Clearwater´s Main Library Building
Designed by Robert A.M. Stern
The most underheralded new building in the Bay area was designed by one of the leading architects of our time — a pioneer of postmodernism and new urbanism. No, the Clearwater library is not Stern´s most fabulous or innovative building, but when someone of his stature and accomplishment designs a site-specific edifice here in the land of homogenous stripmalls, bland office parks and butt-ugly sprawl, we ought to at least notice it. And since we pick on Clearwater government for the messes they´ve made in the transportation department, we ought to recognize something they´ve done right. Stern designed this building to make the most of a spectacular view and to provide a comfortable, elegant and playful setting for users of the library. Best of all: This building belongs to the public.
Clearwater Public Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave., Clearwater, 727-562-4970 www.myclearwater.com/cpl.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.