Fred Bassetti’s Alphabeta cube
Alphabeta cube in the courtyard next to the Fairhaven complex
Born in Washington State in 1917, Fred Bassetti spent most of his childhood and young adult life traveling. He became a graduate of The University of Washington in 1942, and of Harvard not long after. He had a Bachelors and Masters of Architecture respectively. In 1947 his friend Jack Morse and him opened their first firm together. It was called Bassetti and Morse. It was dissolved in 1962.
Bronze polyhedron in the center of the cube
Born in Washington State in 1917, Fred Bassetti spent most of his childhood and young adult life traveling. He became a graduate of The University of Washington in 1942, and of Harvard not long after. He had a Bachelors and Masters of Architecture respectively. In 1947 his friend Jack Morse and him opened their first firm together. It was called Bassetti and Morse. It was dissolved in 1962.
Fred Bassetti built Alphabeta Cube in 1972. It was partially inspired by both Haggard Hall, and the Wilson library on Western’s campus. Originally, in 1975, the sculpture was placed in it’s first home between Haggard Hall and Wilson Library. It was eventually moved to Fairhaven, where it can be found today. Well known for his contributions to architecture in the Pacific Northwest, Fred Bassetti passed away in December of 2013.
To construct the Alphabeta Cube, a concrete slab was laid, and then 12 beams made of Redwood logs were used to build the cube itself. Found inside of the cube, a 38-sided polyhedron made of bronze represents symbols of importance in mathematics, the alphabet, and allegedly historic figures in literary history.
Credits
Article by: Michael Thomas, Willa Johnson
Photos by Andrew Haggerty
Sources
1) “React. Research. Execute!” React Research Execute, November 7, 2016. wp.wwu.edu/wwuart109/2016/11/07/alphabeta-cube-fred-bassetti-2/.
2) Hancock, Marga Rose. “HistoryLink.org.” Bassetti, Fred (1917-2013). March 20, 2009. Accessed October 23, 2018. http://www.historylink.org/File/8959.
3) Brunner, Jim. “Architect Fred Bassetti Dies; He Leaves Indelible Mark on Seattle.” The Seattle Times, The Seattle Times Company, 6 Dec. 2013, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/architect-fred-bassetti-dies-he-leaves-indelible-mark-on-seattle/.
4) Anderson, Matthew. “Western Today.” Fred Bassetti Designed Much of Western’s Campus | Western Today, 6 Dec. 2013, westerntoday.wwu.edu/features/fred-bassetti-designed-much-of-westerns-campus.
5) Olsen, Ryan, and Richard C. Tremper. “React. Research. Execute!” React Research Execute. February 27, 2017. Accessed October 23, 2018. https://wp.wwu.edu/wwuart109/2017/02/27/alpha-beta-cube-fred-basetti/.
Fred Bassetti built Alphabeta Cube in 1972. It was partially inspired by both Haggard Hall, and the Wilson library on Western’s campus. Originally, in 1975, the sculpture was placed in it’s first home between Haggard Hall and Wilson Library. It was eventually moved to Fairhaven, where it can be found today. Well known for his contributions to architecture in the Pacific Northwest, Fred Bassetti passed away in December of 2013.
To construct the Alphabeta Cube, a concrete slab was laid, and then 12 beams made of Redwood logs were used to build the cube itself. Found inside of the cube, a 38-sided polyhedron made of bronze represents symbols of importance in mathematics, the alphabet, and allegedly historic figures in literary history.
Sources Cited
1) “React. Research. Execute!” React Research Execute, November 7, 2016. wp.wwu.edu/wwuart109/2016/11/07/alphabeta-cube-fred-bassetti-2/.
2) Hancock, Marga Rose. “HistoryLink.org.” Bassetti, Fred (1917-2013). March 20, 2009. Accessed October 23, 2018. http://www.historylink.org/File/8959.
3) Brunner, Jim. “Architect Fred Bassetti Dies; He Leaves Indelible Mark on Seattle.” The Seattle Times, The Seattle Times Company, 6 Dec. 2013, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/architect-fred-bassetti-dies-he-leaves-indelible-mark-on-seattle/.
4) Anderson, Matthew. “Western Today.” Fred Bassetti Designed Much of Western’s Campus | Western Today, 6 Dec. 2013, westerntoday.wwu.edu/features/fred-bassetti-designed-much-of-westerns-campus.
5) Olsen, Ryan, and Richard C. Tremper. “React. Research. Execute!” React Research Execute. February 27, 2017. Accessed October 23, 2018. https://wp.wwu.edu/wwuart109/2017/02/27/alpha-beta-cube-fred-basetti/.
Leave a Reply