December 4, 2002

Design Detailings: Chinese architect speaks Monday

Yung Ho Chang's Split House in Beijing is part of a single-family development at the Great Wall.

Leading Chinese architect Yung Ho Chang will speak at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. His appearance is part of Space.City's lecture series that seeks to bring intriguing young Asian architects to Seattle.

Space.City previously sponsored lectures by Toyo Ito and Shigeru Ban, and now taps Chang, who, like Shigeru Ban, spent his formative years in the United States.

Having experience in both the West and China, Chang critically observes and analyzes the urban explosion in China and proposes inventive solutions. Inspired by traditional Chinese architecture and urban planning, as well as by contemporary developments in architecture, economics and technology, Chang and his firm, Atelier FCJZ, have developed new approaches to high-density living.

Chang's Venice Biennale entry of the split house is part of an ambitious single-family home development at the base of the Great Wall of China.

China is undergoing a tremendous building boom, at 10 times the rate of the United States. In this urbanization process, questions of international influence and Chinese tradition have become the main issues in architectural debates and practice.

Advance tickets are $12, available at Peter Miller Books in Seattle. Remaining tickets will be $15, sold at the door. For more information, contact etc@space-city.net or call (206) 842-2283.

Miller hosts Arcade party, book signing

Peter Miller books on Thursday will host a release party for Arcade's December issue, as well as a book signing for "Seattle Case Study Homes" and CoCA's "Blurred" catalogue.

"Seattle Case Study Homes" is available at Peter Miller Books, 1930 First Ave. The event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

IIDA sponsors stocking auction

The Washington State Chapter of the International Interior Design Association sponsors its sixth annual holiday stocking event from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Local design principals will judge stockings created by design firms. The stockings will be auctioned in a live auction, with some of the proceeds going to Rebuilding Together. Stocking categories include local icons, neighborhood charm, Northwest style and farmer's market.

The event will be held at A Contemporary Art Center, 500 Boren Ave. N. Cost is $15 for IIDA members, and $25 for non-members. For information, call (206) 762-6471, or visit www.iida-wa.org.

Three artists wanted for Seattle parks

The Seattle Arts Commission seeks three artists to develop art in three urban parks. The projects are the first artworks to be created for Seattle Parks and Recreation under a new Pro Parks art plan.

Applications and the Pro Parks art plan are available on the Arts Commission Web site at cityofseattle.net/arts (select "Funding Opportunities) or by calling (206) 615-1801. Applications must be at the Seattle Arts Commission office, 312 First Ave. N., second floor, by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10.

The projects are the first stage of creating a legacy of artwork in Seattle's park system that will occur over the next five years. Budgets will range from $60,000 to $90,000. Each project has the possibility of additional construction dollars.

They include:

• Interstate 5 space -- a large piece of land under an elevated portion of the freeway north of downtown will be developed into a one-of-a-kind park, reconnecting two neighborhoods. It will have of views toward Lake Union and the Space Needle.

• Mineral Springs Park: a wooded smaller park site that melds the only disc golf course in Seattle with a newly designed natural section of the park. The new portion of the park will function as a multi-use passive park space. The open space blends new landform and landscape components with existing stands of trees and landforms.

• South Lake Union Park: a new waterfront park under development on Lake Union. The park will combine access to the lake, open space and references to the city's maritime heritage.