[Photo: Daniel Banko]
Seattle’s most notable and visible feature may be its iconic Space Needle. But as Seattleites will tell you, building cranes are quickly taking up the negative space between skyscrapers and mountain views. Seattle is growing fast, thanks to tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
But this Pacific Northwest city has long been known for a certain ethos of sustainability. Even with an exaggerated building rush, that ethos of responsible living remains. Here, single-stream city recycling is as accepted as a public water utility. Now residents can even compost through city services. Responsible residents bike to work along the meandering Burke-Gilman Trail, which winds riders through waterfront vistas. A lush public park system extends deep throughout the city. The “Seattle box,” a variant of the American craftsman style, has evolved into a new style—still boxxy, but also ultra modern and super efficient. And in April 2017, the city released its environmental progress reporting, showing that more Seattlites are riding transit, buying from local farmers, conserving more energy, and cutting the amount of waste going to landfills.
It seems Seattle’s residents recognize the unique qualities of their home on the Puget Sound. Here, when it’s not raining, visitors find breathtaking water and mountain views at every turn. Through green building and design, this town is doing everything in its power to sustain those qualities.
