Noted

Dec 13, 2004

Noted

Koolhaas, and the Obsolete Book. January 15 1:00-3:00 PM. Seattle Central Public Library, Conference Room 2. Speaker: Meredith Clausen, Professor of Architecture.

Does Rem Koolhaas' new Seattle Central Library predict the future? What does it tell us about the relationship between architecture, books, and society in the 21st century? Meredith Clausen, Professor of Architecture and Art History, will give a fascinating lecture on the meaning of Koolhaas' new building, comparing it to other great library structures around the world. She will also situate Koolhaas' work in the context of contemporary architectural trends in Europe and questions about the future of the library itself. Open to the public, no tickets necessary. Sponsored by the Center for West European Studies. For more information, contact cwes@u.washington.edu or 206-543-1675. (italics added)

Dec 13, 2004 10:38:00 AM

3 Comments

I might check it out, although it would mean sitting through a whole lecture just to get to ask some cranky -- er, I mean pointed -- questions.

Posted by: Matthew Amster-Burton | Dec 13, 2004 at 01:47 PM

I certainly hope that this isn't the future of libraries. I took a bunch of pictures in the fall and struggled and struggled to write up a coherent post about impressions, but failed. It was just too strange a building - not always anti-human, but thoroughly non-human, as if designed by someone who couldn't go have people try anything out, relying on third-hand reports from others.

Posted by: Bruce Baugh | Dec 13, 2004 at 08:39 PM

I hope the speaker has bodyguards.

My first experience of the new SPL was the 5th Avenue entrance. The entire access on that side is one set of double-doors apologetically tucked into what was clearly meant to be a large blank dull facade.

I mean, excuse me, I was on 5th Avenue, you got a problem, Koolhaas? How can you claim to be modern, let alone post-, when your building is meant to be read only from one "front" side (4th, presumably)?

And what does the SPL have in common with any cookie-cutter 3-story Holiday Inn Express? A. It's easier to use the elevators than the stairs, thereby contributing to energy waste and obesity.

IOW, don't get me started :)

On the positive side, well, unlike the 90s public library in San Francisco, it does have room for some books.

Posted by: Jarrett | Dec 13, 2004 at 10:43 PM

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