Starting out from downtown and heading towards the University District provides a sampling of much of what Seattle’s landscape has to offer. Initially, the landscape is almost entirely constructed of human imprints. There are tall and taller office buildings that cut off almost any view of the horizon; literally a concrete jungle. However, as one walks to the higher numbered streets such as Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Avenues; the landscape has a dramatic change. Through the space between the buildings, on one side, you can see the Puget Sound and the islands, and mountains the face the city from its opposite shore. To the other side, you can also the hills that make up the eastern spine of the city. At the top of one of those hills, one can make out the top of the Harborview Medical Center’s main tower. From this perspective, Seattle is far from a concrete jungle but more like unique mix of earth, water, stone, and glass. While the majority of downtown buildings could most likely be found in other cities, several stand-out as unique to this city. First, there is Columbia Center. This enormous brown glass and metal building is observable from nearly anywhere downtown as it towers above the city without any other building comparable in height (Cox, 2011). Its shape and design illustrate the corporate and commercial activities that are taking place within. Indeed, is signifies Seattle’s connection commerce. Second, there is the Seattle Library. Unlike the surrounding offices, hotels, and stores, the Seattle Public Library is a squat, strangely shaped building that seems almost entirely constructed from glass. Just as it is a pleasing distraction to the eye amongst the corporate, governmental, and legal themes of the surrounding buildings, it is most likely provides a pleasing mental distraction for its visitors.
Walking north, towards Lake Union, however, the landscape of the city slowly gives way to a landscape composed of more natural items and industrial. There is less building congestion and more open and green spaces such as Denny Park, an oasis of grass, trees and shrubbery in the midst of the city. Just a few hundred meters the west, there is the Seattle Center; which provides a diverse mix of open space, and buildings of non-conventional design. To be sure, this area is best known for Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, and the oddly shaped EMP Museum. Just past this area is Amazon’s city center campus with its mix of restored warehouses, ultra-modern office spaces, and eco-friendly townhouse and apartments.
Capitol Hill, much more than the areas downtown or near to Lake Union, provides a feeling of home. As the name implies, it is on a hill, from the top of which you can see west across the Puget Sound, east across Lake Washington, north across Lake Union, and south across the elevated highway towards the city center. In a way these natural and human imprint landscape features form a barrier for Capitol Hill, like a gate that surrounds one’s house. It is almost as if one knows that when they cross one of these barriers, they are either leaving or returning home. Second, as mentioned. Capitol Hill’s landscape is extremely user-friendly. That is to say that is seems be designed to make people feel at home. The buildings on the hill are constructed on a human scale and almost all include spaces or areas that facilitate family and friend interaction. This is completely different from the area surrounding Columbia Center. Third, there are substantial points of human and environment interaction (CSUS, n.d.). For example, there are wooded paths that allow locals to enjoy a nice walk, run or bike ride in nature. Moreover, the integration of trees, bushes, and grass with the general architectural design of the building makes it one of the most environmentally integrated living spaces in the city. Fourth, while there is movement on Capitol Hill, it is much more subdued than downtown or near to Lake Union. There is less car and bus traffic and more foot and bicycle traffic. The roads are not highways or wide boulevards but rather small, one car traffic streets that twist and wind to and from their destinations. Lastly, Capitol Hill is different from the rest of the city, for all the reasons stated above. But perhaps the most illustrative difference as compared to other regions is the city is its human characteristics. People on the hill are or seem much more relaxed, friendly, fun-loving, family oriented and kind.
References
California State University, Stanislaus (CSUS). (n.d.). The five themes of geography. Retrieved from https://www.csustan.edu/sites/default/files/TeacherEd/FacultyStaff/betts/Handouts/PDFs/Five%20Themes%20of%20Geography.pdf
Cox. W. (2011, Jun. 30). The evolving urban area: Seattle. Retrieved from http://www.newgeography.com/content/002312-the-evolving-urban-area-seattle
