BUDAPEST‘S FLOATING LIBRARY PLAYGROUND LIBRARY
Zsófia Bene | Valentina Cocco | Caterina Coli | Andrea Fumagalli | Klára Škodová Athens, Delft 2016 Venice - Teatro del Mondo (Aldo Rossi)
Venice: Teatro del Mondo (Aldo Rossi).
Prague: river bank.
Budapest: National Library.
Prague - the river bank
Budapest - Narional Library
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Floating library in Budapest. Floating
library in Budapest
Library connects The capital of Hungary is separated into two parts by the river Danube: the hilly and semi-suburban Buda (residential and leisure orientated area), and the vibrant, densely populated Pest (the urban center of the city). Even though the two parts are connected with several bridges over the river, pedestrians do not regularly cross due to the highly motorized links and the lack of programs and activities in Buda part. In 1985 the National Library moved from the inner city of Pest to Buda Castle. Placing the library together with many museums and galleries on the top of the city was a strong symbolical act of the socialist regime which declared Hungarian culture an essential part of the socialist society. The representative building of Buda Castle was not meant to house such cultural institutions, but the new interior design was an outstanding solution to fit the library in the historical milieu. However, since 1985 the notion of the library has completely changed. The strict functions of spaces tend to disappear and hybrid, multifunctional spaces arise. Users prefer libraries which are easy to access by public transport, situated in a vibrant neighborhood, and offer a special experience. Relationship between Buda and Pest Considering these factors, we decided to build a floating library between Pest and Buda on the river Danube. It can also be seen as a symbolical act: moving a part of the national library from the hill down to the river, closer to the public. However, it is not only a symbolical act but also a new connection between the two parts of the city. In addition to this, the floating library also connects the people to the river. In the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the riverbank used to be a lively meeting and trading platform in the city. Unfortunately, the attempt of the socialist policy regarding the urban structure was a highly motorized policy. From the 70s the riverbanks have been transformed to a highway; it became one of the most important connections between north and south for cars but not for pedestrians. The mission of our library is to give back a piece of the river bank and the river itself to pedestrians. Since one of the ‘parking lots’ of the library is situated on the riverbank of Pest and the other one on the riverbank of Buda, the floating library commutes between these two fixed platforms. The platforms offer a public spaNational library vs visitors ce on the river to enjoy free time and create a central hub on the river which can be used without the library as well. (The library stays on Pest side six days a week but every Monday it is going to be on Buda side.)
People and river Danube during the flood in 2013
Many unexpected situations showed that citizens of Budapest require space near the Danube. During the 2013 flooding, the river occupied the streets, and the river banks were closed to cars. However, it was not closed for pedestrians who started to use the city and the river as a playground; it became a platform to surf and swim. In the summer of 2016, the Liberty Bridge was closed to cars due to a 2-week renovation process, but pedestrians could use the bridge. They didn’t just commute between Buda and Pest, rather they used the bridge as a meeting point, a place for barbecue, or an opportunity to start the day with yoga above the river.
public transport
BUDA + PEST
HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT
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BUDAPEST
metro iconic buildings tram bus
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CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
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CHAIN BRIDGE
Concept of knowledge playground
;N=:I>LM L RIVER BANKS
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public transport M M
M M
BUDA CASTLE National Library
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Buda + Pest
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Iconic buildings
Public transport
metro Library is the symbol of knowledge and education but the social, economic, cultural context around these notions are tram always changing. Analyzing the problems of the location and the necessity of the citizens, it became clear that the unexbus
pected situations on the river bank activate and bring people together; thus our building is designed to fulfill the meaning of the library in a playful way. Learning by playing becomes the central concept in communicating the enormous amount of information and knowledge that the national library stores. Our library does not separate children and adults, the idea of a ‘Knowledge Playground’ unites the platform and the library together by offering enjoyable hybrid spaces for every age group. The main element of the learning by playing concept is the cognition of renewable energy. Since it is our world’s biggest challenge –not yet an essential part of public debate and education in Hungary– the ‘Knowledge Playground’ is inviting citizens to try out and observe the sources and operation of sustainable energy elements. These sustainable elements also become the motor of the floating library. In a time when public fundings are shrinking, and the (financial) support of culture is always changing, a new public building raises the question of sustainable maintenance as well. We designed the library and the platform considering these factors, and we introduce a public building which uses 100% renewable energy (zero-energy building) and contains spaces which can be rent for private events and used by different cultural institutions. Instead of outdated monofunctional spaces, our design offers flexibility, multi-purpose usage, shared floors, and a unique location in the center of Budapest.
Platform location on the river PLATFORM LOCATION ON THE RIVER bank BANK
Study at PC & cafe
PLATFORM CONNECTION CITY Platform connection withWITH theTHEcity
Read & Study
Cafe & meeting Workshop & Create Chill & listen Be quiete & Relax Play & learn Sources & background
PLATFORM & LIBRARYplan PLAN Platform & library
Play & party
Library
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KNOWLEDGE
Unexpected situtation
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FUN
Budapest
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PEOPLE
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PLAYGROUND LIBRARY
Conceptual idea of the ‘knowledge playground‘: learning through playing and trying
Platform and building Following on the idea of Cedric Price’s Fun Palace, we also imagined a dynamic and interactive construction where the combination of play and fun is endless with a design that is adaptable to accidental forms, new games, and unpredictable ideas. River Danube divides the city into to two parts. Instead of creating another physical bridge, we rather see the potential of the river itself as a connection between the parts. Thus the two platforms are located opposite to each other as puzzles waiting to be completed with the help of the river that transports the library from one platform to another. How to connect the streets with the river bank? Since the banks are mainly used by cars, the whole area needs a new concept to invite the pedestrians and create a safe passage down to the river. Our conceptual solution includes signs and forms of the platform and library placed on the streets towards the construction. This could be an awareness-raising and the first step of a revitalization that is urgently needed in the city. Similar to Fun Palace, the platform contains many possibilities to play, to relax, to meet and to spend free time in an innovative and creative milieu. The pattern we use on the platforms offers different shapes and forms where multiple activities can be done: playing chess, playing with swings, ladders, slides, playing and observing water, do barbecue, etc. The platform offers the possibility to rent some parts of it or place complex constructions as a wind turbine and water mill. The pattern and the playground of the platform continue in the library building, inviting citizens to use the interior public spaces as well. Entering the building people can continuously use the playground or attend to different events organized in the completely flexible area on the ground level. The stair functions as a link to the upper level, but also as a space to listen to music, chill or read. Above the ground floor, visitors can find a cafe functioning as a meeting place as well. Going to the next floor, study and a PC area can be found which can be beneficial to group discussions, smaller presentations, and co-working. On the other part of the building, space is created to be able to study and read in a silent atmosphere. Rooms can be rent in the library, mainly the workshop area, but the high flexibility supports other parts of the building to be separated for private events, too.
Energy sources
Conceptual idea of playground as a perspective
Water
= energy production = water heating = hydrothermal
= wheel power plant = waste water recuperation = pipe system
Wind
= energy production = visual effect
= wind turbines = good mood maker
Sun
= energy production = water heating = accumulation = good mood maker
= solar panels = hydrothermal panels = interior heating = terrace
Bicycle
= energy production = game
= fun maker = fun
Saving
= energy = water
= energy saving bulb = recycle
The energy wall is truly an exciting part of the building since it shows how much energy is being produced by the library users. Bikes, swings are spread all over the space which generates energy by people operating them. The colorful data visualization brings closer the notion of sustainable energy to the users by inviting them and showing them how to produce energy to the library. In this way users are not only consumers of knowledge, information, playground, but also producers who are the essential part of the library energy circle. Using local energy sources help to reach the state of a zero-energy building; an outstanding example of public buildings in Budapest.
ENERGY SYSTEM Conceptual section with graphic visualisation of idea of energy education scheme