Let us now praise the Seattle Public Library.

[swag]

This is an extraordinary place, inside and out - I type from one of the upper floors, in an extremely comfortable modern chair, sun and Seattle skyline above me.

I'm a little worn out from the partying with friends over the last two nights, and I don't have much architectural vocabulary anyway, but I will say that the expansive inner spaces, the integrated art installations (a Tony Oursler psycho-video diorama abutting an escalator, for crying out loud) the innovate use of saturated colors, the lattice-work of diamond skylights, and just the bold design of the building itself, not to mention its elevated function, make this one of my favorite public buildings ever. I haven't felt like this since the first time I entered IM Pei's east wing of the National Gallery of Art.

Seattle citizens: you have done a wonderful thing. Hiring Rem Koolhaas for this project more than makes up for the architectural damage done your city by Michael Graves' atrocious Seattle Art Museum. This library has more art in on the restrooms than the SAM has in its entire dreary structure. Why don't you just raze the SAM and build an extension of the Lusty Lady.

Better yet, get this Koolhaas guy back to design an art museum to match this magnificent library of yours.

[Squatch]

1. I love the SAM

First strip show I ever saw was in the Lusty Lady.

[swag]

2. Ah, the Lusty Lady,

where a quarter once dropped stays dropped.

[Spinzonner]

3. More tinny-looking architecture

Almost as bad as the Disney COncert Hall in Los Angeles

[Lilyhoney]

4. I saw something on tv that was showcasing that library.

It did look like a great place to go and just be. Enjoy!

If you are ever in Chicago, you will have to go to the old Library Building which is now the Cultural Center. On Michigan and Randolph I believe. The building is so beautiful it has a sign on the wall that says "Hanging art work in this building is redundant."

[flamingyouth]

5. I love the library building

And I hate SAM - the stairwells have all the romance of a urine-drenched parking garage.

[swag]

6. Good description.

And I wonder if it's possible to hang a decent show in those dismal, ill-conceived galleries.

I'll take a bus up to the Henry if I want to see museum art in Seattle. The SAM has just let me down too many times.

[chaska]

7. Wow, sure beats the old one. How's the parking though...?

It used to be atrocious. It's built on the same site, right? Did they build the new Ballard branch yet?

Damn, I miss Seattle.

[swag]

8. Parking downtown always sucks. Heard the new Ballard branch is great

from a resident today. Haven't been there, myself.

Had two glasses of wine at Zeitgeist cafe before catching the train home to Portland.