This recent drone photo by Gables, the owner, clearly shows that the building is nearing completion, from top to bottom. Some of the work, such as the new Safeway store fit-up, is still not visible but will be soon (November 9); but many of the final exterior details have arrived. They add an interesting quality to the building, especially at street level.
This now-familiar view shows off some of the street-level retail focus elements, such as awnings and signage. These have been specifically designed to complement existing Queen Anne Avenue elements such as brick facades and colorful awnings, such as these at the Hilltop Ale House.
In this case, however, these are not your grandparents’ sunporch canvas awnings.
They’re pre-painted metal panels, pre-cut and formed to their final shape, lifted into position and screwed to their supporting frames.
And, as with existing treatments already along the street, they vary. The red one above shelters the entrance to the Safeway pharmacy; and the striped one below covers the outdoor display area for the Safeway florist. The florist shop also includes those white ceramic pots for outdoor floral displays.
The Safeway itself gets a new, large entrance sign. As opposed to being painted directly on the brick (as my grandfather often did in his sign business), this sign arrived in pieces like the awnings and gets lifted into place.
Once in place it leaves no doubt as to the location of the “front door” to the store.
In the window nearby a small notice makes it official.
At the intersection of Queen Anne Avenue and Crockett Streets the new corner plaza has also added a few “announcements”.
The most prominent is a seating / sculpture feature right on the corner. The sculpture itself will arrive soon, consisting of 3 metal trees with a bead-blasted steel armature system, connecting glass pieces to a series of branches and stems. Each armature performs as ‘branches’, ending in lighted, hand-blown glass pendants. In the background on the right (behind the temporary “We’re Hiring” sign), is the outdoor order window for the deli – where a new sign identifying it as the “Delicatessen” will soon be installed.
Should you just want to order a sandwich and sit in the plaza, there’s a bench and mini-lawn, as well as stools for the eating counter, tables, chairs, and umbrellas, all coming early in November.
Off to one side is another plaza entrance to the Safeway store, with ornamental metal screens designed by local artist, Stuart Nakamura.
These panels have at their core an approach that highlights some of the features for which Queen Anne is noted and speak to the community’s identity that sets it apart from others in Seattle. The imagery utilizes a playing-card format, in reference to the ‘Queen’ in Queen Anne, as a visual format to explore some of these neighborhood features. An inspirational motif was borrowed from traditional Japanese Hanafuda playing cards which utilize strong diagonal arcs and a graphic approach to highlight the dynamic quality this space will offer. The panels will combine references to the Queen Anne architectural style, to the Suquamish historical presence in the area, and to food-related images. Some of the screens face Queen Anne Avenue and include a “leaning rail” for bus riders to use while waiting.
As a side note, all the windows are getting washed for the grand opening as well.
Around the corner, part way up the hill on Crocket Street, a secondary entrance to the central courtyard has been included.
It steps up, over the garage entrance and leads to a main walkway through the courtyard. (More about all of that in the next blog post). Where the stair brings you down to the sidewalk a small welcoming plaza frames the walk with seating.
In a very generous way it is both part of the project and part of the community.
The small, white dots are actually lights to add some after-dark grace notes. A similar treatment has been given to a long bench on First Avenue North.
A mural, designed by local artist Xin Xin, will be installed nest week to provide visual interest on the concrete wall that conceals the Safeway loading area beyond. It is based on a watercolor painting of hers exploring healing emotions through abstract forms.
These ‘grace-notes’ welcome the community to be part of the project. Finally, around the corner on Boston Street, two more pieces of art complete the picture.
Some privacy screening for the mail room part of the administrative offices has been designed with the same “cut out” figure-ground approach noted in the description of the Queen Anne / Crockett Street plaza. Here, highlights include iconic views and elements on Queen Anne, the view of the Space Needle, a reference to the dozens of stair climbs, the North Queen Anne Drive Bridge, and to the usage of a counterbalance to enable street cars to go up and down steep Queen Anne Avenue.
Finally, swinging around the corner, to the corner of Queen Anne Avenue and Boston Street, brings the large mural at the north end building A into view.
It conveys the idea that buildings can provide a canvas for art in a striking way. Local artist Marsha Rollinger, chose to design geometric shapes based on architectural details of buildings and structures in the neighborhood. The details include diamond patterns, turret shapes, crenelations, wall arches from stairs, decorative leaded-window designs, and laurel plant leaves found West Queen Anne lampposts.
The mural shows clearly from Boston street, in context with local retail.
Travel Design Impressions 