Shaping Seattle Architecture

The first edition of Shaping Seattle Architecture, published in 1994, introduced readers to Seattle’s architects by showcasing the work of those who were instrumental in creating the region’s built environment. Twenty years later, the second edition updates and expands the original with new information and illustrations that provide an even richer exploration of Seattle architecture. The book begins with a revised introduction that brings the story of Seattle architecture into the twenty-first century and situates developments in Seattle building design within local and global contexts. The book’s fifty-four essays present richly illustrated profiles that describe the architects' careers, provide an overview of their major works, and explore their significance. Shaping Seattle Architecture celebrates a wide range of people who helped form the region's built environment. It provides updated information about many of the architects and firms profiled in the first edition. Four individuals newly included in this second edition are Edwin J. Ivey, a leading residential designer; Fred Bassetti, an important contributor to Northwest regional modernism; L. Jane Hastings, one of the region’s foremost women in architecture; and Richard Haag, founder of the landscape architecture program at the University of Washington and designer of Gas Works Park and the Bloedel Reserve. The book also includes essays on the buildings of the Coast Salish people, who inhabited Puget Sound prior to Euro-American settlement; the role that architects played in speculative housing developments before and after World War II; and the vernacular architecture built by nonprofessionals that makes up a portion of the fabric of the city. Shaping Seattle Architecture concludes with a substantial reference section, updated to reflect the last twenty years of research and publications. A locations appendix offers a geographic guide to surviving works. The research section directs interested readers to further resources, and the appendix “Additional Significant Seattle Architects” provides thumbnail sketches of nearly 250 important figures not included in the main text.

Seattle's growth has been remarkable; from a population of only 3,500 in 1880 the city grew to over 500,000 in 1990, and the Puget Sound region exploded to a population of nearly three million. This book focuses on those whose design shaped the physical form of the city and region. Forty-five generously illustrated profiles of architects and firms provide an overview of Seattle's architectural history as well as a hand reference guide to the life and work of these designers. Jeffrey Ochsner's introductory chapter summarizes the main currents of Seattle's architectural history, relating it both to the city's history and to national and international trends in architecture. Three special essays, focusing on the region's Native American architecture; on the impact of pattern books, plan books, and periodicals; and on "vernacular" and "popular" architecture--ordinary structures often built without the participation of professional designers--are valuable additions to the book. Only architects no longer actively practicing are included in the individual profiles, but an appendix providing over eighty thumbnail sketches of additional significant Seattle architects and the works for which they are most noted does include recent AIA-Seattle Medal winners. Non-Seattle architects who designed major Seattle structures are listed separately. Another appendix lists the extant buildings mentioned in the text, along with their current names and addresses, including buildings across the Northwest and elsewhere. Sections on sources of information and on researching Seattle architecture provide suggestions for finding out more about a particular architect, building, or project. Among those architects and firms featured are Mother Joseph (Esther Pariseau), Elmer Fisher, John Parkinson, Kirtland Cutter, Ellsworth Storey, Arthur Loveless, Robert C. Reamer, Lionel Pries, Elizabeth Ayer, Fred Anhalt, Paul Thiry, Paul Kirk, Roland Terry, and Victor Steinbrueck. Certificate of Recognition awarded by AKCHO, Association of King County Historical Organizations, May 1995 Award of Merit presented by Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, October 1995

It closes with the sudden collapse of Seattle's economy in the Panic of 1893 and the ensuing depression that halted the city's building boom, saw the closing of a number of architects' offices, and forever ended the dominance of Romanesque Revival in American architecture.".

National Trust guides are the most in-depth guides to the historyand architecture of U.S. cities ever published. From famouslandmarks to little-known places, this fascinating guide takes youon an exciting journey through Seattle's cultural, historical, andarchitectural treasures. Walking tours and nearby trips in and around Seattle * Easy-to-follow maps for each area of the city * 200 vintage and contemporary photographs * Listings of national, state, and city landmarks * Index of museums, calendar of annual events, and more.

"On the evening of May 16, 1958, architecture alumni of the University of Washington converged on Seattle from all over the country for a banquet celebrating the new College of Architecture and Urban Planning. When the dean introduced faculty member Lionel "Spike" Pries, ... 'Everyone rose and cheered and clapped; it appeared to go on forever.' But within six months, Lionel Pries was abruptly and mysteriously gone from the university. The official explanation was illness; friends 'sensed a large injustice,' though only a few knew the dismissal was based on Pries's sexual orientation" -- Jacket flap.

Green design is the major architectural movement of our time. Throughout the world architects are producing sustainable buildings in an attempt to preserve the environment and our globe’s natural resources. However, current strategies for forming sustainable solutions are typically too general and fail to take advantage of critical geographical, environmental, and cultural factors particular to a specific place. By focusing on the Pacific Northwest, this book provides essential lessons to architects and students on how sustainable architecture can and should be shaped by the unique conditions of a region. Pacific Northwest regionalism has consistently supported an architecture aimed at environmental needs and priorities. This book illuminates the history of a "green trail" in the work of key architects of the Northwest. It discusses environmental strategies that work in the region, organized according to nature’s most basic elements--earth, air, water, and fire--and their underlying principles and forces. The book focuses on technologies, materials, and methods, with a final section that examines thirteen exceptional Northwest buildings in detail and in light of their contributions to sustainable architecture. Critical case studies by Northwest architects illustrate some of the best environmental design work in North America. Notable architects from Seattle, Portland, and British Columbia are included. These projects feature innovative design in water and site stewardship, intelligent technologies, passive energy strategies, ecologically sound building materials, and environmentally sensitive energy management systems.

Furniture Studio explores the origins, methods, results, and influence of the unique and highly successful furniture design and fabrication studios offered by the University of Washington Department of Architecture. The furniture program, initiated by Andris Vanags, is an immersion into the role of materials, design, and making in architectural education. Students directly engage the physical properties of materials, and the knowledge gained through this engagement enriches the design and fabrication process. The experiences of its graduates reveal that the studio fosters creative thinking that truly integrates design and making. Ochsner presents historical background to shop-based courses, including furniture studio; traces the careers of four representative graduates of the program; and suggests implications from this program for architectural education and individual achievement beyond the University of Washington. Eleven students and the projects they created in the winter 2009 studio are profiled, and the book contains a fully illustrated catalogue of exemplary student projects from 1989 to the present. Illustrations and descriptions throughout the book showcase the heirloom-quality projects created by the students, many of which won awards in competitions. "Jeffrey Ochsner has written a book that will be invaluable to furniture historians, furniture makers, architects, and design educators. The book's great strength is its telling of a local, personal story within a broader context of architectural pedagogy and philosophy." -Edward Cooke, author of Making Furniture in Pre-Industrial America Jeffrey Karl Ochsner is professor of architecture and associate dean for academic affairs, College of Built Environments, University of Washington. He is the author of Lionel H. Pries, Architect, Artist, Educator and coauthor of Distant Corner: Seattle Architects and the Legacy of H. H. Richardson.