DIVE INTO READING
a public swimming pool and library Francesca Dennis Spring Studio 2015 In this project we were given the challenge of designing a library with a hybrid program. I chose swimming as the site was located in New York where there are very few public swimming pools. I believe that learning to swim is a right that many people do not have the privilege of having access too. Through this design I wanted to really converge the two programs so that they worked in harmony together. The building holds a full library, an Olympic size diving pool and a large lap pool where you can swim the length of the block. The building holds a child’s library, cafe, plenty of study space, spaces for stacks, a large lap pool, an Olympic size diving pool and a hot tub. The idea of the building is all based on the theatre of swimming. The study spaces are located under the lap pool with a glass bottom, therefore the studiers can have the slow light movement above them without the noise or distraction. The furniture itself becomes informed by the movement of a swimmer, breaking through the floor to inform the space below it. The lap pool connects the two streets and provides the swimmer with the sense of swimming from block to block. The person who walks along the street is struck by the sight of the falling diver, without sight of where the diver is falling into.
DIVE INTO READING
Fourth Floor
First Floor
Third Floor
Ground Floor
Second Floor
Changing Level -1
Child’s Library Level -2
DIVE INTO READING
W 28th Street
W 27th Street