Name: Behind the design of Seattle's library
Uploaded: 2006-07-10T00:11:00Z
Duration: 19 min 44 s
Description: Architect Joshua Prince-Ramus takes the audience on dazzling, dizzying virtual tours of three recent projects: the Central Library in Seattle, the Museum Plaza in Louisville and the Charles Wyly Theater in Dallas.

Architect Joshua Prince-Ramus takes the audience on dazzling, dizzying virtual tours of three recent projects: the Central Library in Seattle, the Museum Plaza in Louisville and the Charles Wyly Theater in Dallas.

Behind the design of Seattle's library

Pushing logic to its extremes, a new approach to architecture ditches ego-driven design and embraces pragmatic teamwork. Instead of generic, flexible spaces, buildings like the Seattle Central Library use compartmentalized zones that anticipate both current and future needs. A parking garage for books on the 6th to 10th floors and a public 'living room' illustrate this mindset, prioritizing function and public value over flashy signatures. By focusing on the evolving roles of spaces and technologies, these designs answer real community needs in unexpected ways.