On July 31, 2001, early in the morning, the historic Twin Teepees restaurant is bulldozed to the ground, despite its place in Seattle's history and despite the fact that it undoubtedly would have been protected under historic preservation. Landlord Rob Pierides explains that the unique building, located at 7201 Aurora Avenue N near Green Lake, was too complex and expensive to repair.
The building, designed by Delland Harris, opened on March 13, 1937. The distinctive structure featured two metal-clad conical pavilions, hence its name, intended to attract the attention of passing motorists. It became an instant, if unofficial, landmark. Such structures, now rare in Seattle, are classified as "vernacular architecture" because their idiosyncratic designs usually reflect individual quirks or promotional strategies rather than conventional standards.
Sources:
Andrea Otanez, "Another Roadside Subtraction," The Seattle Times, December 13, 2000, p. B-1.
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