introduction
Exisiting formal public spaces and gardens are popular but highly controlled environments that don’t allow for spontaneous informal human interaction. The most active of the public realm are commercial streets. There is a lack of smaller spaces among and between housing blocks and shopping areas. The settlements will create smaller ‘micro public spaces’ that are within each neighbourhood. This will increase social interaction, outdoor activity and liveability.
Scholars had extensive private libraries, and all imperial dynasties constructed libraries and archives to house literary treasures and official records, with the first libraries dating from 16th to 11th centuries B.C. The first modern libraries did not appear in China until the late 19th century; even then, library services grew slowly and sporadically. Seeing the lack of libraries as a major impediment to modernization efforts, government leaders in the early 1980s took special interest in the development of library services.
history
Tianyi Chamber (eldest existing library in China) 1561
inspiration
Classical Garden Library: -opportunity to have tangible relationship between building and landscape -element of self study/reflection available through individual pods -- library to cover all resources of gardens (history, nature, art, architecture, symbolism etc)
specialist library
The Buddhist Library - Singapore: - library (7,000-12,000 books) - rare book room - multimedia room & resources - reading room (10 people) - meditation room (10 people) - multi-purpose hall (seminars & classes – 100 people) - public art exhibitions - welfare work (locally & abroad)
Identify relationship between: - Buddhist Temple - Art Gallery
location
proposed central location
Opportunity to share landscaped garden with temple and gallery, in ‘cultural centre’ of settlement. Element of water important: -Link to existing lake and/or canals? -Creation of purpose built artificial pond on common site? -Potential to build small island on lake to house garden and three complimenting buildings?