Seattle Asian Art Museum

🌿If I could only choose one place to visit in Seattle on a weekend, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a trip to the Seattle Asian Art Museum on a nice day. Nestled in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, it’s a tranquil oasis in a posh, established neighborhood. I always love taking a detour here whenever I ride through Caphill; it might just be my favorite community in downtown Seattle. 🌿The building was originally constructed in 1933 and was designed by the architect Carl F. Gould. It was the original home of the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). The Art Deco style is characterized by clean lines and symmetrical structures. The wall reliefs reflect the era’s pursuit of “order” and “ornamentation.” In 1991, SAM moved to a new location at the intersection of 1st Ave and Union St in the city center, designed by the American architect Robert Venturi, a leading figure in Postmodernism. It seems that SAM’s taste in architectural aesthetics has always been on point. 🌿From 2017 to 2020, the original SAM building in Volunteer Park, now the Seattle Asian Art Museum, underwent a renovation and expansion. The transformation was overseen by the previous owners, and the partners also felt that such a high-quality project is a once-in-a-century opportunity. The renovation preserved the Art Deco style while adding a large area of glass curtain wall on the north side. This allows for ample indoor lighting without direct sunlight, and also makes the park’s scenery a part of the exhibition. 🌿My last visit was in April when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom outside the curtain wall, and the greenery was abundant. Now, it’s almost the best season again. This might be one of the first things I miss after leaving Seattle. #Seattle #ArchitectureAndStructuralAesthetics #SeattleLife #MustVisitMuseums #RomanticLifeRecorder