Maybe you’ve seen enough of the subject of today’s image while shopping for gifts. Opened in 1979 by developer Edward J. DeBartolo Sr, Alderwood Mall has in recent years reversed the “enclose it” trend and embraced open air shopping. Below find the 1978-79 architectural drawing from artist Ken Duffin. Ok, ok, maybe categorizing it under Historic Buildings is a bit of a stretch but it had to go somewhere. Click for the high res and good luck with your shopping.

Alderwood Mall, Lynnwood, Wash. architectural drawing, gouache or acrylic on board by Ken Duffin, 1978-1979. John Graham Jr. received international recognition for his large scale shopping complexes. Combining architectural skill with business acumen, Graham helped shape Seattle’s commercial environment after World War II. Born in Seattle to architect John Graham Sr., Graham Jr. enrolled in the University of Washington’s architecture program in 1926. Transferring to Yale in 1928, Graham graduted with a degree in fine arts four years later and initially pursued a career in merchandising rather than architecture. When John Graham Sr. retired in 1946, Graham Jr. took over his father’s architecture firm. When the post-World War II economy spurred suburban growth and expansive commercial development in King County, Graham, groomed in retail management, recognized the potential for innovative design strategies. With an initial collaboration with department store owner Rex Allison, Graham conceived the model for the suburban shopping center. Key elements were scale, concentration of shops, abundant parking and easy highway access. When Graham decided to enclose the entire complex, the modern mall was born. Image courtesy University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division.

While we just had a view of it on Monday, I just seem to always come back to Smith Tower. A co-worker friend and I were agreeing tonight at dinner that it’s probably our favorite building in Seattle. From my West Seattle home I’m lucky enough to have a view of it from the window. Check out the Max R. Jensen Ektachrome from the late 50′s or 60′s. Click for the high res.

Smith Tower, 42 stories high, Seattle, Washington. One of Seattle’s tallest skyscrapers. The Chinese Room at the top affords a magnificent view of the city and the harbor. Ektachrome by Max R. Jensen.

Here it is, folks, the Alki Point Lighthouse. She was built in 1913, upgraded to more modern optics in the 1960′s, and still operates today. This meg+ high res shot was taken by Werner Lenggenhager in 1959. Click to up-res.

Photo of Alki lighthouse in West Seattle with flag, water, mountains, taken by Werner Lenggenhager, 1959. Image courtesy Washington State Digital Archives.

Even the food pavillions at the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle were electrifying. Nalley’s Fine Food Pavillion went up without a sharp edge to be found. Check out the 1961 sketch from architect Paul Thiry. Does anyone have any photos of the pavillion as built? Click for the high res copy.

Nalley’s Fine Food pavillion, Century 21 Exposition — Seattle, Wash., west elevation, architect Paul Thiry, 1961. In 1957 Paul Thiry, one of Seattle’s earliest pracitioners of European Modernism, was appointed prinicpal architect of Century 21, the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. The Nalley’s Fine Food pavilion was a plastic form shell pneumatically applied on a frame of reinforcing rods and metal lathe. The exterior of the pavilion was constructed without a straight line or sharp angle. The unique oval contained a theater which showed movies of the great Pacific Northwest. In the lobby of the building were displays of the food products from Nalley’s Tacoma-based company. Image courtesy University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division.