Architecture and Interior Design Join to Create Incredible Public Space

The Seattle Public Library, completed in the spring of 2004 at a cost of over $150 million, houses 363,000 square feet. The world-class architect and designer Rem Koolhaas designed the building (with the help of some other great designers), and the Library is now an architectural and design landmark of the northwest.

Driving down 4th St. in downtown Seattle, the Public Library appears spontaneously amid a classic downtown atmosphere. The unique architecture appears like a giant sculpture of steel and glass. The library is home to reading rooms, over 400 computers, performance spaces, a 425 seat auditorium, a children’s center, a teen’s center, and more. But what makes this space so amazing is not the space itself, but what was done with it.

A 4 floor atrium creates an interior space big enough for an office building. Steel floors, actually meant to be scratched, can be found in the technology area. Colors like lime green and magenta can be found on walls throughout the library. A mix of architecture and design made it all possible.

Designing Greatness - Together

Designer and architect Rem Koolhaas used innovation at every turn, and a group of equally innovative interior designers helped him in his task. For instance, Ohio designer Ann Hamilton designed the floor of the ESL center, which features letters raised out of the wood, in 12 different languages, and reading backwards.

The architecture of the Seattle Public Library is thoroughly advanced, but it is not out of reach. A degree in interior design will prepare you for a career that could lead you to incredible projects like the Library. What will you design?

Sources:

• Central Library, 2002-present, The Seattle Public Library from HistoryLink