Slog - Comments on A Foster for Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle Look closely at this skyline of the future and you find a tower designed by none other than Norman Robert Foster: Yes, Seattle is on the way to possessing what must be Foster's only tower on the West Coast. The local company heading the project is Triad Development, and the location of the tower will be across the street from the west face of the horrible City Hall--between third and fourth. Shooting for a gold LEED rating, the tower, 520 feet high, will be one with the underground, the light rail station--apparently one of the main reasons Foster took an... Copyright 2008 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:57:08 -0800 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:34:39 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by David Sucher Oooh! A starchitect!
Hog heaven!

Though I admit that Foster is definitely a cut above the rest and is doing some interesting work on a new city in (I think it is) Abu Dhabi. And the Bridge is great -- just wonder how much is Foster and how much the engineer.

]]> David Sucher http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996238 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996238 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:21:42 -0800 Comment by j-zeezer damn, i just got a Frank Lloyd Boner.

]]> j-zeezer http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996246 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996246 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:28:41 -0800 Comment by Fnarf A civic core. Down there. Right.

I have nothing to say about this building, but what in the hell is wrong with that picture?

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996269 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996269 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:49:55 -0800 Comment by Jay #3: It's a picture FROM THE FUTURE!!!

]]> Jay http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996272 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996272 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:51:23 -0800 Comment by Bauhaus Seattle came close to having its very own plaza at Westlake Center, but the kibosh was put on that when business interests and an election re-opened Pine Street to automobile traffic. The re-opening was a citywide initiative that suburbanites favored and downtown residents opposed strongly. Then Nordstrom got involved threatening that they wouldn't rehab the old F&N location unless the street was re-opened. The city feared that without Nordstrom's renewal project underway, the rest of downtown would go to hell in a hand basket - lots of new, upscale vendors wanted to inhabit Nordstrom's old location.

I wonder what would happen if downtown residents imposed their wishes on Southcenter, say, or Lake City. That was years ago now and our once-upon-a-time plaza has a greasy road running through it with walk signals to get from one side of it to the other.

Downtown is usually crowded these days by noon as is Westlake Center, but it has lost most of its charm and almost all of its soul to (as far as I can tell) tourists and Christmas shoppers who couldn't care less about a nice, breezy, late summer evening stroll through what used to be the center of our downtown.

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996300 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996300 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:01:55 -0800 Comment by infrequent @4 not bad considering it's red-shifted.

]]> infrequent http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996301 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996301 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:02:49 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV It kinda looks like a lipstick tube.

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996307 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996307 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:06:24 -0800 Comment by charles mudede Bauhaus, that was beautiful. your writing made my day.

]]> charles mudede http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996311 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996311 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:09:28 -0800 Comment by joykiller I thought the Seattle Center was supposed to be our "civic core."

Good thing we're turning it into our civic front lawn, er, excuse me, "open space."

]]> joykiller http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996318 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996318 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:13:15 -0800 Comment by Gordon Woah! I remember when I fought that bastard Dr. Breen at the top of that building.

Ah memories!

]]> Gordon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996323 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996323 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:18:35 -0800 Comment by PopTart That building is saying "I will crush you, little skyscrapers next to me. I will dominate you, I will make you bow down before me."

]]> PopTart http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996326 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996326 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:19:31 -0800 Comment by DOD I look forward to seeing more renderings of the new buildings!

]]> DOD http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996333 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996333 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:23:10 -0800 Comment by inkweary @5, Great point. I gave up shopping at Nordstom then and have never made a purchase there since.

]]> inkweary http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996366 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996366 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:45:58 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I'm looking forward to the eventual conversion of then entire line of light rail stations into upsized TOD developments.

Gold LEED - nice.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996387 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996387 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:56:15 -0800 Comment by max solomon right fucking on for seattle. norman foster's anonymous minions do good work.

]]> max solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996435 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996435 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:30:24 -0800 Comment by Joe M Not that I was a fan of re-opening Pine St., but Westlake Plaza was a big gray turd even before that.

]]> Joe M http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996454 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996454 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:38:06 -0800 Comment by Mr. X @5, great point. Just to pile on, let's also not forget that this vote was used as the rationale for taxpayers taking out a $73 million loan for the Nordstrom Garage (which, needless to say, wasn't exactly something City Hall broadcast to voters before the election).

To be fair, though, as I understand it, the initial decision to make Westlake an upscale mall rather than a downtown open space was actually made during the Royer Administration.

]]> Mr. X http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996510 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996510 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:04:22 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Joe M. is correct. Westlake was always a turd, at least after they tore down the interesting buildings there to build the mall. The "plaza" was a bit of a joke even on a good day.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996582 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996582 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:44:24 -0800 Comment by Ryan Not impressed. It looks like the horribly out-of-place Benaroya buildings (Met Park East, West, etc.).

]]> Ryan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996618 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996618 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:14:12 -0800 Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball Norman Foster is the godhead.

Doesn't his building in Vancouver count as a tower? Kinda sorta?

I kissed a boy in 30 St. Mary Axe.

]]> Jubilation T. Cornball http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996692 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996692 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:44:05 -0800 Comment by Fitz The proposed building (as seen in this pic) is bland. I hope the design changes. ...Pedestrian malls lead to blight. I've lived in cities that installed them, only to watch all of the retail stores and small businesses flee to the suburbs. Those cities have since re-opened the streets, and life is returning.

]]> Fitz http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996725 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996725 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:13:33 -0800 Comment by fred Looks like the Citigroup Center mated with a shampoo bottle. Can't we do better?

]]> fred http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996755 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996755 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:08:02 -0800 Comment by Samantha That better not be what the building looks like because thats FUGLY!!

]]> Samantha http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996817 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996817 Architecture Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:35:45 -0800 Comment by Design Nerd Charles: Can you get a wider angle image? Very familiar with the magic that Foster has performed in Europe. Context is so crucial -- and is so often overlooked by Americans interested only in the flashy covershot. While perhaps not the most elegant nod to Smith Tower, do we really want something that would steal any of that beauty's thunder? Unlike the typical "starchitect" creation, this building isn't all "look at me, me, me". It respects our past and our future (LEED Gold - WOW) and plays well with others. And isn't that so very Seattle. Bravo Lord Foster!

]]> Design Nerd http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996845 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996845 Architecture Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:56:22 -0800 Comment by Cale I am pretty sure they are actually going for LEED Platinum.

The tower looks pretty darn meh for now, but I love the idea for the plaza. The green aspect is awesome.

]]> Cale http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996887 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/a_foster_for_seattle#c996887 Architecture Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:34:39 -0800