! Make it something beautiful to look at. Make a statement, be different,take a risk.
Look at the construction going on in Dubai, that is incredible. They think way outside the box and that is just an example. Do and are there limits to what a buildings can look like for example building a building that has a spire because we sure don’t have any biuldings that have that look except for the Smith building.
Even meeting somewhere in the middle. Classic and modern with an edge. I am always excited to see what developers are pulling out of their hats in the Real Estate section in the P.I./Seattle Times. The newest is Insignia that I just saw but again, the buildings are boxed shaped.
Anyone who has a positive opinion, let me know. I’m just a fan who is standing on the sidelines and is continuously watching the game but there really hasn’t been any touchdowns lately that has made me a huge fan.
The Heron Tower has the boldest design of those proposed in the downtown area. Given its sister project is called Pagoda Tower I’m hoping it will be more cylindrical and tapered in design.
