A Place In The Park | Hyde Park, London by smruthi mohan

A PLACE IN THE PARK

| Library Hyde Park, London

There are times when silence speaks so much more loudly than words of praise to only as good as belittle a person, whose words do not express, but only put a veneer over true feelings, which are of gratitude at this point of time Inspirations and critique makes individual to do better, an individual grows through such individuals. We would to acknowledge a number of individuals who have played a pivotal role in the actualization of this project. We are indebted to Ar. Kiran Kumar, my harshest critic, for having countless hours of mind opening discussion about architecture and design throughout Utterly generous with his time, his role in offering tireless feedback and evolving drafts steered me towards the fruition of this project. The travel and learning during this project has only been a magnificent experience. We sincerely thank to Mr. B L Manjunath, for his insightful expertise on the structural detail and framework of this project. We wish to offer heartfelt gratitude to our guides Ar. Dakshayini Patil and Ar. Shantesh Kelvekar for their useful information concerning London and Hyde Park and also for their guidance. We would also like to thank Ananya A Jain, Meghna Vijayakumar and Amod A Shah whose constant support and enthusiasm gave us the motivation to move forward and complete the project successfully.

CONTENTS

PREMISE

PRE DESIGN ANALYSIS

IDEA

DESIGN

VIEWS AND DETAIL DRAWINGS

MODEL

PREMISE

London-literatureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s labyrinth of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;lost soulsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is one of the favorite settings for intellgentsia who have nurtured the city into the greatest hub of intellectual revolution. The city has a great reading culture among its residents, who like to drown into their books looking for some respite from the fast paced metropolitan life. Libraries all over the world have had a great impact on the society and people. Creating and providing an outlet for technological advancements, introducing and nurturing cultural artifacts, supporting the rise of various religions and helping to maintain a sense of historical structure, they have managed to help communities survive and thrive via numerous artistic outlets. The earliest known library was a collection of clay tablets in Babylonia in the 21st cent. B.C. The extensively catalogued library of Alexandria was the most noted libraries of the early age.Libraries are no longer the convenient source of information and have seen dwindling engagement among people. The book culture is on the decline and so is thought and originality. Internet may have been a boon but it also serves incomplete information, curbs thought process and encourage plagiarism.

BRIEF

The aim of the competition was to erect a ‘Public Library in Hyde park’ that would promote reading culture among the general public and visitors. To create a 21st century ‘library in a park’ paradox that would incorporate the social factor in an anti-social built form like a library. It would further become a useful prototypical public resource and an architectural landmark within the park that would even attract nonreaders to visit the place. The library would strive to become a zone in the park where people could gather, share, exchange and spread knowledge on a daily basis, thus promoting imagination and creativity, rationality and intellectual thought process. To create a landmark and a useful public resource for the people of the park.

CONTEXT

Hyde Park is one of the largest parks of London and one of its royal parks. Spread over an area of 325 acres, it is contiguous with Kensington gardens, being divided by the Serpentine and the Long water. It is one major attraction for the people of London who flock here every day to relax, have fun and savor the natural environment. The park is also a major venue for concerts, exhibitions and festivals.

P R E - D E S I G N A N A LY S I S

The analysis started with classification based on spatial aspect with engagement of public into the site.The diagrams depict how the built would impact the movement and nature of activities on the site. Longer lines suggest a more formal movement into and through the site (from the city -side). Shorter lines suggest easy and free movement towards the lake -side (with respect to the nature of immediate context).

Second diagram depicts a mix of activities both formal and informal intertwined to create a dynamic flow through the length of the site. At certain places, movement is formal due to presence of a harder threshold.The rest being softer threshold s depicting informal activities, hence enabling free movement through the site.

P R E - D E S I G N A N A LY S I S

The diagrams show the interaction between the site and the surroundings.

P R E - D E S I G N A N A LY S I S

The diagrams show various iterations of thresholds and transitions intertwined to create a dynamic flow through the length of the site.

P R E - D E S I G N A N A LY S I S

Exploration at sectional level were made to determine the public flow pattern cause due to the physical barrier of the library space.

Schematic diagrams on the left show various massing options with respect to the city, park and the lake.

01 split masses with free ground 02 split masses to have elevation viewing deck 03 backdrop - lake | barrier - city 04 built as barrier 05 central mass with fore and rear as Plaza 06 open edge towards water 07 open edge towards the city 08 partially submerged built to create a viewing deck on top 09 elevated plaza 10 massed built 11 built as landscape 12 fragments projecting out

IDEA

The ideation process started off with by positioning the approximate footprint in different zones and configurations to analyze the impact of built on the park and people, and vice versa. OPTION 1: INTROVERTED APPROACH This deals with creating a sense of order within the site by positioning a singular mass, thus defining the edges of the site. This would result controlled footfall into the open and the built. Here, Sense of a place > space Visual impact > experience of the space This reflects more of the city than the park, hence creating a landmark of a structure. OPTION 2 : EXTROVERTED APPROACH. This deals with defining the building rather than the edges of the site with in park, where the whole park is considered as the site and not just the demarcated portion. Hence the territory is undefined , essence of the park is retained. The building is a hard transition, perception is more free , visually and experientially. It is lighter and free and compliments the larger context of the park.

IDEA

CULMINATION OF BOTH The mass acts as a datum and a backdrop for the lake where the positioning of it is on the edge closer to the lake facilitating a closer visual of it from within the building. Foreground is larger hence taking a person longer time to analyze and understand the environment created. This creates an impactful visual of the building, Where the building more of an physical and visual thoroughfare rather than a barrier. The foreground acts as the plaza for varied activities. Threshold on a larger scale with respect to the park. When seen from the city, it seems like the beginning of the park, when seen from the park, it seems like the start of the city.

DESIGN

ORDERING PRINCIPLE

Taking into regard the preceeding analysis, the built was positioned towards the lake side, parallel to the existing path.Dimensions of the building were decided based a grid system consisting 3x3 grid, the final dimensionof the building being 12x93m Solid cores that formed the structural system for the building too are a multiple of the grid. Off the 12m, 3m on the rear side, is kept free for visual connect through and through. Another 3m strip (towards the lake side) is added as wooden and steel pods thar are connected to the built , which act as quiter private spaces such as individual cubicles or office spaces. Public restrooms (also following the grid (6x6m)) were placed on the periphery to cater to the needs of the park community.

INTRODUCTION

The library molds itself as a simple, transparent skeleton that blends with its surroundings; it is a semi-porous insert of order within the natural chaos of the park. The intent is to bring conscious willingness of accessing a library, building, but through

about a shift from the to a subconscious act not just by entering the the mere existence of the space.

It takes its shape as a transparent portal to the park, through which the activities within the building are perceived, and not the building itself. This is achieved by positioning solid cores forming the structural system of building along its length, housing spaces that aid the functioning of the library. Being the only solid enclosures within the transparent skin of the building, they mimic the majestic trees of Hyde Park. Residue becomes the library, fluctuating with varying levels of visual porosity. Opportunistically exploiting the scenic beauty of the water and the park, the library is pushed to the rear, enabling the park community to across, also engage with the primary program. One has to tread between a series of mounds which subtly define the pathway to reach the building. This unimposing landmark becomes a backdrop for the activities of the park, constantly reminding the users, of the relationship between the park and the city.

ZONING DIAGRAM

AREA PROGRAM

ENTRANCE AREA Entrance Area and Main lobby Registration and Information General Purpose storage Periodical Section Lending Library

176 73 09 40 40

sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm

09 135 42 01 60

sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm

36 145 105 60

sqm sqm sqm sqm

09 40 169 04 10 52

sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm

MEET, STUDY AND WORK Reception and Storage Individual And Group spaces Conference Room Cloak Roam Hobby and Training Centre PUBLIC AREA Souvenir Store Coffee Bar and Library Exhibition Space Deck CHILDREN'S LIBRARY Cloak Room and Security Parents' Lounge Reading Area Restroom Pantry and Napping Area Play Area

LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION Waiting lounge Reception Supervisor's office Conference room Surveillance room General staff area

41 sqm 05 sqm 13 sqm 23 sqm 09 sqm 80 sqm

REFERENCE LIBRARY Reference area Digital Lab Individual reading area Group work area Copy centre Restrooms

260 100 100 100 09 09

sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm

AUDITORIUM

190

sqm

73 170 50 65 22 09

sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm

ARCHIVAL SECTION Reception Exhibition Area Gallery Office Restrooms Storage space PUBLIC RESTROOMS

144

sqm

ACQUISTION SECTION Incoming and receiving area Office

20 34

sqm sqm

26 47 23 11 12

sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm

310 60

sqm sqm

Air Handling Unit Installation and Server room Technical inventory storage Sanitation Storage Restrooms Break room

36 25 09 07 09 62

sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm sqm

PLAZA

350

sqm

INFORMATION CENTER

sqm

CAFETERIA

200

sqm

CATALOGING, PROCESSING Office Cataloged item processing Book binding and restoration Pantry Restrooms MAIN STORAGE FACILITY Main storage Workstations TECHNICAL SERVICE AREA

A N A LY T I C A L D I A G R A M S

ROOF PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15

Serpentine lake Entrance Lobby Serial desk Children's Library Office Napping area Pantry Restroom Informal seating Play area Outdoor Playarea Janitor's store Reception Desk Training/Hobby zone Storage

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Temporal Gallery Co-working space Court Meet,Work,Study Coffee Bar Serving Counter Souvenir Store Deck Moat Plaza Acquisition Section Information center Public Plaza Viewing Deck Landscaping Public Restrooms

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Individual workstation Waiting lounge Supervisor's office Conference area Survillence room Office Reference Library Copy Centre Digital Lab

41 42 43 44 45

Lounge PR Office Multi-PurposeHall Pantry Group workstation

08 Restrooms 13 Reception Desk 15 Storage

UPPER BASEMENT PLAN

46 47 48 49

Archival Gallery Exhibition space Counselling rooms Archival Section

57 58 13 15 24

Cafeteria Kitchen Reception Desk Storage Moat

LOWER BASEMENT PLAN

50 51 52 53 54 55 56

Cataloging section Office Main storage facility Workstation Breakroom Services Server room

08 Restroom 12 Janitor's store 15 Storage

S O U T H E L E VAT I O N

E A S T A N D W E S T E L E VAT I O N S

N O R T H E L E VAT I O N

LONGITUDINAL; SECTION central court

CROSS SECTION central court

EXPLODED AXONOMMETRIC

MEZZANINE ROOF COFFER

SKIN

LIBRARY FLOOR

STRUCTURAL CORES

PUBLIC FLOOR

MOUNDS

EXISTING VEGETATION

SITE

EXTERIOR VIEWS

COFFEE BAR

20 Coffee bar 21 Serving counter 22 Souvenir store 08 Restroom 15 Storage

COFFEE BAR

20 Coffee bar 21 Serving counter 22 Souvenir store 08 Restroom 15 Storage

INFORMAL LIBRARY

18 Court 19 Reading area 23 Deck 08 Restroom

INFORMAL LIBRARY

18 Court 19 Reading area 23 Deck 08 Restroom

GALLERY AND HOBBY CENTRE

13 14 15 16 17

Reception desk Hobby center Storage Gallery Co workng space

24 Moat

ENTRANCE

01 02 03 13

Entrance Lounge Serial edsk Reception desk

08 Restroom 12 Janitor's store 15 Storage

CHILDREN'S LIBRARY

04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

Children's library Cloak room/office Napping area Pantry Restroom Seating area Play area Outdoor play area

ADMINISTRARTION AND LOUNGE

33 34 35 36 37

Waiting area Supervisor's office Conference room Surveillance room Office

08 Restroom 15 Storage

OFFICE

33 34 35 36 37

Waiting area Supervisor's office Conference room Surveillance room Office

08 Restroom 15 Storage

REFERENCE LIBRARY

38 Reference library 08 Restroom

REFERENCE LIBRARY

38 Reference library 08 Restroom

REFERENCE LIBRARY

38 Reference library 39 Copy center 40 Digital workstation

D I G I TA L W O R K S TAT I O N S

38 Reference library 39 Copy center 40 Digital workstation

REFERENCE LIBRARY

38 Reference library 41 Lounge 08 Restroom 12 Janitor's store 13 Reception desk

P R I VAT E W O R K I N G S TAT I O N S

38 Reference library 41 Lounge 42 Private workstation 08 Restroom 12 Janitor's store 13 Reception desk

M U LT I P U R P O S E H A L L

42 Office 43 Multipurpose hall 44 Pantry 05 Cloak room 08 Restroom

A R C H I VA L G A L L E R Y

46 Archival gallery 47 Exhibition space 08 Restroom 15 Storge 24 Moat

M O AT

46 Archival gallery 47 Exhibition space 08 Restroom 15 Storge 24 Moat

PLAZA AND INFO CENTRE

27 Information center

ACQUISITION

SECTION AND

PUBLIC TOILETS

26 Acquisition section 31 Public restrooms male and female

CAFE

38 Reference library 39 Copy center 40 Digital workstation

MODEL

A B H I J E E T M A N J U N AT H | M A M AT H A S H I VA P PA | S M R U T H I M O H A N