Exploring the World’s Most Stunning Architectural Marvels
Space Needle, Seattle, WA
Fun facts: In 1960, Architect Victor Steinbrueck was hired by John Graham & Co. to work on the final Needle design for the 1962 World’s Fair. He found inspiration for the tower’s tripod legs in a sculpture called “The Feminine One” by artist David Lemon. (72) 30-foot-long anchor bolts were set into the foundation to provide support for the Needle’s legs! An estimated 74,000 bolts hold the Needle together. The Needle was built to withstand a 9.0 earthquake and 100-mile-per-hour winds. On March 24, 1962, the Needle’s Observation desk first opened to the public. A ride up the Needle cost $1.00 in 1962!
Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle, WA
Designed by American Architect Frank Gehry. Built in 2000. When he began designing the museum, he was inspired to create a structure that evoked the rock ’n’ roll experience. He purchased several electric guitars, sliced them into pieces, and used them as building blocks for an early model design. 140,000 total SF, the highest point is 85 feet high, and the widest point is 210 feet wide with an overall length of 360 feet. “A fusion of textures and myriad of colors on the exterior conveys all the energy and fluidity of music. Three-thousand panels, made up of 21 thousand individually cut and shaped stainless steel and painted aluminum shingles, encase the outside of the building. Their individual finishes respond to different light conditions and appear to change when viewed from different angles, reminding audiences that music and culture is constantly changing.”
Common Alaska Architecture
A blend of rustic timber structures to sleek modern with modern materials. The rustic style frequently incorporates antlers and/or wildlife somewhere. Steep-pitched roofs to address the weight of snow and snow melt.
This is the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, AK, which was designed by RIM Architects in Anchorage, AK. The building orients itself toward the sea coast with views of Kachemak Bay, while turning its back on the adjacent highway. The 35,000 SF facility is shared by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve. The design team commissioned original works from local artisans within the building to integrate with the architecture.
THE Salty Dawg Saloon (yes, the one and only original) is insured for $1M just for the dollars covering EVERY surface!
