LOOP OF KNOWLEDGE A New Idea for BEIC Library in Milan
Authors/ Autori Varshini Mysore Suresh 987567 Ying-Hsiu Lin 988206 Yu-Heng Lin 988270
Head Supervisor/ Relatore Prof.ssa Arch. M. G. Folli
Advisors/ Integrazioni Prof. Ing. C. Pecora /Structural and seismic design Prof. Ing. G. Dotelli /Sustainable materials for architecture Prof. Arch. M. Imperadori /Sustainable technology Prof. Ing. L. Pagliano /Service design for sustainable buildings
LOOP OF KNOWLEDGE A New Idea for BEIC Library in Milan Thesis of Master Degree in Building Architecture MSc Politecnico di Milano, School of Architecture, Urban Planning and Construction Engineering A.A. 2022/23 Tesi di Laurea Magistrale in Architettura delle Costruzioni Politecnico di Milano, Scuola di Architettura, Urbanistica e Ingegneria delle Costruzioni A.A. 2022/23
ABSTRACT
Proposing the innovative BEIC library in Porta Vittoria, we reimagine its role amid urban shifts. Metropolises embrace new technologies and unconventional skills, fueling growth. Rooted in history, our design weaves cultural significance into the fabric, fostering a sense of place. The European Library of Information and Culture, B.E.I.C, aims to be a cultural cornerstone. Symbolizing Milan’s essence, the library’s axis aligns with historic city centre and a knowledge-loop concept at our core, signifying knowledge transfer. Greenery blurs indoor-outdoor boundaries, cultivating creativity. We integrated northern landscape into the building, by a mezzanine to erase the line between natural and built environments. A public sunken plaza introduces different spatial qualities to the ground floor and the researved above floors of the library, bridging academic and community realms. Our masterplan guides visitors along a path from the metro entrance to the western park, ensuring effortless navigation. The ground floor is a public hub, featuring the Imaginarium, cafeteria, and a 24-hour book drop-off, interconnected with key library circulatory network. The sunken plaza connects to the lower level, while elevators lead to the public foyer below. An escalator ascends to a first-floor viewing terrace, transitioning to the main entrance on the second floor. This plaza holds architectural importance, visually linking upper library voids, promoting unity, aesthetics, comfort and light. Central to the floor plan design is the strategic arrangement around the ramp, flanked by voids that shift each floor by 3 meters westward, crafting the library’s architectural identity. This ramp serves as a pivotal circulation element, seperating functional zones: north, south, east, and west. The northern region houses open reading spaces, inducing an inviting atmosphere, while the south encompasses enclosed facilities like offices, labs, and storage, thoughtfully optimized for natural light. East-west axes function as crucial pathways, with a split floor at the west end accessible via the ramp. This modern interactive space encourages innovation and creativity, redefining learning in a library as we know. Nuova B.E.I.C. aspires to be a library, merging disciplines and innovation, strengthening contemporary knowledge’s intricate evolution. Cultivating vibrant community engagement, it embraces diverse cultures and unique narratives.
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Varshini Mysore Suresh
Ying-Hsiu Lin
Yu-Heng Lin
ENG-
Presentando la innovativa biblioteca BEIC a Porta Vittoria, ridefiniamo il suo ruolo all’interno dei cambiamenti urbani in corso. Le metropoli abbracciano nuove tecnologie e abilità non convenzionali, alimentando la crescita. Radicato nella storia, il nostro progetto intreccia significato culturale nella struttura stessa, creando un senso di appartenenza. Simboleggiando l’essenza di Milano, l’asse della biblioteca si allinea con il centro storico della città e un concetto di flusso di conoscenza è al centro del nostro progetto, a rappresentare il trasferimento di conoscenza. Il verde sfuma i confini tra interno ed esterno, coltivando la creatività. Abbiamo integrato il paesaggio a nord all’interno dell’edificio, con un soppalco per cancellare il confine tra ambiente naturale e costruito. Una piazza pubblica scavata introduce diverse qualità spaziali al piano terra e ai piani superiori riservati della biblioteca, collegando mondi accademici e comunitari.
ABSTRACT
-ITA
Il nostro piano guida i visitatori lungo un percorso dall’ingresso della metropolitana al parco occidentale, garantendo una navigazione senza sforzo. Il piano terra è un punto di incontro pubblico, con l’Imaginarium, la caffetteria e una postazione per il ritiro dei libri 24 ore su 24, collegati alla rete circolatoria chiave della biblioteca. La piazza scavata si collega al piano inferiore, mentre gli ascensori portano al foyer pubblico al piano di sotto. Questa piazza ha un’importanza architettonica, collegando visivamente i vuoti superiori della biblioteca, promuovendo l’unità, l’estetica, il comfort e la luce. Centrale nel progetto del piano è l’organizzazione strategica attorno alla rampa, creando l’identità architettonica della biblioteca. Questa rampa funge da elemento di circolazione centrale, separando le zone funzionali: nord, sud, est e ovest. La regione settentrionale ospita spazi aperti per la lettura, creando un’atmosfera accogliente, mentre la zona meridionale comprende spazi chiusi come uffici, laboratori e spazi di archiviazione, ottimizzati per la luce naturale. Gli assi est-ovest fungono da percorsi cruciali, con un piano diviso all’estremità ovest accessibile tramite la rampa. Questo spazio interattivo moderno incoraggia l’innovazione e la creatività, ridefinendo il concetto di apprendimento in una biblioteca, come la conosciamo. La Nuova BEIC aspira a essere una biblioteca che fonde discipline e innovazione, rafforzando l’evoluzione intricata della conoscenza contemporanea. Coltivando un coinvolgimento vibrante della comunità, essa abbraccia culture diverse e narrazioni uniche.
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DEDICATION 3
To our beloved families and friends, Forever grateful for all the love, support and motivation provided during the phase of thesis and master’s degree.
Varshini Mysore Suresh
Ying-Hsiu Lin
Yu-Heng Lin
Firstly, we would like to thank Professor Maria Grazia Folli for her guidance and words of encouragement she bestowed on us. Her lectures and considerations on architecture made us constantly reflect back on the design which only improved the result. We are proud to have gained her valuable insights over the last few months which has enriched us to be better designers.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This thesis is a culmination of a year’s work from the studio architecture design of complex constructions 2, covering various inter-disciplinary streams. We have worked on the project with immense care and attention towards the intricacies of architecture and its relationship with the surroundings. This would not be possible without the help of the many talented and supportive mentors we have had the chance to learn from over the course. It is our humble pleasure to begin our thesis with a grateful acknowledgment from us.
We would like to thank Professor Corrado Pecora for his contribution and being able to navigate us through a complicated structure like ours. His advices and concerns were most important for us to realize the design and also to simplify schemes and diagrams to express the idea clearly. We are very grateful to Professor Giovanni Dotelli for his energetic presence and personal interest in improving the sustainability performance and aesthetic of the building. We would also like to thank Professor Marco Imperadori on his invaluable contribution towards the technological aspect of building environment. Learning from him was very inspiring and motivating to keep up with the current industry standards of architectural engineering. We were able to use and implement results from a wide range of softwares which helped us develop it better. Many regards to Professor Lorenzo Pagliano for his insights and advices on building services design to ensure our building met a comfortable and serviceable environment. Last but not the least, we would like to thank all our colleagues, family and friends for being there for us and keeping up our spirits. We would also like to express an apology to all those we could not mention personally.
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INTRO
INTRODUCTION The project focuses on the design of the ‘Nuova B.E.I.C. Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura’, which is a part of the Government’s effort to build a unique and long-overdue project holding a cultural significance to Milan, which had already been once halted back in 2001, won by the ATI B.E.I.C group because of economic and local reasons. The same design could not be adapted today because of the shift in the design industry with respect to structural clarity, models, information, and regulations. It was imperative to open another call to establish an evolved design with today’s time marking the change in the last 20 years. A library that is designed as a programmatically complex device, open to the contribution of a multiplicity of actors such as political, economic, and capable of integrating elements from different cultural backgrounds can make a difference, according to the Municipality of Milan and the B.E.I.C. Foundation, in this complex context. As a result, the latest competition winner is the Milanese team ‘Onesitestudio’. They claim: “The project responds to the urban context, the complexity of the functional program, and the values of formal significance and environmental sustainability required by the theme with a simple and convincing solution from all points of view.” During our studio ‘Architecture Design of Complex Constructions 2’, we adopted the same design competition guidelines and plot to provide our own interpretation of the culturally significant library of the future .
KEYWORDS Library - BEIC - Contemprory Library - Urban Context - Technological Shifts - Sunken plaza - Porta Vittoria - Knowledge Loop - Public Space - Functional Zones - Interdisciplinary Learning - Symbolic Axis - Green Integration - Circulation Network - Innovative Learning Architectural Identity - Pathway - Creative Exchange 5
Varshini Mysore Suresh
Ying-Hsiu Lin
Yu-Heng Lin
‘LIBRARY’ ‘CONTEMPORARY LIBRARY’ The Role of BEIC The BEIC Competition
CONTENTS
THEME
CONTEXT Site & City Site Strategy Case Studies
DESIGN The Concepts The Schemes Level Plans Elevations Sections Views
TECHNICAL Structure Scheme Structure Design Details Materials Service Design Thermal Insulation MEP Design BIM Tools
BIBLIOGRAPHY About Library About Milan About Architecture
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To Learn Lyceum School and Library Where Aristotle taught and reseached.
oral
ma
4 th Century B.C. The Library of Alexandria
word
papyrus scroll
The Library of Celsus 114-117 AD
To Archive
The earliest ‘Borrow System’ Borrow from churches with deposits.
To depict this, we have made a timeline of the flow of knowledge in the old traditional ways to have a strong base and sense of understanding.
Early Antiquity Mainly storage. Reading outdoor.
284 B.C. The First Libarian 39 B.C. The first Roman Public Library
Such an important building in the world, which has evolved tremendously coupled with the arrival of the internet, has changed the fundamental principles of how it works. Hence, it is important to know the transition of this sacred place to keep up with the advent yet not lose the significance of the same.
To Store
3000 B.C. Invention of Papyrus Paper Alphabetical Order, Punctuation, Glossary, Grammar
Books have served as containers for storing and transferring knowledge and its intricate aspects. A book was created as a communication device for texts, and libraries existed. In the Old Ages, although there were other sources of information, libraries were the go-to destinations in civilizations when they wanted to find information that was reliable, comprehensive, and safe.
AD 105. Invention of Paper
The design of a library calls for deep research and a dive into the history of libraries and the formation of creations because it provides a window and glimpse into the foundations of production and earlier systems. It is, after all, essentially a reflection of societal values and beliefs. There are many kinds of human intervention. For example, research, invention, business, and leisure depend on one another.
Written Text
THEME
What is a ‘Library’?
5 M L a
press
anuscript
book
sketches
1607 Biblioteca Ambrosiana Sala Fredericiana was one of the ealiest public libraries
To Study 1588 Bookwheel was invented by an Italian Military Engineer Agostino Ramelli
To Create media photography
diagrams
1712 University Library of Bologna
To Research
1930-1949 Sormani Library Palazzo Sormani, Biblioteca Sorami Now the central library in Milan
1983 Internet
To Write
1088 AD The first university Academic Libraries in University
5 th to 6 th Century Medival Monastery Libraries and Scriptorium
The Enlightment 1807 AD Martinschrettinger in troduced Library Information Science 1876 AD Melvil Dewey published Dewey Decimal Classification
The Renaissance
Change the structure of books: Smaller frames, increase length. Started to split into Chapters, Contain a table of contents, With a Book Title to be categorized.
12th-13th Century the origin of ‘Silent Reading’, only read with eyes
1436 Gutenberg Print Press Invented
1507 Leonardo da Vinci sketched down the plan and view of Milan
1447 Biblioteca Malatestiana It’s said to be the first civic library in Europe. Which means it was owned by a commune rather than a church or aristocratic family.
To Educate
1753 The British Museum Library was founded under Sir Hans Sloane’s will. It’s said to be ‘One general repository’
LOOP x BEIC
Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
Milano
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THEME
‘Contemporary Library’? The re-adaptation of the meaning of the library is essential to plan the response to changes in urban contexts, especially in huge metropolitan cities. There is a massive willingness to dive into artificial intelligence and develop more skillsets and experiences other than conventional streams, which has benefited the tremendous boom of contemporary metropolises.
Digital Space
B.E.I.C
The drawback of this rapid shift into digital technologies is that there has been a distinction between digital literacy and knowledge which takes away the core essence of its benefits. The accessibility of these technologies and knowledge has become a discriminating factor in inclusivity and equality.
Physical Space
Social Space
MULTIDIMENSIONS OF LIBRARY
This is where a library could bridge the difference and play a strong role in integrating different cultural and technical backgrounds. EXPERIENCE
S
ng
n
ni Sp
tio
ar
ra
ac e
Explore
Create
Participation
INNOVATION
EMPOWERMENT
Excite
Pe r fo rm an ce Sp ac e
Hence, the library would not just be a generic “cultural space” but rather a multi-functional model of various forms of communications; traditional and model in an interdisciplinary atmosphere rich in simulation and interaction.
In
i sp
e
Le
The Municipality of Milan and B.E.I.C has envisioned it to be a ‘library of the world’, where it not only enriches the city of Milan but also promotes unification and exchange of culture & knowledge in Europe for future generations. Its location’s identity would fortify its establishment as a scientific, cultural, and economic region of the whole European identity. It would naturally highlight historical establishments, languages, periods, movements, and other trends to the younger generations.
c pa
INVOLVEMENT
M
ee
FOUR-SPACE MODEL FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES
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Yu-Heng Lin
tin
gS
pa
ce
Inspiration Space
Performance Space
Meeting Space
PUBLIC AND INFORMAL SPATIALITY
Learning Space
ATMOSPHERE & FUNCTION OF LIBRARIES - FROM THE PAST TO COMTEMPORARY LOOP x BEIC
Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
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THEME
The Role of BEIC The understanding of the present library have undergone a major change in the first two decades of the 21st century, transitioning from a study and consultation space to a more sophisticated and interactive space connected to the desire for all-around learning with a strong digital culture. The idea of knowledge circulation is now also a condition for the development of new knowledge and technological abilities.
The scope of Nuova B.E.I.C.’s influence is on various levels, such as:
The role of B.E.I.C. (European Library of Information and Culture) is to serve as a cultural and educational hub that facilitates the exchange and distribution of knowledge, information, and cultural heritage.
To curate and improve Lombardy’s record and publishing output.
It aims to provide a space where individuals can engage in learning, research, and exploration across various disciplines. B.E.I.C. strives to bridge the gap between academics and the community, fostering a close environment where people from diverse backgrounds can come together to discover, create, and innovate. It sees cultural institutions as vibrant places where local communities are actively involved. The library intends to accept and authenticate each community’s unique “cultures” with special codes, languages, and demands.
Actively collaborating in initiatives like the Italian Digital Library, the National Plan for Reading Promotion, the National Agenda for Sustainable Development, and aspects of the Italian Digital Agenda.
Through its architecture, resources, and programs, B.E.I.C. aspires to shape and reflect the evolving landscape of contemporary knowledge while preserving and celebrating the rich portfolio of local and global cultures. The main objective is to depict the complex development of contemporary knowledge, with a focus on new domains and their interrelated development. It also aims to combine many library archetypes, linking basic services with ongoing education. It makes an effort to cover specific fields that connect with both the broader nature of European and global culture and the cultural history of Milan and Lombardy.
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Yu-Heng Lin
1. Metropolitan Level: To secure the growth and transformation of the entire Milan metropolitan network.
2. Regional Level:
3. National Level:
4. International Level: It is presented to link Milan and Europe through innovative relationships with significant worldwide libraries. This function enhances Milan’s standing as a significant global cultural center.
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4 1 2
ries ting Libra onnec vel: C e L itan pol tro e M
1 Nuova B.E.I.C 2 Venezia Biblioteca 3 Biblioteca Oglio 4 Biblioteca Sormani 5 Biblioteca del Policlinico Ca’ Granda 6 Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense 7 Biblioteca Capitolare
8 Fondazione Feltrinelli Library 9 Biblioteca Ambrosiana 10 Biblioteca Parco Sempione 11 Biblioteca Pime 12 Biblioteca Tibaldi 13 Biblioteca Solari
LOOP x BEIC
Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
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The Municipality of Milan (“Commune di Milano”) announced an international design competition for the construction of the New “Nuova B.E.I.C.” which stands for European Library of Information and Culture to be followed in a single stage. The intent of the design is to achieve a project with a level of sophistication and cohesivity similar to the level of information to a technical and financially feasible project.
We took the first step by having conviction in our idea of the library. The underlying intention is aimed at creating a stimulating environment for freeing the mind and acquiring new knowledge. The European Library of Information and Culture project was created many years ago with the intention of providing Milan with the largest cultural “infrastructure” in all of Europe. A shortage of financing has brought on long disruptions and lengthy delays in implementation. The building’s sustainability is given special consideration in this proposal, which uses energy-efficient systems with heat pumps (including shallow groundwater exploitation in that area), solar collectors, and photovoltaic panels.
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2
Our proposal for the new BEIC library in Porta Vittoria came with preset requirements and documentation, forming a good base for us to begin with. The library is a complex architectural space because it requires much consideration, not just about reading spaces but almost all interrelated areas.
QUANTITATIVE PROGRAMME OF REQUIREMENTS
TOTAL AREA OF B.E.I.C 30,000 m
THEME
The BEIC Competition
1600 m2
Entrance Area
1800 m2
Imaginarium
1350 m2
Commercial
1300 m2
Auditorium
4300 m2
B.E.I.C Forum
1350 m2
Digital Department
7700 m2
Departments
6000 m2
Automated Storage
4600 m2
Internal Services
B1 Lounge
109 m2
B1 Book Point
886 m2
Stopover Spaces
99 m2
Library Entrance
163 m2
Library Lobby
231 m2
Children & Families Area
182 m2
Offices
133 m2
Digitilisation
76 m2
AR/VR Lab
107 m2
Digital Lab
158 m2
Toilets
1117 m2
H24 Study Room
312 m2
Reception & Info
91 m2
Special Collections
1139 m2
Panoromic View
1760 m2
Arts & Literature
770 m2
Humanities & Social
Cafe
770 m2
Science & Tech
267 m2
Bookshop
3320 m2
Reading Space
110 m2
Group Rooms
596 m2
Services & Offices
3181 m2
Circulation & Display
325 m2
Interdisciplinary Doc
486 m2
B1 ASRT
2722 m2
B2 ASRT
610 m2
Spaces for Machinery
15 m2
Archive
43 m2
Warehouse
Lobby
450 m
2
Auditorium
266 m2
Toilets
4300 m2
B.E.I.C Forum
41 m
2
Services B.E.I.C Consultation
418 m2
Temporary Exhibition
366 m2
Multipurpose Rooms
182 m2
Offices
815 m2
Interdisciplinary Doc.
2852 m2
Circulation & Display
1042 m2
Logistics & Document
483 m2
Staff Lounge & Pantry
2
325 m2
2
453 m
2
STORAGE 3208 m
100 m2
INTERNAL SERVICES 2193 m
2
AUDITORIUM 1169 m
2
325 m2
DIG. DEPARTMENTS 656 m
Book Return Point
2
110 m2
DEPARTMENTS 13490 m
Promenade
2
COMMERCIAL 367 m
1085 m2
2
B.E.I.C FORUM 9299 m
28,000 m2
2
IMAGINARIUM 231 m
2
ENTRANCE AREA 2700 m
TOTAL INDICATIVE AREA OF OUR LIBRARY
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CONTEXT
Site & City The Nuova B.E.I.C. will be erected in the Competition area, which is in Municipality 4 in the eastern section of the Municipality of Milan. The neighborhood is a part of the Umbria-Molise-Calvairate district, borders the Ortomercato neighborhood and the Corsica district to the east, and the XXII Marzo district to the north and west in geography.
Transportation / publicity / Railway Stations : the modern GATES (PORTE) Existing Railway StationPorta Vittoria FS Bus Circling Routes90, 91, 92
The Porta Vittoria site shows signs of urban and social degradation, so it is a revival of the areas surrounding it like ex-Macello (abandoned slaughterhouse) and, if we may say so, to the entire Milan as an identification in the international network. This region has historical importance dating back to the Roman era. Incorporating historical exhibits and local history archives within the library can connect residents with the area’s heritage. Porta Vittoria Train Station: The train station was established in 1905, and the Pavia Masera Master plan was used as a base point for forming the railways’ infrastructure system, which became due for the construction of Stazione Centrale and the Porta Vittoria railway station near the fruit and vegetable market. Green Spaces and Urban Planning : The area has a rich presence of parks, green spaces, and piazzas. The library site has the potential to blend in with its surroundings, and there is room for more planting or outdoor activity facilities. It is strategically located near several educational institutions, including a new campus for IEDs in the ex-Macello site. Collaborative partnerships can be established to offer joint programs and initiatives that cater to students’ academic needs.
Future M4 Connection: 2 mins to Dateo & Susa With 1 Transfer, approx. min. 25 mins to LINATE
History / research / Being a part of the Expanding planning of Milan Piano Beruto, 1884-1889 Piano Beruto, 1884-1889 Piano Pavia - Masera, 1910 - 1912 Piano Albertini, 1934
Greenery in Milan / characteristics / How to characterise the site In this city? Castello- Historical Citylife- Modern/ Commercial Garibaldi- Commercial/ Leisure
Residents in the area come from various cultural backgrounds, and this diversity offers the library the chance to present a broad range of cultural resources and programs that honor the diverse traditions.
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Giardini Indro MontanelliLocal/ Educational/ Festival Monte Stella- Memorial/ Leisure BEIC?????
N
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0
Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
500m
1000m
Milano
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CONTEXT
Site & City The site has great accessibility because of the train station. The Passante connects the area not only to the city center but also to the high-speed railway stations as well as the Dateo station, which connects to the M4 metro line, taking you to Linate Airport. The western part of the site has a car-free zone intersection, the library, and a redeveloped park. The availability of reserved cycle lanes along Via Cervignano and Viale Molise promotes cycling travel. Due to its closeness to the Viale Umbria outer ring road, Viale Molise, and Corsica-Enrico Forlanini roads, the site is conveniently reachable from the perspective of vehicular mobility.
INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK LEGEND Corso Indipendenza
Corso Ventidue Marzo
Corso Plebisciti
Viale Argonne
Corso Ventidue Marzo Viale Corsica
Via Azzurri d’italia Piazzale Martini
Viale Calvairate
Main Network (Inter District) Secondary Network (District) Secondary Network (Local Inter-Zonal)
N
0
500m
1000m
Road Network: According to their constructional, technical, and functional characteristics, the three roads that define the competition area, Via Cervignano, Via Monte Ortigara, and Viale Molise, are categorized into the following groups in accordance with Art. 2 of the New Highway Code:
Corso Indipendenza
Corso Ventidue Marzo
A: Highways;
Corso Plebisciti
Viale Argonne
Corso Ventidue Marzo Viale Corsica
Via Azzurri d’italia Piazzale Martini
Viale Calvairate
B: Major suburban roads; C: Minor suburban roads;
S5 Line M3 Yellow Metro M1 Red Metro M4 Blue Metro
N
0
500m
1000m
D: Urban district roads; E: Urban cycle routes; F: Local roads; Corso Indipendenza
Corso Plebisciti
Viale Argonne
F-bis: Cycle/pedestrian routes. Corso Ventidue Marzo
Specifically, the highways defining the competition area were categorized in accordance with the following: Viale Molise, a local urban street (F), Via Monte Ortigara, and Via Cervignano, an urban inter-district road, i.e., a bridge connecting high-speed routes and district roads (E and F - roads abutting the avenues).
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Varshini Mysore Suresh
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Yu-Heng Lin
Corso Ventidue Marzo Viale Corsica
Via Azzurri d’italia Piazzale Martini
N
0
500m
1000m
Viale Calvairate
Bus Line Local Network
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTES: BIKE LANS, PATHS, BUS & METRO
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CONTEXT
Site Strategy The site area is divided into longitudinal sections, giving rise to a rectangular building configuration. Some important considerations of the site analysis were the harsh sunlight faced on the southern side due to Milan’s harsh summer conditions. The underground water level and the metro’s presence make it almost impossible to hamper its structure underground and build. Strong historical axes already exist in Milan with the site background and research we made. Aligning a building with these historical axes can respect and integrate the site’s historical context. We started off from this idea and took an observatory walk towards the city center where Duomo di Miano is situated and noted our observations in the form if maps and diagrams below. The prominence and visibility of the building can be improved by having its main axis pointed toward the city center. The library is a center of curiosity since it draws in both pedestrians and bystanders. It may reflect historical or traditional alignments that highlight the building’s role in the city’s development.
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N
0
250m
500m
C D E G A
F B
A
TYPICAL BALCONY STEPPED BALCONY STEPPED BALCONY TYPICAL BALCONY STEPPED FACADE STEPPED STEPPED ROUNDED STEPPED FACADE FACADE FACADE FACADE BALCONIES B C STEPPED BALCONY TYPICAL BALCONY D STEPPED TYPICAL BALCONY STEPPED BALCONY BALCONY TYPICAL BALCONY
IFICATION STRATIFICATIONSTRATIFICATION STRATIFICATION STRATIFICATION
Typology Old Typology Old Typology
MATERIALMATERIAL 1 1
MATERIAL 1
MATERIAL 2
MATERIAL 2 MATERIAL 2
MATERIALMATERIAL 3 3
MATERIAL 3
MATERIAL 3 MATERIAL 3
n Typology Modern Typology Modern Typology Typology Modern TypologyModern
01
01
01
01
02
02
02
02
02
03
03
03
03
03
E
ROUNDED ROUNDED BALCONY ROUNDED ROUNDED BALCONIES BALCONIES ORGANISATION BALCONIES BALCONIES
F
BALCONY BALCONY BALCONY BALCONY PERVIOUS ORGANISATION ORGANISATION ORGANISATION ORGANISATION BOUNDARIES
MATERIAL 1 MATERIAL 1
MATERIALMATERIAL 2 2
Old Typology Old Typology
01
01 - VEGETATION01 - VEGETATION 02--VEGETATION INTRINSIC QUALITY OF BALCONIES 01 - VEGETATION 02 - 01 INTRINSIC QUALITY OF Rounded Inviting Balconies Rounded Rounded Rounded Rounded Inviting Inviting Inviting Inviting Balconies Balconies Balconies Balconies 01 02OF - INTRINSIC QUALITY OF BALCONIES 02BALCONIES - INTRINSIC QUALITY BALCONIES - VEGETATION 02 - INTRINSIC QUALITY OF BALCONIES
Organised Chaos - Balconies
LOOP x BEIC Old
03 BRACKETS - ORNATE BRACKETS 03 - ORNATE 03 - ORNATE BRACKETS 03 - ORNATE BRACKETS 03 - ORNATE BRACKETS Stepped Facade Stepped Stepped Stepped Stepped Facade Facade Facade Facade Old Modern Old Modern Modern Modern Old Old Modern
Pervious Boundary Conditions
G
PERVIOUS PERVIOUS PERVIOUS PERVIOUS BOUNDARIES BOUNDARIES BOUNDARIES BOUNDARIES
Openness
Openness Openness Openness Openness
Connecting Green areas
Connecting Connecting Connecting Connecting Green Green Green Green areas areas areas areas
Organised Chaos --Balconies Organised Organised Organised Chaos Chaos Chaos - Balconies - Balconies Balconies
Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura Pervious Boundary Conditions Pervious Pervious Pervious Boundary Boundary Boundary Conditions Conditions Conditions
Milano
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Ying-Hsiu Lin
Yu-Heng Lin
LOOP x BEIC
Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
Milano
22
CONTEXT
Case Studies We referred to case studies which implements necessary architectural design considerations such as: Universal Accessibility: A really inclusive library must guarantee that everyone can access materials, regardless of their abilities. This approach covers both the physical layout of the building and the arrangement of services and materials to accommodate a range of skills. Sustainability and management control: Environmental sustainability should be smoothly included in the architectural idea with a focus on minimizing environmental effects, and emphasis should be placed on reducing energy usage through cutting-edge sustainable techniques. The library spaces should also embrace effective management decisions to tackle user data and insights collected. User autonomy: The library will prioritize user independence when using some features. Strategies should include “smart” lockers, appropriate technology that complies with standards, and selfservice registration for loans and returns at designated stations.
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Varshini Mysore Suresh
Ying-Hsiu Lin
Yu-Heng Lin
Office Space in Ho Chi Minh City
A certain area of the facility, such as a study room, should have 24-hour access via recognition systems. With this technology, authorized individuals can enter even without employees. Co-working spaces, workstations, and study places must all support independent reservations made through distant systems. The flexibility of spaces and installations: Flexibility in space arrangements is crucial for accommodating many purposes that can coexist in different ways. The B.E.I.C. Forum and Imaginarium are two portions that must be very adaptable to meet different needs. Traditional library facilities are redesigned to enable a variety of applications based on people’s changing preferences, losing their rigidity in favor of fluidity. Transitional spaces provide chances for temporary thematic exhibits and artistic installations. Digital signage: The design of the building should incorporate an effective digital signage system. This system will provide information on the library’s upcoming events, direct particular user groups to pertinent locations and times, provide specialized information and entertainment, and enable interactive interactions.
Hat Truss-Supported Office Tower in Salt Lake City
LOOP x BEIC
Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
Milano
24
DESIGN
The Concepts We have developed the idea of the library being a place where knowledge flows from the past to the future. We explored the narrative that the storage of knowledge is in a loop with the generation of new knowledge, which forms one of the major crux of the project. The axis defined in our concept, is emphasized with a main circulation ramp starting from the ground floor and ascending to the panoramic room on the top west end of the building, which strategically inclines the vertical circulation system. This ‘loop of knowledge’ continuously loops from a traditional library floor system (East) to a more innovative and simulating split floor (West) through this central ramp, which also forms the void in the building.
To blur the lines between the interior and exterior, where greenery plays a huge role, we have integrated a continuous landscape mound inside the Northern end of the project into the Ground floor space, encouraging new ideas and ACCESS TO PUBLIC enhancing a positive experience. TRANSPORTATION
e ad ad ad ay
to spread
to study to store
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Continuing to have an evocative spatial experience, the visitor is first invited to experience the rich functionality of the ground floor leading to the sunken plaza. It births to a special public space, dividing the library resulting in clear communication to the passerby.
Varshini Mysore Suresh
Ying-Hsiu Lin
Yu-Heng Lin
“A man with a book goes to the light. A library begins that way.” Louis I. Kahn
VIEW TO PARK/ HISTORICAL CENTER VIEW TO PARK/
HISTORICAL CENTER to reflect
NORAMIC RM ADING RM ADING RM ADING RM
to reflect
to create BEIC FORUM BEIC FORUM PANORAMIC RM PANORAMIC RM ART & LITERATURE to spread ART & LITERATURE READING READING RM to research to research HUMANITY to spread RM HUMANITY to research READING RM to spread RM SCIENCE SCIENCE READING to research to research READING RM ENTRY/EXHIB to display ENTRY/EXHIB ACCESS TO PUBLIC
to research READING RM TRANSPORTATION
to spread
AUDITORIUM
to create to spread to spread to spread to display
BEIC FORUM ART & LITERATURE HUMANITY SCIENCE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION toENTRY/EXHIB spread
to spread AUDITORIUM 24HR STUDY to study
24HR STUDY to study
ASRS to store
ASRS to store
to create to spread to spread to spread to display
ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
to spread
to spread AUDITORIUM
24HR STUDY to study ASRS to store
LOOP x BEIC
Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
Milano
26
Controls
DESIGN
DEPARTMENTS ovation Lab The Schemes: VR Lab Programme Robo Lab earning Lab
l Digitilisation The functional units within the building borative Room are outlined, detailing the prescribed Project Rooms volumes, workstations, and related specifications for each section. The deo Digitilisation spaces required in the library are: Archives
Independent Access from Outside Functional Connections Anti-shoplifting Barriers Public Accessible Controlled Access Mandatory Programs
CIRCULATION DIAGRAM
IMAGINARIUM Community Spaces Discovery Area Installation Space Reception/Toilets
ENTRANCE HALL Atrium & Info Point Security Book Return Cloakroom Atrium & Info Point
Green Areas Semi-outdoor Spaces Connection to Park
Reception Service Rooms Toilets
DEPARTMENTS Storage and Learning Science & Tech. Humanities & Social science Arts & Lit.
Reading Areas Magzines, Newspapers
24H Study Room Reception Toilets
AUTOMATED CENTRAL STORAGE
Panoramic Room Terrace DIGITAL DEPARTMENTS Innovation Lab VR Lab Robo Lab AI Learning Lab
INTERNAL SERVICES Offices Administrative External Relations Meeting Rooms Storage Individual Offices Toilets
Central Digitilisation Collaborative Room Special Project Rooms Audio Video Digitilisation Archives
FUNCTIONAL ORGANISATION DIAGRAM 27
Varshini Mysore Suresh
Ying-Hsiu Lin
Yu-Heng Lin
COMMERCIAL Pop-up Stores Bookstore Cafeteria CULTURAL Exhibition New Media Display Heritage Reflection BEIC Forum Service Rooms Toilets Multi-purpose Room Co=working
PARKING Controls
1. Library Department Sections:
3. Digital Department:
5. Storage:
The departments holding books, journals, video resources, and special collections are Science and Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Arts and Literature. These sections are thoughtfully curated to highlight significant authors and cultural contributors from European history. Additionally, the library offers crossdepartmental coverage of important societal issues and digital cultures. Each department houses a wide array of resources, including books, journals, and video materials. Special collections are presented in physical exhibitions that connect their significance with their tangible display. Online resources, expert services, and versatile workstations cater to both individual and group needs. Furthermore, designated spaces allow for the consultation of historical collections, while ample floor space is allocated for document storage, complementing the open shelf materials within the departments.
The Digital Department of Nuova B.E.I.C. is strategically focused on exploring the intricate landscape of digital cultures and practices. Collaborating with other relevant institutions, the department is dedicated to digitizing valuable cultural artifacts, setting national and global standards for preservation and access. The department also functions as a technology innovation hub, conducting applied research and developing software to enhance library services. Visitors can engage with digitization processes through public workshops. Notably, the department places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, providing a lab for individuals with cognitive and interpersonal challenges to contribute to digital library resources.
The library’s storage facility houses a significant volume of materials. Initially catering to 2.5 million volumes, the automated central storage supports the Lombard Regional Archive and accommodates expansions from the Sormani Library and other institutions. This adaptive storage system employs state-of-the-art technology to ensure efficient management and preservation of the collections.
2. Imaginarium (Youth library) The Imaginarium is a unique space within the library dedicated to nurturing a love for books and learning among young individuals who have grown up in a digital era. Workshop-style options make it interesting and enjoyable for kids to experiment with different kinds of expression. This area emphasizes a balanced approach, integrating traditional books with engaging activities that encourage the appropriate use of new media, robotics, and gaming.
4. B.E.I.C. Forum - entrance area, reception and first information This area serves as the heart of the library, offering a range of services and activities centered around reading, experimenting, creating, and learning. Designed for everyone, with a focus on the youth, it embodies several key features, such as an informal ambiance aimed at drawing in people who may not be particularly seeking a study environment. The spaces are also versatile and adaptable to accommodate diverse activities, ensuring flexibility according to requirements. Another feature is to provide an engaging atmosphere for interactive engagement and creativity of music, digital media, broadcasting, hands-on activities, and traditional library functions.
LOOP x BEIC
6. Commercial Functions: The library will have areas for commercial operations, such as a bookshop and concession-based catering. Some will go beyond the BEIC Forum, particularly the newspaper library. By linking the Nuova B.E.I.C. with urban functions and boosting user experiences, these initiatives enhance library services. They not only complete the library’s collection but also support its environmentally friendly administration.
Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura
Milano
28
