ABSTRACT
Library architecture can itself be inspiring. The new library in Chicago, with its neo-classical design, is a great addition to the Loop. The boldly scaled geometric forms of the new library in Denver give it a fantastical image. The new library in downtown Kirkland creates a spectacular gatehouse to one corner of Peter Kirk Park. The library in downtown Bothell seems to belong to the same family as the buildings in Bellevue and Kirkland. The Bothell library is so closely surrounded by the clutter of strip malls, car washes, and gas stations that it is scarcely visible from any major street. The library district decided to fund the addition of art into the public buildings, even though it had no legal requirement to do so. Many fine pieces have been commissioned for lobbies and forecourts that enhance the experience of entering the buildings.
