After completing my research on exemplar library and public
buildings, I was able to extract some themes and design ideas that I would like
to incorporate into my design. Although I have yet to finalise the brief, which
will be outlined later in this blog entry, I’m going to use these ideas to
generate some initial diagrams which will begin the design process. One of the
common factor, that stood out from the exemplars was the architect’s intent to
make the library a comforting and welcoming space. In the case of the Seattle
Public Library, the designers went as far as to have a living room space for
people to visit for the sole purpose of relaxing and reading a book. This idea
of creating a fun, home space is usually one used predominately in children’s
libraries, to enable children to learn and interact in a familiar setting. For
a library whose main users are from 6-18 years old, this type of space could be
used as a general theme and changed slightly in areas to accommodate for
specific users.
Many of the exemplars also tried to break away from the
stereotypical library when it came to the entrance and the interface between
the inside and outside of the library. The architects have broken down the
imposing facades of the library to create a welcoming and inviting space. The
two main examples of this is the Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and
Manuscript Library and the Max Webber Library. Both use glass as the primary
material for the ground floor, to enable people to see into the spaces which
host a variety of uses, from exhibition, library, public and relaxing spaces.
The connection from this open entry space is then, in some
cases, continued up into the building through the use of voids to connect
levels. The size of the voids varied in the exemplars, from the Max Webber
Library which spans on story, to the Seattle Public Library where to void
occupies a majority of the building. As well as serving to enhancing natural
light and air circulation, these voids enable to users of the space to make a
visual connection to many levels, instead of just one like in typical
buildings. As it can be seen in the diagram below, the connection allows people
to see other people using the spaces as well as allowing people to use the void
as an orientation point.
In the case of the Seattle Public Library, this void became
such a feature, the entire Dewey decimal system is laid out on the ramp the
winds its way around the void. I have always been enjoyed buildings with voids,
because it allows you to view the space in a completely different way. You can
retract yourself from the space and watch how people use the area. An example
of this is the Gallery of Modern Art in South Bank, Brisbane, which has a void
situated about where the interactive activities are held.
Another interactive feature used in an exemplar Birkenhead
Library and Civic Centre is the use of patterns and shapes to create visual
screens. The screens were designed to represent the natural landscape on the
site and how people look through the layers of nature. This idea is very
relevant to my folie design which focussed on mangroves and how they filter the
water to remove toxins. Below I have done a sketch that uses the vertical structures
of the Birkenhead façade to create a screen over an image of the Kangaroo Point
end of the Story Bridge.
This idea of an interactive façade is also used in the
Seattle Public Library, which has a section at the bottom where the façade separates
from the building to create a public space. This idea could be translated into
the Howard Smith Wharfs site to create undercover seating or walkways. This space
could also be used as a transitional space, where children can be outside but
still within the protected library space. Below is a diagram that shows how
these spaces could be achieved.
In planning a library to be used specifically by people
between the ages of 6-18 years old, there will have to be a variety of spaces
for various age brackets. This is necessary because there is a large gap in how
and what children use libraries for, from mother’s taking children to story
times to school students using the space for school work and research. For this
reason, the spaces will be split into a children’s area, aimed for 6-12 year
olds that is a more relaxed space with a mixture of individual and group areas.
This space will be fun and interactive and linked directly to a contained
outside area, café and smaller rooms for organized activities. The older kids
will have access to a computer area, study rooms, library area and outside
working spaces. As with the younger children’s areas, these spaces will be
flexible and comfortable spaces for kids to work and play. These spaces can be
seen in the bubble diagram below.
With the building size restricted at 500m2, there is a lot
of space to play with. For this project, we are assuming that none of the outside
areas are counting towards the footprint size. I am going to assign some rough
estimates to the rooms sizes, but these will be subject to change if necessary.
The large children’s area will be 100m2, the computer area 75m2, library and
study area 75m2, café 50m2, foyer 30m2, allowing 30m2 for smaller rooms and
50m2 for staff areas.
The diagrams below show examples of the spaces that I would
like to create within the library park. The use of small booth areas can be
used for group study sessions or for friends to use to hang out, these spaces
would flow outside to garden areas that reflect the natural habitat of the
river. Mangroves could be planted along flowing streams of water pumped from
the Brisbane River, with vertical structures placed in the stream to represent
the folie. The upright folie structures could also be used as partitioning
within the library space or as a fence surrounding the children’s garden. Finally,
the traditional idea of bookcases could be warped by having different shapes
and elements protruding from the walls to create nooks for children to sit and
play in, as well as creating storage area for library staff.
