Fred Bassetti was a very bright man who since an early age had a fondness for architecture. As a Seattle born native, Bassetti attended the University of Washington, where he earned his BA, and went on to earn his MA at Harvard University. Not long after finishing college, Fred Bassetti (through his very own Bassetti Architects) went on to be a major contributor on several prominent structures we have within the state and within Western Washington University’s campus. Bassetti was involved in the creations of Carver gym, student bookstore, Fraser Hall, the Humanities building, Ridgeway commons, the weight training building, and Wilson Library. One of his more obvious works on campus is the sculpture “Alphabeta Cube” that Bassetti constructed in 1972 as contribution to the Wilson Library project.
Click on each photo to expand images
The Alphabeta Cube was constructed using twelve wooden beams forming around a bronze polygon that is engraved with letters of the alphabet, numbers, and the mathematical symbols of pi and infinity. Although this sculpture was originally part of a contribution of the Wilson Library project, it is now actually placed far from the library itself, and sits in the scenic wooded area of Fairhaven. The placement of this piece brings a different perspective to its true meaning. Bassetti was particularly concerned with nature and the structure of it. The primary focus on this particular creation was incorporating the nature of language and the libraries resources. By placing the Alphabeta Cube in this location, surrounded by nature, it encompasses those aspects of the natural world.
Where the sculpture stands now, it has embraced the markings of its natural setting, and those of viewers past. Through the photos displayed, you can see how nature and the viewer have become part of the artwork itself. Rough etchings by past students and subtle patches of moss highlight the interactions this piece has had with the environment and those who inhabit it. The small ways that nature has interacted with this piece embodies Fred Bassetti’s architectural values and the imperfect beauty that is inherit to nature’s majesty.
Article written by Ramon Robalino and Orianna Welcome
Photos by Jovani Ramierez
Sources
https://westerntoday.wwu.edu/features/fred-bassetti-designed-much-of-westerns-campus
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?pid=168576031
https://dahp.wa.gov/historic-preservation/research-and-technical-preservation-guidance/architect-biographies/bio-for-fred-bassetti
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