Cottbus Library
The Cottbus Library Location: Cottbus, Germany Architect: Herzog & De Meuron Date of Completion: 2004 Details: The library’s form was derived from the motions of circulation and of a continuing line of sight. This was done in an effort to make a library more navigable. The structure and compact design was implemented to create a more flexible floor plan. This also allowed the architects to further experiment with their ideas.
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Skin as Letters HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Site Cottbus Library Parking Dormitories, Residence Life Academic Cafeteria
COTTBUS LIBRARY, HERZOG & DE MEURON, 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Campus Location Plan PRECEDENT STUDY
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Site Direct Movement
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Organic Movement
Movement HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Site Views from Site
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Surrounding Open Space
Site Views HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Site Vehicular Circulation
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Green Space
Man-Made Organic HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Program Office Space
Service Desk
Storage Cafe Working, Reading Areas Evacuation Stairs, Bathrooms, Utilities Ground Floor
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Open Access Stacks
Successive Floors
Internal Program HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Program Administration: 3,200 sq ft
Business and Management Natural & Environmental Sciences Architecture, Civil Engineering
Public Use: 16,400 sq ft Multimedia Center
Closed Stacks: 4,000 sq ft
Use and Space
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Bibliographies, Encyclopedias, Economic & Legal Sciences
Library Collections
Internal Program HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Parti Immitating the indirect movement circulating around the library, the organic form produces a free plan. The circulation within the building then becomes similar to the organic movement outside the building.
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Organic Form HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Solid & Void COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Free Plan Void HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Public, Semi-public, Private
Public, Semi-public, Private
The Cottbus Library is separated into three different zones: public, private, semi-public. A public zone is the first few floors of general collections and the café area. The semi public floors are the more subject specific collections, then there area business administration areas at the very top of the building. In planner view the floors can each be divided up into those three zones. The evacuation stairwell, elevators, and utilizes are a semi public zone as the public can access most of that area. The private zones are those of closed off storage areas and offices. The public zones include the cafe and the library stacks.
Private
Semi-public Public
Spatial Hierarchy
Private Semi-Public Public
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Public Private HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Spatial Hierarchy
Throughout the library a spatial hierarchy is present. Preference is given to the library stack and open floor space. Then the main public stairwells are called out through the use of vibrant color and bold design. The evacuation stairs and the utilities is tertiary and is placed in compact circles. Within different levels there is a hierarchy as well. There are multiple atriums placed throughout the building to create large communal spaces.
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Space Field HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Structure The structure of Cottbus library is very prevalent when looking at plan. The main structure of the building is a grid of columns piercing through the entire building. There are columns that do not lie within the grid as the columns can also follow the exterior shape of the building. The secondary structure is The utility cores which hold the evacuation stairs and elevators. Interestingly enough the eighteen foot wide spiral staircase is self sustaining and holds no structural loads.
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Piloti Skin HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Circulation
Circulation is provided by several staircases on each floor. The main attraction is the eighteen foot wide spiral staircase which go through nearly every floor of the building. Then the there are also the fire rated stair stacks located within large circular forms. The elevators are also located within these circular forms.
main circulation patterns
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Vertical Circulation HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Circulation The circulation of each floor should also be taken into account. From the book stacks one could easily access one of the three staircases. The stack organized in as simple but effective manner so that when one is within the stacks a stair column can be visible in almost every row.
Horizontal Circulation
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Horizontal Circulation HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Mechanical Systems
The mechanical systems of the Cottbus library are centrally located within the building. The cylindrical structure they are located in pierces every floor and is very prevalent in plan. At every floor the HV/AC and other mechanical systems run parallel to the ceiling.
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
HVAC Risers HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Passive & Sustainability Indirect Sunlight
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Daylighting
Solar Radiation HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Material Taxonomy
Sustainability
The Cottbus library is wrapped in a text based graphic for a very uniform appearance with another inner set of glazing. The inner glazing accounts for ninety percent of the total building surface. A series of ventilation windows are present on the uppermost floors as well as on the first floor. The opaque surfaces in the inner wall denote when an area is closed off and private, such as a storage room.
Glazing Ventilated Windows Opaque Surfaces
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Material Composition HERZOG + DE MEURON
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Skin Envelope
This whole entire building surface is then covered with the uniform shell of text graphics. In this way one could not distinguish closed off storage rooms from that of the reading room areas. This second glazing method also provided more insulation. Since this is entirely a glass building, insulation is paramount. Behind the glazing is a heavy double plane insulation system.
Glazing Heavy Insulation
COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Glazing Insulation HERZOG + DE MEURON
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COTTBUS LIBRARY | BRANDENBURG UNIVERSITY, GERMANY | 2004 ARCH 3101 – 003 • FALL 2013 DEVLIN | HEMINGWAY
Kinetics
The kinetics of the building were also analyzed. A very prominent kinetic feature is that of the casement windows which surround the ground floor as well as the administration floor. Every panel is a casement window with alternating hinges. This provides the everyday occupants with a form of climate control.
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