Seattle Art Museum

Lonely Planet review

One of downtown's most talked-about developments was the expansion and 2007 reopening of the Seattle Art Museum. More than twice as much gallery space has allowed the museum to display its eclectic collections in a more cohesive way rather than being, as it used to call itself, 'a collection of collections.' There's also a lot of new art to show off - to the tune of about one billion dollars' worth of gifts and 1000 new acquisitions.

The original Robert Venturi-designed building of limestone and ornamented terra-cotta contains 150,000 sq ft of space. Architect Brad Cloepfil's design expands the museum into the adjoining building, adding 118,000 sq ft, including a number of new spaces that are free to the public.

Although many have criticized the new section for having a cold, clinical feel, there's a palpable sense of excitement in the air. Above the ticket counter hangs Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang's Inopportune: Stage One, a series of white cars exploding with neon. (Yes, actual cars. It's a big room.) Between the two museum entrances (one in the old building and one in the new) is now the 'art ladder,' a free space with various installations cascading down a wide stepped hallway. And, while the new public spaces are taking some heat for being too cold and airy, practically everyone likes the galleries themselves.