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After being instructed to create something "iconic" for the Frye Art Museum-adjacent, twin-tower, 33-storey condo development to be built for Westbank, lead architects Perkins + Will have gone back to the drawing board to come up with their current proposal, a pair of "leaning towers" to redefine the Seattle skyline.
If accepted by the local design review panel, what is known for now only as 707 Terry Avenue will bring a striking piece of architectural design to the desirable First Hill neighbourhood in downtown Seattle. The leaning towers would be a fitting neighbour to the modernist 1952-built Frye Art Museum, upon whose land and former surface parking lot the new development is set to rise.
If approved, the design will incorporate what is being described as an elegant balance of tension and harmony. The architectural drama created by the towers' leaning effect will be offset by the grace of their exterior, clad as they will be with a series of individual shoji screens, the combined effect of which will create a textural, woven aesthetic, thus adding to the iconic nature of what promises to be a striking new development.
The twin towers will be connected by a common three-storey podium, above which 450 residential units will be spread across the two structures. The airy podium will feature multi-storey open spaces, complete with large art installations, and will be capped with an open-air pedestrian walkway that will allow for easy access from one tower to the next. In addition to this, there will be room for 7,600 square feet of retail space, along with ample parking for both residents and visitors to the museum. The museum will also retain ownership of a currently undisclosed number of apartments for its own use.
Up top, the proposal calls for twin two-storey amenity levels, connected via a floating glass-encased pedestrian bridge. If the renderings are any indication, the bridge will contain live vegetation and ample space for public and/or private events.
If successful, 707 Terry Avenue will easily become one of the most visually stunning developments in Seattle, an iconic set piece amid a skyline that offers both world-class architecture and the natural beauty of the mountains.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project once final approval is granted. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
