Interpretation

The first program scheme stemmed from the Japanese character ma. The outer component of the character translates to “door”, so I used that shape to create the general form of the building leaving the center open. The opening is representative of the middle portion of the character ma, which translates to “sun”, so this section allows sun to reach the inside of the building. Programmatically this scheme places most of the reading material on the second floor so that there is a quite place for people to focus and read.

The idea for the second scheme came from the popular Japanese toy kendama. It is based on balance on different sides so that the ball can be caught. The design of the toy is simple, yet there are more than 1,000 techniques for the player to master. I took the idea of balance and created two L-shaped forms that overlap and create an outdoor space in two corners for users to experience. This scheme also reflects the toy in that it has a simple form, however, like the toy, a library has so many different uses that cannot be seen purely in the form.

The final scheme is derived from the idea of origami and the folding of paper. I took one main wall and folded it throughout the site to create separation between spaces. I then took each space and put in program at varying heights depending on program needs. The empty spaces on top and sides can also serve as outdoor spaces or gardens for users to enjoy with the idea of nature in Japanese architecture kept in mind.