TileVault: The Skylights of Seattle's Underground

• What: Glass tiles in the sidewalk that double as skylights for our underground ghost town

• Where: Seattle's International District

• When: Photo taken April 25, 2008

• Why: The swirled glass is beautiful underfoot, and sends our imagination reeling with how it must look from the bottom up.

Ever since we were little, we've imagined installing these antique tiles between the stories of our dream house. Though born and raised in Seattle, we've never taken the underground tour, which is apparently lit by light streaming in through the purpose-built skylights.

Bottom image: The Underground Tour

Comments (4)

I've been on a tour, and you really must go--it's incredible how much light comes through! (Other aspects of the tour are rather cheesy, but trust me, it's worth it!)

Huh. This makes me think...

Our house had a coal chute that went from the front walk, down to the basement. It was filled with brick when the heating was converted from coal to oil (we've since converted again to natural gas).

The coal chute area in the front sidewalk is obvious. It is actually slighly depressed from the rest of the brick sidewalk. I've been considering removing it, filling in the chute more effectively, then relaying the brick. Maybe I should make it an underground skylight instead.

Has anyone done something like that?

siobhan, do some searches for glass block floor to see the results.

Here's basic history and they have a slideshow of INTERIOR glass tile floors:
http://www.aboutglasstile.com/en/articles/floors-walk-sunshine.php

Glass block floors here:
http://www.ibpglassblock.com/glasswalk.htm

Above and below interior at Bob Vila:
http://www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Library/Glass_Block_Flooring-Miscellaneous-A1702.html

Pre-cast panels can be used, as shown here on the stairway:
http://www.shackerley.com/glassblocks/shackerleyprecast.asp

Depending on exactly where that chute is located and how much light it gets, you also might want to check into Solatube:
http://www.solatube.com/homeowner/

I know they want the top part coming out straight up, but I'm NOT finding examples of the bottom part being angled to come out of a wall.

One reason that it might be very useful is that you can also get a light kit (electric) and a ventilation fan (exhaust) as add-ons, plus there is a butterfly valve for dimming.

This means you get three things in one, basically. You get the "free" daylight that can do wonders for illumination (which can be dimmed). You would have a permanent wall light for night. And you could exhaust the basement if it gets too damp (as bathrooms do) and keep air flowing through that area.

And you get the mysterious glowing orb effect if you have lights on in the basement that will show up through the dome in the top on the ground level.

You already have a structure in place to route the tube, so check into it! And PLEASE keep everyone updated, I would love to know what you do with your old coal chute. Because I am sure there must be a lot of people that don't know what to do with theirs.