Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Glasshouse
Sitting like a giant greenhouse under the Space Needle, the Glasshouse offers a nod to
London's Crystal Palace, one of Chihuly's most important historical inspirations. You'll
notice that the floor space of the glasshouse has been left empty (the area can be hired
for wedding receptions), drawing your eye up to the ceiling where a huge medley of
flower-shaped glass pieces imitate the reds, oranges and yellows of a perfect sunset.
Adjacent to the glasshouse is the
Collections Café
, where numerous collected objects
(accordions, bottle openers, toy cars) adorn the ceiling, tables and toilets. Nearby, a
theater
shows several revolving short films including
Chihuly Over Venice
.
Garden
Seattle's relatively benign climate means glass can safely be displayed outside year
round. Chihuly uses the garden to demonstrate the seamless melding of glass art and
natural vegetation. Many of the alfresco pieces are simple pointed shards of glass redol-
ent of luminescent reeds, but the real eye-catcher is
The Sun
, a riot of twisted yellow
'flames' whose swirling brilliance erases the heaviness of the most overcast Seattle sky.
