This is the new layout for our book. The file is set to an 8.5”x8.5” dimension. The purple guide on the interior of the square is the set margins for the project. The top, inner, and bottom are all set at .75” while the exterior is at 1”. The red guide around the edge are for full bleed images. If you choose to have full bleed images, they are to extend past this red line for proper printing. The type should be able to be replaced by your text simply by copying and pasting from whatever program you choose. If you accidentally delete something, I have added the font names and sizes to the left side of the template. The first page should have one main image and your arguement and title and name. After that, you are free to place whatever you’d like, but please keep the captions and writing on the outer edges of the margins. Also, the page numbers aren’t necessary for each page. BUT include it on your first introduction page. The margins for the page numers are .25” from the edge and halfway from the top.
INTERIOR SUMMER THESIS 2013 atmosphereIf you have any questions, email me at tfw0002@ gmail, or text me at 256.206.0690.
THE BOOK-WELLS FULTON COUNTY CENTRAL LIBRARY R y an Zi mm er m a n
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Ten years from now or even twenty years from now what how will the book be? What will it be? Will books still be in a monograph form? Will a books gentle pages still be flipped, bent or torn by a person? Is the idea of a library fading away or is it transitioning into a free Wi-Fi social media hub? What’s to be understood here is the book as an object, not yet a relic. I intend to transform the idea of the Fulton County Central Library into place where monumentality mixes with a museum-like object that interjects itself into the existing library. This idea is achieved by creating stacks of books located on and within book-wells that are located on floors, two, three, four and five in the building. The book-wells on each floor intersect the floor plate in front of the north, south and east facing windows. The book-wells create reading and lounge spaces. The book-wells glass and zinc materials allow natural light to gently reflect and flow from three of the seven windows deeper into the building. The book-well as an object preserves the book and monumentalizes the importance of the book. The book shelving and care also emphasizes monumentality while still allowing book access for research, study, observation and reading uses. The book-wells are categorized by both user types as monograph readers and digital users. The material pallet of glass and metal of the book-wells contrast the existing warmth quality of concrete, carpet and limited wood the library currently has. The form may appear complex but each move is generated from various views to the existing windows, views to lounge and reading spaces, while providing access to each level of the book-wells. Right: photo of a model, book-well one
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The FCCL is a “blocky” building said to go unnoticed within the downtown Atlanta context. People also find it hard to love the building because of its brutalistic appearance clothed in concrete and punctured with only few windows. The interiors other than the main stairway aren’t very loved either. Each floor, if you can imagine is a twenty-five thousand square foot pancake. The floors to ceiling heights appear squished because of the expansive reach of each floor plate. The computers are overused and the books are underused. I personally think the exterior approach and discovery of the FCCL is refreshing eight-story tall building and strong relief from the tall surrounding buildings. I concur that the interiors seem compact and dark.
Top: sketch of the Fulton County Central Library Above: photo taken inside library Right [top]: proposed program Right [bottom]: fourth floor plan where all book-wells intersect at once
OFFICES OFFICES
CONF.
BOOKS
MEETING
BOOKS
MEETING
MEETING
MEDIA
COURTYARD
BOOKS
TEEN
CHILDREN
book book well well three one & two
CONF.
COMMUNITY
CAREER CENTER
CHILDREN’S AUDITORIUM
3 2
1
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The rectangular shape of the bookwells originally did not contrast the “pancake� type floor plate but rather complimented it. In the places where I created openings in the rectangle to allow patrons to access the interior of the book-wells, as well as opening it up for thoroughfares and views. I chose to remove the bands of shelves remaining at the top of the openings. By doing this it transformed the shape from a horizontal-like geometry to a vertical-like geometry. For the interior space, I imagined myself within one of these wells and it still seemed to planar. The geometries still were too similar to the FCCL form. By taking into account the important views from parts of the library, as well as, opportunities to see the windows and reading spaces this gave way to the new form of the book-wells.
Left: diagram of how the book-wells rotate Top: square book-well with shelving bands Below: triangle shaped book-wells with bands removed
The book-wells became more angled and sharp appearing complex and objectified within the over all squareness of the building. It’s objectified because the wells are now aimed at being objects that are inserted within the building rather than placed. Imagine yourself finding your way onto the second floor from the point of the elevators. From the elevator you see the main stairs with the skylights lighting it softly even though you cannot see the skylights. As you approach the stairs by swimming through the sea of public computers you see a glowing glass prism with books upon books in it. There are three of these prisms that look as if they puncture the ceiling because of the stepped up ceiling around the wells. You soon get even closer to the bottom of the first step and look up. You see three floors and four massive circular skylights above you. Suddenly, the clouds cover the sun and what little light entered the library is now dim providing just enough darkness to allow the remaining two story’s of the book-well to grab your attention.
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Left [top]: book-well one, second floor Left [middle]: book-well one, third floor Left [bottom]: book-well one, fourthfloor Top: third floor view to book-well one Right: second floor view from children’s
area to book-well one. Knoll swoop lounge chair collection
The three prisms are now librotis’ (columns) holdings the rest of the book-well stacks. This is the only moment where the book-well appears to be a continuous object inserted into the libraries core. When within the book-well it appears less continuous. Each piece is slightly rotated on each floor centered on a central axis from the book stack below.
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Left [top]: book-well two, second floor view diagram Left [middle]: book-well two, third floor view diagram Left [bottom]: book-well two, fourth floor view diagram Right [in order]: book-well two, second floor; book-well two, third floor; book-well two, fourthfloor Right [top]: second floor view up into book-well two
Breuer’s idea of space comes true. The continuity of connection on each floor of the library meshes and seems to create one space. The bookwells look continuous like columns, but each individually creates am aesthetic contrast to the surrounding library spaces. The prismatic shape gives each of the book-wells a combined poetry that speaks a monumental phrase of establishment within the libraries core. The bookwell says to the patron that looks at it or passes through it.
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Left [top]: book-well three, fourth floor view
diagram
Left [bottom]: book-well three, fifth floor view
diagram
Right [in order]: book-well three, fourth floor; book-well three, fifth floor Above: fourth floor view up into book-well three. Note: traditional furniture around book-well to stress historical importance of the book.
“I am here not placed, but interjected within this concrete block holding an item that you once held dear. It’s an item that once educated the leaders of modern society and an object that once was required to achieve a certain level of competence. Within me is the key that you can still access and enjoy. I house the idea that a library is never failing and that the book will forever remain apart of your society.�
Right: photo of a model, third floor, bookwell one Above: diagram showing how some of the book wells become reading or studying spaces within them