Image: The new attraction located at Seattle Center

Chihuly Garden and Glass, an indoor pavilion and outdoor garden art space, has opened at Seattle Center in Washington, US, to provide a new visitor attraction and event destination.

The resident organisation is the latest addition to the 74-acre (30-hectare) site and has seen gardens and glass sculptures replace the asphalt of the former Fun Forest area.

A partial green roof tops the main exhibit building - the former Fun Forest Pavilion - and landscaping has been carried out to improve the setting of the Mural Amphitheatre stage.

Center Art owns Chihuly Garden and Glass and is proposing to offer 10,000 free tickets to those who would otherwise not be able to experience the exhibition each year.

The group will also invest US$2m (EUR1.6m, £1.3m) in developing a new children's play area in Next 50 Plaza, which will be called Artists at Play.

Seattle Center director Robert Nellams said: "50 years ago a group of visionaries brought our community a civic centre disguised as a world's fair.

"Today another generation of visionaries is giving our community a gift that will delight and inspire people for years to come."

Details: www.seattlecenter.com

Details: www.chihulygardenandglass.com