Eti Osa Central Library || Master of Architecture Thesis (MArch)

- Consider a site where the structure can be positioned along an eastwest axis.

- Consider a design that optimizes the vegetation on the site.

- Site Selection and Building Orientation

- Building Form

- Building Form

- Use of white or light colored material for envelope and interiors.

- Low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to reduce ventilation requirements.

- Windows and Glazing

- Daylighting

- Shading

- Colours and Materials

- Thermal Envelope

Orientation along the east-west axis. Compact design to ensure minimal building surface area. Small building width to maximize cross ventilation and allow sufficient daylight.

- Thermal Mass

- Air Barrier

- Other passive systems

- Electric Lighting

- Mechanical Equipment

The site for the library harnesses visibility, potential for future expansion and growth, access and commnuity integration in its design and use.

The library, in its design, is accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities. Features like ramps, elevators, wide aisles and accessible restrooms have been incorporated.

Public Library design considerations

The design beautifully balances the acousical requirements for quiet reading spaces and collaborative spaces within the library. This balance is manifested in the treatment of the walls as well as spatial zoning to control noise levels.

The library is designed to address potential changing needs. Modular shelving, movable furniture and adaptible spaces are some of the building’s flexible features.

The design prioritizes the safety and security of library users and staff.

This can be seen in the provision of surveillance cameras, access control systems, etc

The design intergrates clevelry placed signs, landmarks, points of interest, user-friendly maps/ plans and lighting to make movement through the library as smooth and intuitive as possible.

The library uses identity and symbolism to establish an architectural character and a connection with the surrounding communities.

The design employs a combination of embodied and active techniques in optimzing energy consumption throughout its life cycle.

what makes a public library?

The design intergrates clevelry placed signs, landmarks, points of interest, user-friendly maps/ plans and lighting to make movement through the library as smooth and intuitive as possible. The design intergrates clevelry placed signs, landmarks, points of interest, user-friendly maps/ plans and lighting to make movement through the library as smooth and intuitive as possible. The design intergrates clevelry placed signs, landmarks, points of interest, user-friendly maps/ plans and lighting to make movement through the library as smooth and intuitive as possible.

Energy Efficiency Design Strategies 0 1 2

Site Selection and Building Orientation v

Building Form v

Building Plan v

Daylighting and Shading v

Colors and Materials v

Active Systems v

Other passive Systems v

Connects the local community

Fosters a sense of pride

Serves as a role model for energy efficient architecture

The Great reading room Shared open Spaces Dynamic Lighting Experience Enviromentally responsible

Dark colored roofing Heavy dependence on mechanical ventilation

Burton Barr

Central Library

Daylighting and Shading v

Other passive Systems v

Reflects Singapore’s culture

The Internal Sheet (Atrium)

Green open Spaces

Cultural significance

Simultaaneous group activities

Enviromentally responsible

High cost of implementation due to sophistication of active systems

Six

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The public library acts as a dynamic hub where diverse individuals intersect and engage. It becomes a central gathering place for people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. The library hosts various events, workshops, and programs that bring the community together. It serves as a platform for exchanging ideas, fostering dialogue, and promoting cultural understanding.

The public library creates a welcoming and comfortable environment that feels like an extension of one’s home. It offers cozy seating areas, reading nooks, and inviting spaces for relaxation and conversation. Patrons can curl up with a book, work on personal projects, or connect with others in a relaxed setting. The library may provide amenities like coffee shops, comfortable furniture, and inviting decor, making it an inviting space for individuals to unwind, connect, and enjoy a sense of community.

While libraries have evolved to encompass a wide range of activities, they still retain their core function as conventional reading spaces. The library houses an extensive collection of books, magazines, newspapers, and other reading materials. It provides quiet zones or dedicated study areas where individuals can focus on reading, studying, or research. These spaces are designed to foster concentration, intellectual growth, and personal enrichment. The library may also offer resources like reference materials, computer terminals, and digital access to further support research and learning.

As a center for well-being, the public library recognizes the holistic needs of its patrons beyond traditional literacy. It offers programs and resources that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This may include hosting health workshops, yoga classes, mindfulness sessions, or wellness seminars. Additionally, it might offer spaces for meditation, relaxation, or even provide access to outdoor areas where patrons can engage in recreational activities, promoting overall well-being and a healthy lifestyle.

Sources: - https://issuu.com/vmdoarchitects/docs/vmdo_architects_public_library_design_book - https://www.dezeen.com/2019/09/24/temple-universitys-charles-library-snohetta-

Existing literature suggests an east-west orientation for optimising energy efficiency

The singapore national library design suggests that this shape is more efficient as it admits maaximum light and that with minimal glare

Subsequent elongated hexagon shape adopted for maximum daylighting and minimal glare

The orientation of the building collects maximum wind by placing the larger surface area perpendicular to the SW trade winds

The resulting shape is manifested in the orientation of the hexagons while mantaining solar heat gain and glare principles

The elevation considers the operational hours of the public library in Nigeria which is typically fro 9am - 7pm. This implies that there is minimises the need for shading from the early morning sun and attention is focused towards shading the building from the evening sun, resulting in the slanted form

Generative design strategies were implemented to iterate an optimal connection of elongated hexagons while maximising daylight and minimising glare

Since the south-west trade winds are dominant throughout the year, the building is further split into two to increase the surface area that comes in contact with the south-west trade winds.

Courtyards and atriums were further introduced to suffice for the natural ventilation requirements

This design procedeure conjugates with the ideologies of Norbert Lechner (2015) which describes lighting, cooling and ventilation as the reasons for energy consumption in buildings

Designing buildings to maximize cross-ventilation facilitated the movement of air throughout the space, enhancing natural ventilation and reducing the need for mechanical cooling. The Nigerian National Mosque in Abuja is an example of a building that incorporated cross-ventilation in its design.

Shading devices, such as overhangs, louvers, or brise-soleil, were employed to block direct sunlight and reduce solar heat gain inside buildings. They effectively prevented excessive heat buildup and reduced the need for artificial cooling.

New culture Studio, Ibadan

Heritage Place, Lagos

Kingsway Tower, Ikoyi

Early libraries focused on preserving scrolls, containing religious, historical, and scientific knowledge, to safeguard and organize valuable information

In the 19th century, public libraries expanded to provide quiet and conducive reading spaces, encouraging intellectual exploration and personal growth.

With the printing press, public libraries incorporated chained books, making knowledge more accessible while preventing theft through secure attachment

For several hundreds of years, there was a problem with the storage of books

1609. First regularly published newspaper appears in Germany

Books have been the absolute best since the history of the world

1971. Intel builds a microprocessor, “a computer on a chip”

1922. “Napoli of the North” is the first documentary

Books have been the absolut best since the history of the world

have you been to a public library before? and why?

what do you think would draw you to a public library

want to learn about other stuff specific to Nigeria, like our history, you know.

know you don’t usually go to the library. What would attract you to the public library I’m about to design?

First of all, the library form itself. If its looking nice, I’d be like..hmm, lets check that place out.

Never in my life brooo. never had a reason to go there fr

But if the library has some tech things, that’ll probably be of intrest to me

actually want to see other things I can learn about. Like different types of animals, skeletons, plants, crafts..

okay, thanks so much for your input

Recreational facilitiesmaybe? would love to see that.

Modern libraries transformed into vibrant communal spaces, offering diverse services, community programs, and multimedia resources, fostering social interaction, cultural exchange, and lifelong learning.

Lagosians are known for their resilience, resourcefulness, and entrepreneurial spirit. The city’s fast-paced environment and the drive to succeed contribute to the identity of Lagosians as hardworking individuals who are willing to seize opportunities and overcome challenges.

The Eyo masquerade festival is one of the most iconic cultural events in Lagos. It is a traditional festival where costumed individuals known as “Eyo” parade the streets to commemorate significant occasions or to honor prominent individuals. The Eyo festival is deeply rooted in Lagosian culture and showcases the city’s rich history and traditions.

Lagos has a vibrant street food culture with a wide variety of delicious local dishes. Street foods like suya (grilled skewered meat), akara (bean cakes), and roasted plantain are popular among Lagosians. The street food culture not only satisfies hunger but also serves as a social and cultural gathering point, contributing to the unique identity of Lagos.

Afrobeats serves as a unifying force, representing the energy, creativity, and cultural diversity of Lagosians and Nigerians at large. It fosters a shared identity, ignites a sense of belonging, and amplifies the vibrant spirit of Lagosian culture.

Lagos is home to numerous fashion influencers and style icons who have gained recognition nationally and internationally. These influencers shape fashion trends, inspire new styles, and contribute to the overall fashion identity of Lagos.

Afrobeats has constantly reminded the world about the creative capacities of Nigerians with the likes of artists such as Burnaboy Tems, Wizkid winning grammy awards, as well as other artists such as fela, davido, asake, rema, gaining widespread global recognition. Afrobeats has also inspired other aspects of lifestyle such as dance, with the famous legwork and zanku as one of the most pronounced. Maybe architecture is next?

The popular poet, Johann Wolfgang van Goethe calls architecture frozen music, and I find this analogy to be particularly apt. It is fascinating how so many relationships exist between the principles of music and architecture such as harmony, rhythm, proportion,patterns, and texture.

Afrobeats serves as a unifying force, representing the energy, creativity, and cultural diversity of Lagosians and Nigerians at large. It fosters a shared identity, ignites a sense of belonging, and amplifies the vibrant spirit of Lagosian culture.

As Eric Owen Moss said, imagining precipitates the technical solution and technique ratifies the original inquiry. My intuition leads me to believe architecture can lean into the emotional richness of music to expand the boundaries of its artistic aspects while enhancing the emotional connection between the observer and space.

After a thorough consideration of possible relationships, a method was chosen for establishing the aesthetic framework spacific to this project. The pythagorean 12 note system was adopted to generate a series of patterns for any given progression of music.

A song was chosen, one produced by Mobi Jay, and whcih I was given the rights to experiment with. I proceeded to highlight the main notes of the progression - Fa, Mi, Mi Fa, Fa, Mi, La and Re. Using the pythagorean 12 note system, generated the possible patterns available for the notes in the progression which was one on a 4/4 beat. Possible patterns were computed and observed according to technical and aesthetic requirements.

“further future explorations on color and texture are in view, but not in the scope of this thesis”

By deducing a framework for translating sound to geometry, and further expanding the scope of architecture’s communicative capacity, this framework could then serve as a substrate for inspiring deeper connections with other creative genres, such as poetry, and serve as an umbrella for the many distinctive forms of art going.. going.. gone

Final patterns were computed and the final design was chosen in line with the aesthetic and performance requirements. The choice of pattern favored the pattern that could form at right angle as well as posess better structural capabilities, all from a visual standpoint.

Bustling intersection

Bustling intersection Community living room Centre for Well being Conventional reading

New Culture Studio KAPSARC

The Seattle Central Library, designed by architect Rem Koolhaas, has had a significant impact on attracting people and creating a vibrant atmosphere. The building features a striking contemporary design with a mix of angular and irregular shapes. Its iconic glass and steel exterior, along with its dynamic interior spaces, have become a magnet for visitors and architectural enthusiasts. The unconventional design has generated curiosity and intrigue, drawing people to explore the library.

The unique form of the Czech National Library, known as the “Eye of the National Library,” has played a significant role in attracting people to the facility. Designed by architect Jan Kaplický, the library’s futuristic and iconic design resembles a large glass dome or an eye-shaped structure. The captivating and visually striking appearance of the building has become a prominent landmark and a tourist attraction in Prague, drawing visitors from around the world.

The design optimizes natural light penetration through the glass exterior, reducing the reliance on artificial lighting and creating an energy-efficient interior environment.

The Biblioteca Sandropenna in Italy is renowned for its unique form, which has had a significant influence on attracting people to the library. Designed by architects Italo Rota and Fabio Fornasari, the library resembles a large bookshelf, with vibrant and colorful book spines serving as the exterior façade. This creative and visually appealing design creates a sense of intrigue and curiosity, capturing the attention of passersby and generating interest in exploring the library’s interior.

Source: 21 Concept to Realisation: GRC and Complex Facades E. Bishop, J. Wilson, Arup and Zaha Hadid, UK