Comments on: Belltown Preference Survey

By: Long Sleeved

Long Sleeved — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:22:07 +0000

Wedding clothes have been around for as long as weddings themselves. Within the olden days, protracted sleeved clothes have been the only option that women had when it came to choosing a dressing pattern for their weddings. Modesty was provided with best priority in medieval times which mandated women to cover their arms completely. Certain sleeves were even drawn-out a sufficient quantity of to cover the fingers. Since these styles have been popular in the olden times, they were looked at as more of a fashion declaration in preference to being looked upon as being overly conservative. Supplies like velvet and damask were was considered to exhibit a person’s wealth. Trimmings of silk and satin were added to make the dress look grander. Many dresses even had their sleeves touching the floor. So in one way, it was much more to undertake with fashion as opposed to watching modest.

By: built in dishwashers installation

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By: Old vs. New | hugeasscity

Old vs. New | hugeasscity — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:00:01 +0000

[...] These differences may seem subtle, and they certainly don’t apply universally to new and old, but I see them as reflections of a society that is losing its sense of community. And it’s this same lack of connection with the community that is at the root of why so many newer buildings seem to lack the sole and pride found in older buildings. [...]

By: Chris M.

Chris M. — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:29:09 +0000

I grew up in the apartment building featured in the bottom picture (In fact in the unit to the left of the balcony. I also would play with my toy cars on that very balcony).

It’s quite beautiful but needs a serious re-do of the plumbing and electrical systems. It also has a courtyard that’s accessible from inside the building, but it wasn’t maintained at all and was infested with pests.

By: danb

danb — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:55:57 +0000

MTE, it’s not just about brick. Quality design and detailing can be done with just about any materials, e.g. even hardie panel, or relatively cheap metal siding, like on Site 17.

The base of the Uptown Safeway and countless other new mixed use buildings in Seattle are brick, but usually the brick is relatively sterile and doesn’t have nearly as much subtle detail as the old buildings. In many cases, brick is chosen to respect the historic context of the older buildings (or some such nonsense) but it just ends up looking like a cheap knockoff, which it is.

By: Matt the Engineer

Matt the Engineer — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:40:43 +0000

(forgot to include a link to sample options)

By: Matt the Engineer

Matt the Engineer — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:39:13 +0000

If your only requirement is brick facade, it's not terribly expensive to add to a project. Nobody lays bricks anymore, you just order sheets of the stuff and bolt it to the structure (well, it's more complicated than that, but not much). Such as the 1st floor of the Uptown Safeway. It's still not the most interesting structure, but you can specify all kinds of brick effects when you order a sheet of brick facade.

By: The Devils and Details of Belltown | hugeasscity

The Devils and Details of Belltown | hugeasscity — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:49:29 +0000

[...] I like it. Because, unlike Belltown Court (see previous post), there is life and vision in its design, from the massing and form, down to the detailing. [...]

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:14:11 +0000

Human quality? Soul? Let’s just call it Detail.

Bricks are small, have individual textures – each one is different. Light and shadows change by the hour. Your eye is pulled up, down, left, right by the contrast. Our eyes are drawn to contrast.

By comparison, the “Stucco” splattered across Belltown shown is planar and is texturally uniform (unless your nose is touching it). Minimal to no shadows or dappled light. Of course it’s boring. Imagine those older brick buildings re-surfaced in Dryvit.

And great retail does not require great architecture to succeed. Although we know what material we experience on the building as we walk out of Macrina, right?

Beauty can be skin deep.

By: Brent

Brent — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:35:19 +0000

Just to point out, the old Belltown also included lots of surface parking lots and undistinguished 50’s-60’s two story office buildings. Relatively few brick buildings that people swoon over were sacrificed for the modern Belltown. (Although in the case of Belltown Court, one was). Mosler Lofts replaced a two story 50’s office building. Avenue One replaced a surface lot at First and Clay. The Parc replaced a surface lot and a 60’s two story office building. I could go on. It blows my mind how people hate all the new condos as if they “ruined” Belltown, as if parking lots and under utilized land right by downtown was worth “saving.”

The Denny Regrade was meant to spread downtown northward, but it was largely a failure for many decades. There was a burst of apartment construction in the 20’s, which are the brick buildings loved by traditionalists. Then not much happened development wise until the 1980’s. I agree that the architecture of much of the newer Belltown buildings is sorely lacking, but the increased density and busy street life has been a big success for Seattle. I will also note that Belltown has been largely receptive of new development, unlike other parts of Seattle.

One last thing, the retail component of Belltown Court is very successful and beloved in the neighborhood. The retail spaces host a number of popular, well regarded local shops and restaurants. Mmmm…Macrina Bakery.