Lara Swimmer has been photographing the architectural landscape of the Pacific North-west for the last decade. Her work has captured some of the most significant buildings to transform the region, and her images of the Seattle Central Library are no exception. This little jewel of a book captures the process of building and reveals the ‘how’ behind the finished project.
Through a combination of black and white and color images, Swimmer offers a revealing look into the design and construction process behind what many consider to be the single most important building to transform Seattle, architecturally and publicly. Divided into six sections, the book features insightful quotes from the architects, structural engineers, and critics from the region. But text is really not needed; the pictures do the talking.
With their acute compositional understanding, Swimmer’s photographs reinforce that the process is equally as important as the finished building. elizabeth donoff