Space + Matter

It is easy to get stuck in thinking about programs in purely square footage and boxes that comply with the necessary area. An emphasis was to think of the requirements as space that could flow continuously and not to become obsessed with geometric area. After the San Francisco trip, and specifically the discussion with Chuck Davis, it became more apparent that libraries are not immune to the technology’s influence on social interaction and communication. The use of the World Wide Web has, in some ways, replaced much of the need for physical forms of research, books. The library is moving towards a media based learning center with more attention being paid to creating space for computers, community rooms and study spaces.

The duality of libraries is a central focus in the manner in which the spaces have been organized. The first scheme placed the books in center of organized around the main atrium juxtaposed with the computer and study space on the exterior internal space. The second scheme plays with the idea of separating the levels into different age groups while still having parallels between the floors in the way spaces are laid out.

The last scheme is based on the a plan view of the bay area of San Francisco using the shadows of the skyscrapers as points to push the first floor up to create a second. The waters of the pacific form the voids in the space creating exterior spaces. The Golden Gate, Dumbarton, and bay bridge are the points where there be specialized connections through the exterior and interior. This inspiration allowed for organic shapes to form instead of boxes which was also a huge help in developing the overall form without allowing the program to dictate the space.