4TH YEAR TOPIC STUDIO PORTFOLIO JACK LI LORCAN O’ HERLIHY
“We started the semester off by doing a precedent study of contemporary libraries. My and my teammate analyzed the design of the Vasconcelos Library in Mexico City�
urban population growth in Mexico
X
cities with more than .5 million people
>
46
growth of student size and # of schools
X
X
41
illiteracy rate drop
1/2 million people
The National Network of Public Libraries
23
92%
3 libraries per municipality
3,539,224 volumes
0.33 books per 1983
per 240,000 ppl
TODAY
per 14,706 ppl
municipalities w/ library
213, 011 schools with 28.5 million students. Today, there is a total of 1,432.372 teachers. in the school system
2000
Objectives of the Library System
1 2
compensate for the lack of school libraries serve the general public’s need for information, training, and entertainment
+
1000 libaries
2005
90% of all libraries are municipal public libraries with an average stock of 5000 volumes
Library Branch System Comparison
10,000 initial volumes
STATE SYSTEM
FEDERAL DISTRICT SYSTEM
Central Public Library
Central Public Library
25-30 librarians
1200 square meters
serves 250 users
10,000 initial volumes
7-10 librarians
250 square meters
serves 80 users
Municipal Library 1,500 initial volumes
1-3 librarians
60-120 square meters
In 2005, the Vasconcelos Library served a total of over 900,000 users.
2000 square meters
District Library
Regional Library 6,000 initial volumes
60 librarians
1,500 initial volumes
1-2 librarians
40-150 square meters
Vasconcelos Library serves 80 users
500,000 initial volumes
44,000 square meters
MEXICO (112,000,000)
DELEGACION CUATEHMOC
MEXICO CITY
Vasconcelos Library Location The location of the Vasconcelos Library is in Mexico City in the Colonia Guerrero district. This district is known to be very rough, barren, and rundown and the library strives to rejuvenate both the district and the nearby Buenavista train station which was abandoned and recently rebuilt. The library is also close to the Insurgentes Norte, a major street in Mexico City.
MEXICO CITY
(12,100,000)
Vasconcelos Library Contents & Capacity
100 visitors
500,000 paper books
50,000 pieces of digital media
10,000 books
700 computers with web access
3500 visitors of 15,000 max visitors a day
Botanical Garden
Vasconcelos Library Parti Formation
Dry, Barren Site Area
Botanical Paradise
Ark of Knowledge
Bookstacks representing veterbrae
Bookstacks resembling veterbrae
Vasconcelos Library Program
Only the 27% of th lib rem rary pr e site is ainin o u g fo gram, le sed for r the avin g bota nica 73% l gar den
The Library has various additional programs beyond just bookstacks that strives to provide a “cultural center� for the people of Mexico City. It is a high density building where the total program area far exceeds the lot size.
2.7 h
ecta r
Tota l
Lot Are
es o
38,0
f gre
00 m
en s
2
pace
a
1000 1000 m2 2000 m2 2000 m2 2650 m2 m2
Aud ito Boo rium ksto re Gree nh E Bota xterior ouse nica Plaza l Ga rden s s
26,0
00 m
44,0
00 m
Libr
ary
100
0 sq
uare
met
ers
2
2
“I imagined an architecture carried by strands of information. These strands make up a single wire traversing across the site. By short circuiting the wire, information no longer travels in a linear direction. The A to B relationship is removed and what results is a series of dynamic, complex relationships between each strand. “
PROGRAM ANALYSIS
A LIBRARY CONNECTED TO A LOCAL & GLOBAL INFORMATION NETWORK
1. PROGRAM RATIOS 2. PROGRAM DIVISION 3. PUBLIC / PRIVATE 4. PROGRAM GROUPING
FREE CIRCULATION
OPEN-SECURITY FRAMEWORK
NEW AGE LIBRARY
E-LENDING
4.
SERVICE 28,000 sq. ft.
8% 3%
2%
JOB CENTER
DIGITAL STATIONS
CONCRETE GARDEN
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
LATIN CULTURAL CENTER
COMMUNITY SUPPORT 18,500 sq. ft.
READING AREAS
MULTIMEDIA ROOM
DATA CONSUMPTION 11,000 sq. ft.
1%
2
8%
% 17 1.
2%
1% 1%
INFORMATION SERVER
INFORMATION ARCHIVE
TRADITIONAL PHYSICAL MEDIA
TRADITIONAL LIBRARY
14,000 sq. ft.
8%
%
17
TOTAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
70,000 sq. ft.
PUBLIC SPACE
15,000 sq. ft.
STACKS
12,000 sq. ft.
CIRCULATION
12,000 sq. ft.
MIXING CHAMBER / DIGITAL MEDIA
8,000 sq. ft.
ADMINISTRATION
8,000 sq. ft.
SERVICE SPACE
8,000 sq. ft.
READING
3,000 sq. ft.
NON-PRINT
2,000 sq. ft.
RESEARCH & STUDY
2,000 sq. ft.
SUPPORT
1,000 sq. ft.
PUBLIC SERVICE
500 sq. ft. Public Private
MAX BUILDING HEIGHT = 68’
3.
2.
The 4 program groupings comprise of subprograms that stress the “digital”, provide free public space, and foster community interaction. The entire library is connected to a global and local network that serves both visitors and staff.
MACRO ANALYSIS
TRANSPORTATION
U.S. LAND ORDINANCE GRID
BRANCH LIBRARIES INCOME THRESHOLD Low or Moderate Income (51% or >)
To
Un
io
n
10
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
1F
RE
EW AY
LACK OF PUBLIC SPACE
4%
of Downtown Los Angeles is open public space. This deficiency is a pressing constraint in the design of a public library that may be the last vestige of free public space. Pershing Square is the closest public space to the site.
ZONING CHARACTERISTICS
IS
H
GR
ID
Downtown Los Angeles is comprised of mostly commercial and industrial businesses. There division is clear in the zoning plan with pockets of residential apartments throughout Central City. There are many opportunities for a potential Job Center to take advantage of the existing businesses. To develop the area as a suitable residential community, existing cultural events should be promoted through the implementation of a Community Connection center.
SP AN
Most of Downtown Los Angeles is made up of low / moderate income families and individuals. There is an extreme threshold difference near the site between Bunker Hill and the adjacent Broadway Ave. The business and commercial centers on Bunker Hill contrasts sharply with the neighboring Historic Downtown district. The schism can be seen where the Metro runs through our site.
11 0
FR EE
W AY
The majority of people in Downtown commute by automobile. The LA Metro connects Downtown with different areas of Los Angeles County. It, unfortunately seems to only serve the commercial centers of Downtown and provide no access east of Hill St. The DASH system allows commuters to travel easily within Downtown on its bus system.
St at io
nk
er
Hi
ll
n
Bu
RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC One-way streets dominate in Downtown Los Angeles. A strong heavy flow occurs in the streets facing the 110 Freeway during rush hour from people leaving work. The opposite occurs in the morning, where traffic is congested in the streets facing away from the freeway. What results is car traffic past the site primarily in the mornings.
M
M
M
ZONING LEGEND COMMERCIAL
M
INDUSTRIAL
ECLECTIC MELTING POT
RESIDENTIAL OPEN SPACE / PARK PUBLIC FACILITIES
M
OPPOSING GRID SYSTEM LA Metro Red & Purple Lines Blue Metro Line Branch Library
Downtown Los Angeles is based on a 16th century Spanish grid system adapted for sea breezes. The rest of the surrounding city is organized on the US Land Ordinance grid that allows for the building envelope to have a direct east-west / north-south exposure. The unique Spanish grid creates a solar envelope that is inferior to that of the N-S / E-W grid system. The two grids provides interesting axial conditions.
10
FR
EE
WA Y
Central City is flanked by three freeways, the 110, 101, and 10 freeways. These freeways filter in an eclectic group of multi-cultural employees and visitors. This allows the network library to function as a melting pot where cross-cultural interaction can occur between outsiders and those who live in the downtown area. It promotes a fresh symbiosis between visitors and residents.
P
Angel’s Knoll provides a green space and view of Bunker Hill. Its sectional, sloping profile can be continued onto the site.
P
A
M M
A Incorporating the metro station into the library provides a direct access for commuters to the library.
M
A A
M By re-routing pedestrian circulation on 4th st. through the site, the building is activated by a constant flow of people This new circulation path also follows the U.S. Land Ordinance grid system.
METRO BUS STATION
A
ACCESS POINT
P
PARKING CAR DIRECTION PEDESTRIAN CIRC.
PRELIMINARY PROCESS WORK
TOWER ARCHIVE
READING ROOMS
PUBLIC SPACE COMMUNITY SUPPOR
T
LIBRARY
4TH
ST.
INFORMATION ARCHIVE
TOWER ARCHIVE
LIBRARY
E
PUBLIC SPAC
TOWER ARCHIVE
R
MIXING CHAMBE
DATA CONSUMPTION
LIBRARY COMMUNITY
TOWER ARCHIVE
INFORMATION ARCHIVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT PUBLIC SPACE
T.
S HILL
N
INFORMATIO TOWER
4T
HS
T.
HILL
ST.
LIBRARY
EARLY FORM
READING ROOMS
READING ROOMS
ER
MIXING CHAMB
AMBER
MIXING CH
ULTU
LATIN C
NTER
TS CE RAL AR
NTER
E JOB C
“The project was about adding information and data to each strand. This data would be made up of programmatic information and when the strands touch, what results are interesting programmatic adjacencies. This early section here shows stranding in the vertical direction.”
PRELIMINARY FLOOR PLANS Bookstacks
e nc n ra tio nt ra rE ist in m Ad
be
m ha
C g g
ixin M s / ssin ck ce sta ro ok k P Bo Boo &
Restrooms
Job Center
Bookstacks
Library Lobby tin La
s
ck
er xt aE
r te en sC
t Ar
g
in
ad
Re
Latin Arts Center Entrance
ok
io at rP
Administration
io
Bo
a St
g
r te Ex
e Ar
rR
din
tio Pa
ea
io
Mixing Chamber Computer Stations, Workstations, & Group Activities Private Reading Rooms
Help Desk
Non-Print Archive
Latin Arts Center Further Research
Sixth Floor Additional Bookstacks
Third Floor
Ground Floor
Library Entrance
Services Book Stacks
r be am g Ch in g ess ixin roc /M kP ks Boo c sta & ok nce Bo tra n tio En ra ist in m Ad
s
ck
ok
Bo
a St
g
Administration
Services
rR
din
tio Pa
ea
rio te Ex
tin La
ts Ar
er nt Ce
lle
Ga
ry
Mixing Chamber] Reading & Study Areas Digital Media
Private Reading Rooms Research Rooms
Reading Areas Exterior Patios
Non-Print Archive
Latin Arts Center
Second Floor
Fourth Floor
Fifth Floor
PRELIMINARY FORM
1. OPPOSING GRIDS
2. AXIAL VECTOR
3. INFORMATION
BUILDING FLOOR PLANS
FOURTH FLOOR
THIRD FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
“Porosity is created in the building by using this exo-skeletal structure and creating windows and openings that open up to an interior courtyard or exterior reading room�