Wolfe’s latest article asks whether AI can help transform the future of downtown Seattle, based on Seattle leaders’ recent release of images—created by AI—of potential structures and communities that could mold downtown Seattle’s future as part of a broader approach coined “Space Needle Thinking.”
The images, curated by Olson Kundig Architects, include a sports and recreational facility visualized as a colossal glass canopy, sheltering an activity-laden city block.
All images courtesy of Seattle Downtown Activation Plan and Olson Kundig Architects
Other concepts include a streetcar connecting a continuous arts, culture, and entertainment district, and a new marketplace, akin to Pike Place Market, but focusing on supporting businesses from Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color.
The AI illustrations also depict Westlake Park as a lively public space featuring…
