I currently live within walking distance of the Space Needle. I’d say that among random people who ask for directions to things in town it’s either first or second.* And I understand that a lot of locals also like it.
I’m not here to judge, but everybody is wrong when they say they want to keep the views of it. I mean honestly, it’s not that attractive of a building, and the roof is usually painted a strange color. It doesn’t have much utility, and the location smack dab in the middle of a park is strange.
Now I’m not going to go so far as Guy de Maupassant eating at the Eiffel Tower to get away from looking at it. I get that it’s a thing that makes Seattle Seattle. It’s funky and unique. It’s a part of New Year’s and of the civic things that happen at Seattle Center.
But if it wasn’t there, other buildings would do that for us. I personally love the old pictures of Seattle where the Smith Tower dominates the sky line. And occasionally you see even older pictures with Saint James’s spires tucked away in the background, that I’m sure you could see from much of the city where you can’t see it any more.
So maybe what we need isn’t lots of places to see the Space Needle, but more buildings that will inspire awe. If we get buildings that block the Space Needle with their radness, that would probably be better than blocking the view with another box that could be switched with any high rise downtown without people noticing.
* Pike Place being the other most asked one. EMP is third. Also, depending on where we are, if they’re on foot, and their understanding of English I usually direct them to the monorail to get to the Space Needle.
Why would anyone need directions to the Space Noodle? Or want directions to EMP (it’s uglier than Ted Nugentt) although if you find one you’ve also found the other.
P.S., I’m not a native but I moved to Seattle when Smith Tower was the city’s tallest building, which I guess dates me i.e. I’m not exactly a spring hare anymore …
This is a prettier building:
http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/
Say, I have an idea. Why doesn’t someone at HA feature the Chihuly Seattle Center project as a thread topic?
# 2: That’s been done, repeatedly, by Goldie before he left for The Stranger. He pointed out that the space available after the removal of the Fun Forest could have been made into a great urban children’s park, making Seattle a far more child-friendly (and pedestrian friendly) place to be.
The problem with the Chihuly project was that (a) it wasn’t needed in Seattle,with many other examples of Chihuly work available for viewing for free in the lobbys if buildings; (b) the Chihuly project is basically privately owned (long-term lease), serving as a an entertainment spots for well-paying clientele to private events, (c) it takes away public space which could have been used for more public purposes, and (d)it never has fulfilled the promises made when it sold the city on the idea.
I agree that the Experience Music Project is the ugliest building in town – perhaps in most towns. It particularly doesn’t fit into the architecture of the area, and reminds me of a pile of construction debris.
@ 3
I was sorta riffing on the very recent Chihuly post. I’m not a historian of all things HA so I was unaware of earlier threads about it.
You’re certainly consistent, rhp. You even misspelled the five-letter name of HA’s founder.
# 5: I’m not the first one. He once had a post about the proper way to spell his name. I just don’t have time to pay much attention to spelling when I’m blogging.
“I’m not here to judge, but everybody is wrong when they say they want to keep the views of it.”
I’m sure you don’t mean to judge, Carl, but you could have at least finished the sentence before going there.
“If we get buildings that block the Space Needle with their radness, that would probably be better than blocking the view with another box that could be switched with any high rise downtown without people noticing.”
I see, “radness” is the way to go. Please do me a favor and name a few of the buildings that you think are rad so I can try to share your vision. I’ll try not to judge. Heh. No, really.
“You’re certainly consistent, rhp. You even misspelled the five-letter name of HA’s founder.”
RHP, spelling and consistency. I like RHP but I’ve been waiting over five years to see him spell the word “speech” correctly. He spells it “speach” every darned time even though I’ve posted a couple of comments about it. Maybe this time it’ll stick.
@7,
Reading comprehension may not be your thing. That’s cool.
The Space Needle is kitschy and reminds me of something from an early Flash Gordon serial. To say that it’s not attractive is an understatement and the fact that it supposedly represents Seattle is embarrassing!
@9 Fuck your dismissive bullshit, Carl. I’m a consultant for some of the best architects on the planet. You judged other’s tastes in architecture saying “everybody is wrong” for wanting to retain a view of the space needle. What horseshit. You wrote, “But if it wasn’t there, other buildings would do that for us.” OK, show us what you’ve got. Get off the snide train and tell me about some of those rad buildings you like so much so I can judge your taste in architecture, Carl, as you’ve judged others.
@11,
Doubling down on your inability to do reading comprehension doesn’t mean that you were able to do it well. (a) “Everybody is wrong” was obviously over the top: The rest of the city is entitled to their opinions, and if I don’t like the Space Needle, whatever. I was going to respond like that. I understand that if the audience doesn’t get something, it’s me, and I’m happy to explain. But: (b) you also asked about something I mention in the post. There are 2 buildings I mention that have been for Seattle what the Space Needle is now, and you’re demanding that I give you examples! (c) Not related to this post specifically, but telling people what to write — asking for a post or a comment — instead of, for example, a question is the quickest way to get a dismissive response from me. (d) “Heh. No, really” and then you get angry with a dismissive response?
@10. On the continuum of unattractive buildings, it’s no where near the bottom. That is held by the Seattle Public Library. There is almost nothing redeeming about that eye sore.
““Everybody is wrong” was obviously over the top”
That’s your idea of humor? Oh, I get it, you were doing a caricature of a liberal know-it-all with a condescending attitude towards anybody who dares questions him. Wow, that really is funny. Is there any other humor in your post I missed?
“There are 2 buildings I mention that have been for Seattle what the Space Needle is now”
If I had questioned your judgement on that one you might have a point. But since you you brought it up, The Smith Tower and Pike Place Market are not rad now and never were. EMP is a low-rise that doesn’t block views. I requested some examples of your “buildings that block the Space Needle with their radness”.
“Not related to this post specifically, but telling people what to write”
I wrote “Please do me a favor”. Yeah, sorry for bossing you around like that. My bad.
““Heh. No, really” and then you get angry with a dismissive response?”
Dismissive? Oh, you mean like this?
“Reading comprehension may not be your thing. That’s cool.”
Why are you so angry, Carl? I can tell from your dismissive comment there that you’ve descended into uncontrollable rage. Heh. No, not really, Carl. I have no way of knowing whether or not you’re frothing at the mouth or laughing your ass off. Same goes for you. But you actually had it half right – I was being dismissive of your opinion. But I suspect the rules here are that, when you’re dismissive, you’re being fucking clever or something. When someone is dismissive of you for writing the humorless “everybody is wrong”, it’s anger. Got it, Carl.
As early as 1968 there were people (mostly recent newcomers with money) who were loudly advocating major changes to and repurposing of the Seattle Center (and a lot of the rest of the city). Some group got a lengthy article on the front page of one of our two daily papers (ah, the good old days) referring to the Space Needle as “rapidly aging and slightly comic”.