University of Washington College of Built Environments École des Beaux-Arts
Occupation
Architect
Paul Thiry (1904–1993) was an American architect most active in Washington state, known as the father of architectural
modernism in the
Pacific Northwest. Thiry designed "some of the best period buildings around the state of
Washington during the 1950, 60s and 70s."[1]
Life
Thiry was born in
Nome, Alaska, of French parents. He was a 1928 graduate of the architecture school at the
University of Washington and studied at the
École des Beaux-Arts in France.[1] He traveled in Europe and met
Le Corbusier, before returning to Seattle in 1935.[2] He also traveled to and worked in Japan.[3]
Thiry designed his own house upon his return [2] but had few commissions in the 1930s. Those he built "showed a clear understanding of the European
International Style in his use of spare, geometric forms, clean lines, and new building technologies."[4]
Thiry came to national attention in 1937 with a cement-based
stuccoed residence for a manager at Portland Cement, Frank J. Barrett. The innovative house was published in The Modern House in America in 1940: the garage and house formed two rectangles, with a "smooth, undecorated exterior", its doors and windows flush with the surface. Steel window frames were painted blue-green, and glass-brick was used around the entry and along the walls of the partly sunken living room.[5]
Thiry has been compared to other modernists in the Northwest such as
Pietro Belluschi (1899–1994) and
John Yeon (1910–1994).[4] Thiry is quoted as having said that "Buildings should be good neighbors."[6] He is credited with being "instrumental" to introducing
International Style architecture in Seattle.[2]
The Flanagan chapel is "a creatively designed 16-sided structure" with an 85-rank
Casavant Frèresorgan and seating for 600 people. According to the Lewis and Clark website the building "serves as a meeting place for
lectures, musical performances, and religious services. The entry is a bridge flanked by Northwest Coast Indian-style statues depicting the four evangelists (
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke, and
John) created by the native artist Chief Lelooska.[8]
Projects
Apartment building, 2717 Franklin Avenue E, Seattle, WA (1929)[3]
Paul Thiry residence, 330 35th Avenue E, Seattle, WA (1935–1936)[3]
Frank J. Barrett residence (1937)
Nichols House, 1600 Boston Terrace E, Seattle, WA (1939)[3]
Thiry architectural office, 800 Columbia Street, Seattle, WA (1946)
Electrical Engineering Building, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (1948)[3]
^"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."
Vintage Seattle
^Mark Allen Torgerson
An architecture of immanence: architecture for worship and ministry today Calvin Institute of Christian Worship liturgical studies series Edition illustrated Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007
ISBN0-8028-3209-1,
ISBN978-0-8028-3209-2, 313 pages, page 112