Buildings In Seattle: 15 Architectural Marvels Every Architect Must See

The tale of a town is told by its narrow lanes, stone-paved pathways, rustic ancient houses, crowded neighbourhoods, glass-panelled skyscrapers, multi-lingual marketplaces, and in its gathering spaces. One such story can be whispered in the streets of Seattle where its architecture hones the responsibility of a narrator. The odes of Indigenous traditions, the footprints of first settlers, the symbols of the Industrial Revolution, and the scars burned in history by the fire are all represented by its architecture telling the story of the city that rose to be crowned as “The Emerald City ”. This article presents the buildings in Seattle that are structural marvels that every architectural enthusiast must not miss.

The Glory of the Past 

1. Pioneer Square | Buildings In Seattle

Located at the heart of Seattle with the footprints of native inhabitation to the technological advancement Pioneer square is in the spotlight. This historic precinct is known for its “Renaissance Revival architecture” and is one of the first neighbourhoods that was deemed to be protected. After the great fire, the square is built by the combined effort of settlers from different multi-ethnic backgrounds that can be represented through the present residential shops, artistic corners, buildings with brick and stone cladding facades, public spaces, public park, and skyscrapers representing both indigenous and industrial development of the city. 

2. Pike Place Market Historical District

First opened its gates on August 17, 1907, Pike place market is the oldest continuously run public farmers market in the United States. The market is an amalgamation of local stores at the periphery and a farmers’ market at the centre with residential buildings for the local dwellers. It is also one of the famous tourist attractions of the city and is deemed as a portal showcasing the authenticity of historical farmer markets.

3. Alaska Building | Buildings In Seattle

The year 1904 saw the construction of a steel-framed skyscraper which is ‘L’ shaped and is a striking characteristic of the Chicago School. Sitting at a street juncture looming onto the city with a 14-story height and an impending façade of numerous rectangular openings is a glimpse that is hard to miss and appreciate. 

4. The Cadillac Hotel

After the fire that destroyed Pioneer square, the Cadillac hotel is the first masonry structure among others to be built in 1889. The three-story Victorian building is a housing complex used to shelter many local laborers including longshoremen, loggers, fishermen, rail yard workers, and prospectors. Adorned with an exposed brick façade and vertical window panes the residence is turned into a hotel with solar power panels being used, becoming a textbook example of “adaptive reuse”.

5. Smith Tower | Buildings In Seattle

Built in 1914 the previous crown bearer as the tallest building of Seattle, Smith tower has its charm even to a date with its iconic pyramidal roof. With a height of 48 feet, the tower is the oldest skyscraper in the city. An example of neoclassical architecture, the outer skin is of granite for a few floors and terracotta on the top with interiors mimicking extravagance. The building still gives a first glimpse of the city from its top.

6. Suzallo Library

If Harry Potter would catch his train to Hogwarts in the USA, then the main hall would be at the Suzallo Library. Built-in 1926 with classic collegiate Gothic Style architecture the hall is a work of magic. High vaulted cathedral ceilings, stained glass window panels, beautifully laid grand staircase and vaulted arches are all the symbols of the majesty the building carries. In addition, one great feature to notice is the 18 terracotta figures symbolic of knowledge like Plato, Leonardo Da Vinci, Moses, Shakespeare, Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, and so on.

The Charm of Modern Structures 

1. Seattle Public Library

Challenging contemporary library designs, this deconstructive library is a pleasure to the eyes inside and out. Sitting on a block with its unique features, designed by the modernist architects Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus in 2004 is a representation of the architectural marvel the city rightly deserves.

2. Mo POP | Buildings In Seattle

The Museum of Pop Culture opened in 2000 and has breathed life from the creation of none other than world-famous Architect Frank Gehry. The building’s most striking exterior features are a series of differently coloured metallic skins supported by an outer concrete shell that, in turn, is supported on custom-cut steel ribs. Striking in the skyline of Seattle with its aluminium skins of various colours (rose, bronze, silver, red, and sky blue) the Mo POP is a sight to behold. 

3. Floating Houses

Floating in the Lake Union area is a deck of residential houses and villas that are unique and must-see architectural building in Seattle. Embracing the natural features, the residences are a perfect combination of luxury and modernistic features. 

4. The Space Needle | Buildings In Seattle

This list will be left incomplete without talking about the iconic “Space needle observation tower”. Built-in 1961 the tower was originally a part of the Seattle World Fair held in the following year. Standing over 600 feet tall, the tower provides a 360-degree view of the city. Over the years it became an essential part of defining the City’s skyline. 

5. Seattle art museum

Built in 1991, a series of geometrical arches along the windows with its limestone exteriors make it blend in with the downtown area while standing out on its own. The museum has fathered many expressive features like the ribbed vaults on the ceiling in the galleries, hammering man sculpture in the entrance, the “Art ladder” to represent the artists of the museum are the little flairs that are added to make this an extraordinary sight to behold. 

6. Amazon Spheres

These are the latest additions to the modern architecture buildings of Seattle that have brought the global limelight to the city. Designed as Amazon Headquarters this building brings office spaces into a natural setting. The campus houses 3 spheres with 3-4 stories of office spaces and over 4000 plant species from over 30 countries. The concept of the building is to bring together its employees to work under one roof close together to nature, rewriting how office settings were previously perceived. 

7. Climate Pledge Arena

The main aim of the building is to be a reminder of the impending climate crisis the world seems to forget, and the structure does the same. Open in 2021 this arena is a magnificent sustainable structure with a gleaming flat roof that stands as a reminder to the world to see. It is also a textbook example of sustainable design where the building aims for zero carbon use.

Public Art – A dash of colour to everyday lives

1. International Fountain

The International Fountain was designed in the years of 1961-62 as part of Seattle’s World fair is a concrete structure and a fountain installed with the theme to acknowledge mankind’s efforts to explore the secrets of outer space. 

2. The Fremont Troll | Buildings In Seattle

On Halloween of 1990, a troll made the underpass of Aurora bridge, Seattle it’s home. Peeking from under the fellow became a sight to behold to this day. The shaggy troll is 18 feet long glaring at the passer byes with a bee being crushed in one hand. Quirky may be the underground stranger he sure gets his limelight throughout the year.

The city of Seattle is a treasure trove of architectural marvels and the above listed are just a selected few. The architecture of Seattle paints the city in a beautiful pallet characterizing it for what it is, representing its people of the past, present, and the future.

Bibliography

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Image References

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