Seattle Plans on (short) leave

Yesterday Seattle Plans went on an unannounced, last-minute vacation. Sorry, this sort of thing happens during the summer. Posting will continue on Monday with the news links.

Hey, Charles (at The Stranger's Slog) finally picked up on the tiling at 5th & Madison. Did you think he would not have thoughts? His big question:

Why did the architects choose something that opposes, that works against, that almost undoes the modernistic sleekness of the tower? Most of 5th and Madison appears to be rational (the best type of architecture—or ecotecture), and this considerable confusion of tiles appears to be so whimsical. It’s not entirely bad, just remarkably odd.

06/14/2007 DPD Bulletin Highlights

Just one highlight from yesterday's DPD bulletin:

Downtown: 1400 6th Ave (east side of NE block)
Modifications to east façade of Sheraton Hotel & RoW
It looks like the Sheraton is going to be a good citizen and do something about that vast expanse of concrete wall on 7th Ave. Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (of many local & famous projects), should be able to figure it out.

Striking design proposed for 1903 5th Ave (photos)

Model above is the original proposal for 550', 46 story hotel/condo tower at 1903 5th Ave. Changes detailed and more photos below.

I told you previously that the proposal for 1903 5th Ave was something to get excited about, and it is, not just because it would dwarfs Escala and the Westin towers and everything around it. Its thoroughly modern looks would be unlike most all of them.

Placed on a site just 108' by 120' (if I heard correctly), this tower has a tight podium and a solidly straight-up expression clad in a "greenish blue" glass, despite some changes to the original model. In order to thin the tower, "shoulders" have been lost (balconies on the corners rise higher up) and the podium has risen some stories. Added transparency at the base connects pedestrians to activity within the building. Notches have also been added to the tower's heights to avoid a "Darth Vader" feel. Interesting features include a rooftop screen inspired somewhat by an inverted parasol and transparent tube elevators at the podium corners facing 5th Ave.

For what it is worth, out of respect for the developer, a cordial man with whom I conserved briefly (and gave me permission to photograph his model for this obscure blog), I'll refrain from sharing more details until this project progresses further through design review.

The design review committee seemed slightly positive. Concerns shared among the committee members were lack of exterior expression of interior activity at higher elevations and some issues with the podium. One member expressed some worry that the tower could become "retro." I could not figure her intent, but if she meant a retro vision of the future, I do admit that that is my greatest worry here. It's too early to tell, however, and I remain terribly excited about the possibility of its being built. Here's to hoping that the committee allows this tower to make a statement, which it undoubtedly will by its height alone, unhindered and uncompromised.

More photos here.

Related: DJC article [via Urbnlivn, Feb 13]

5th & Madison: Now what?

Without a doubt, that tiling is going to fill in the orange area:

Now the question is, what's going to fill in the area above? Please say it's stripes!

5th & Madison: Tiling still rising

Yesterday Vashon118 posted a 5th & Madison photo from last Friday on the SSP forum (scroll down a bit). The tiling continues to rise! Just a week after it first appeared, it's risen two more floors. Oh, the humanity!

I'll have another update later this week.

5th & Madison: !

As promised, here are photos of the southern side of 5th & Madison (click to enlarge):

Seattle Plans wasn't sure, and so asked a trusted opinionator. The first word out was "hideous," followed by, "Is that for real?" Yes. It is real.

Now the question is, how high is that going up?
Is this going to fill out the orange area?

The Slate piece is not worth your time.

I'm probably too late to have stopped you, but don't bother with this perfunctory architectural review of Seattle ["Seattle's Best (and Worst)," Slate, May 16]. I don't care if someone wants to point out middling Seattle architecture, but do us right by covering it all and being factually correct. Somehow Crosscut come up with 344 fawning words for this junk.