LIBRARY OF APPEARANCES

A Library For The 21st Century

SPRING 2021 SYNTHESIZE INSTRUCTOR: DAVID NEWTON

Libraries are one of the last public spaces left in our society. They remain today as resources of limitless potential, not just in the books they store but also in the people that work in and visit them. Today, with fewer restrictions on patronage based on sex, race, and class they represent a depriveliged setting, leading to a wide breadth of knowledge and learning potential. The diversity of a library’s inhabitants create opportunities for interaction between groups of people that otherwise may never meet, establishing a public sphere with some of the most democratic potential of the contemporary city.

This library, designed in collaboration with fellow student Olivia Epstein, emphasizes the inclusion of the modern day combined with the collaboration of the ancient world. We designated spaces where knowledge can be derived and skills can be shared so that the learning potential associated with libraries and their people can be built upon instead of lost.

section site plan

Our program was influenced by Hannah Arendt’s philosophical exploration of public space as well as a division of age-range usage. Programs of specific nature run in parallel with and perpendicular to each other on a grid to create a layered yet organized experience within each space.

Program is structurally encased by a column grid supporting a space frame roof. Stepped slabon-grade floor systems form podia which follow the natural topography of the site and provide a permeable division of activity based on the programmtic grid.

The programmatic grid extends outward into the site to further integrate our library within its landscape. User experience was considered from all points of view to address problems as mundane as parking and traffic flow to what views would be visible from the interior to facilitiate visual stimulation.

Social programs centered around action such as crafting, play, and debate are located along the south face of the building and look out onto community gardens and an exterior event space. Individual programs centered around reflection and learning are located along the north face of the building and look out onto patios where intimate conversations can take place. Separating these spaces is a series of varying ramps, podia, and ceiling conditions to signify purpose without giving the impression that any space is off-limits.

GUTTER

SPANDREL PANEL ASSEMBLY

BLACK ANODIZED ALUMINUM RAINSCREEN

R-39 RIGID INSULATION

VAPOR RETARDER

GALVANIZED FLUSH METAL SOFFIT PANELS

STAINLESS STEEL SPIDER CLAMP

TRIPLE GLAZED STRUCTURAL GLASS

2.5” TUBULAR STEEL STRUTS

FIREPROOFING INTUMESCENT COATING

RECESSED SPRINKLER

1.5” PAINTED FERROCEMENT LOUVERS

RETURN AIR DUCT

VENT LED STRIP LIGHTS

STRUCTURAL SILICONE ADHESIVE

DOUBLE GLAZED 1/4” INSULATED GLASS

LAMENATED 3/4” GLASS FIN

SILICONE SEALANT

STEEL T PLATE

COMPRESSED JOINT FILLER AND SEALANT

2% SLOPE FOR DRAINAGE

REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB ON GRADE

R-11 RIGID INSULATION

6” CRUSHED LIMESTONE

6” FINE AGGREGATE

EARTH AGGREGATE

REINFORCED CONCRETE SLAB ON GRADE

WATERPROOF

VAPOR RETARDER

6” CRUSHED LIMESTONE

6” FINE AGGREGATE

To the left there is a wall section and details relaying the composition of the space frame, structural glass fin wall system, and foundation. Louvers hang from the space frame to filter indirect sunlight into the space as well as house artificial lighting and HVAC vents. The orientation of the building allows it to shade against direct southern light in reading spaces and the stacks while maximizing ambient lighting.

A REIMAGINING OF THE POST-PANDEMIC CITY

FALL 2020 COLLABORATE INSTRUCTOR: JASON GRIFFTHS rendered perspectives concept compositions section perspective level 1 floorplan rendered perspectives

This semester began with an understanding of Stephanie Wakefiled’s Anthropocene Backloop, which is a phenomenon describing patterns of human development. Following periods of high development and environmental exploitation, society is thrown into the backloop by largescale unplanned events, such as war, natural disaster, or a global pandemic.

While COVID-19 brought widespread change that left no one untouched, this period of crisis is also an opportunity for creative reorganization. Wordplay, a project in collaboration with Frannie Folsom and Katelyn Nimic takes a look at both physical and societal vacancies within the modern city to promote positive change.

The backloop has always been associated with women’s advancement. During the Black Plague, more complex ideas of femininity led to women being identified beyond merely their marital status. During the American Revolution, women went from being viewed as easily corruptible beings to the moral backbone of the family. And during World War II, women took part in the war effort by filling voids working outside of the home, as famously depicted by Rosie the Riveter.

Our project takes a look specifically at everyday language used to devalue femininity. We used a database called Building Without Bias by Hannah Rozenberg that analyzes and scores words based on how they are used in media to expose gender biases.

The site of our project is a downtown parking garage that is currently vacated as fewer and fewer people are commuting to work. Even without the database, parking garages are known to be less friendly places to women, but upon inspection, the architectural elements of the structure lend it to having a heavily masculine score. We decided to add only feminine scoring words to our project in efforts to mitigate the gap, taking a very literal approach to this method.

We used large, sculptural words throughout our project. Negative words are placed on the entrance level to acknowledge the double standards applied to feminine leaning people, whereas positive words reside on the top level to empower femininity. The words on the top level also form play structures to encourage physical participation and pay homage to how a lot of unhealthy gender biases are learned at an early age, and we believe can be unlearned with action and reflection.

To aid in the narration of our project, we also wrote a book featuring the protagonist “Hero” and her journey through Wordplay, influencing our representation. Upon exiting the top floor, Hero is met with a series of words that replace the negative ones seen in the beginning. Hero finds that instead of ‘ladylike,’ she is dignified; instead of ‘fragile,’ she is empathetic; instead of ‘bossy,’ she is opinionated; and instead of a ‘bitch’; she is a woman.

Though Hero is a woman, our project is meant to be enjoyed by all, creating an environment that anyone can benefit from. Gender biases and the devaluing of femininity is something that negatively affects everyone, supporting limitations that don’t need to exist. Our hope is that Wordplay will add to the dialogue of a more inclusive future.