Museum Plaza in Louisville, Kentucky

At times I find myself calling Seattle Central Library a museum. A museum of modern architecture, of engineering science, of library art (the old catalogue cards are still in use, but look like artifacts), of rare books, of interior design, there are numerous reasons why I would make such a Freudian slip.

In Louisville, smart folks invited OMA to design a Museum Plaza. Beside a new museum, the building —which of course will be a work of art in itself— will house condominiums as well. Can't wait to see it. I wonder what slips the tour guides there will make. Joshua Prince Ramus, who heads the N.Y. office of OMA and was the hard hatted architect on site at Central SPL, will be the principle architect, responsible for the design.

OMA's City of Youth

OMA goes to Roma. Rem Koolhaas and Ellen van Loon will design a center for people under 30. An ancient market place, Mercati Generali, located close to the Forum and the Colloseum is the first historical part of town which will be renovated respecting the past. Innovative new structures will be combined with the existing architecture. In this center of 243.000 m2, shopping and entertainment will be combined. Gyms, discos, shops and theaters all surrounding a central plaza. Projected opening date is in 2008.

Washington State Quarter Design

When Governor Gregoire invited the citizens to submit a design for the new State Quarter in 100 words, I did my part.

The government counts in a different way than the People. The first time I entered my 100 words, I got the message: under 100 words please. I tried three times, editing, editing, editing. Finally bingo. 69 words according to my computer. Does make you think about other cuts, doesn't it?

This is what I entered (quoted words are for text on quarter):

"Washington 1889"
Outline state. Border Canada = mountain range horizon, Mount St. Helens
Smith Tower, landmark past, evergreen trees.
Airplane. Flying salmon. Computer chips.
SCPL (Seattle Central Public Library), landmark present and future in foreground.
"Washington Evergreen State".

Justification: Diamond shaped steel and glass grid lends itself well for graphic design. Building's inside/ outside effect honors surrounding city scape, and views of Evergreen State. Library harbors tools of wisdom and IS teaching took in itself.

A Different View

Take the red steps up from the N.E. corner of the Norcliff Foundation Living Room (level #3) to the Meeting Room Level. Turn left at the top of the stairs. You'll see the glass wall, which permits view of Living Room and Glass and Steel Curtain Wall. Each time I make that turn, I'm reminded of late 1960's fabric design.

From the Meeting Room level you can see the Lensveld bookcases (with Plexiglas® sides and tops, Rem's touch to the Dutch manufactured shelves) fanned out across the botanical carpet designs by Petra Blaise on the Living Room floor.
"Different leaves from the designer's notebook." I will tell people who take my tours.

Blogspot Template

A chartreuse line, a shimmering of light. This prefab template is most suitable. A reference to the color of movement in the Seattle Central Public Library. I'll be wearing a touch of chartreuse during my tours. Telling our patrons, "If I move, you move too."