TRANSITIONING INTO THE DIGIVERSE

Breaking off into 2 independent units to design a new library on sector 100, this concept aims to reinvent the contemporary library and envision a new library typology in the future.

Concept B: The project is split into 2 main phases: Phase 1 explores the physical library as a social information hub which was learnt as the primary role of a contemporary library. The physical library will look to explore the role of walls within its spaces, questioning the need for walls as the world looks for more flexible spaces. Within this physical library, people are able to enter through the university's library network through an immersive virtual technology that transitions the project into phase 2: creating a digital library.

Atmospheric Collage of phase 1

A wall might be a structure which provides security and sometimes carries the weight of a roof to form a shelter. A wall can divide an interior and an exterior, lead the movements inside a building or may materialize a border, divide two properties or even, - physically and symbolically -, become a barrier between two different regions. In some cases an enlarged enclosure may host a space in itself: the inhabitable wall hides an ambiguous domain within its thickness, an interstitial area on the brink between two conditions: inside and outside.

“Not just a delimiter, the wall also connects.” (Holtrop writes) “As Dutch architect Wim van den Bergh puts it: ‘You need a border to be able to unite.’  ”

Three types of walls are used as pretext for three dialectical experiments:

In “The single wall”, the first one, the wall acts as a one-sided delimiter, just like in Pompeii and in a project for three dwellings by Mies.

“The double wall” shows, instead, the wall’s connective quality and the creation of public space like in Piranesi’s Campo Marzio.

Finally, “The more than double wall”, the spatial conclusion, acts as the formal reversal of the second experiment: here, the structure is uninterrupted and the buildings are comparable to the poché and the interstitial is a figure-figure relationship.

The image above is a combination of precedent projects that had an element which was taken as an idea to help develop our project.

This concept begins by rethinking the use of walls within rooms by exploring how we are able to define space through planar elements.

Through quick iterative models of unfolding planes, we created a series of spaces which are defined by:

a) roof plane - the overhang defines space through its sheltered area. Although the space is open underneath it, a zone is defined through the area it shelters.

b) wall planes - the wall planes has the active role of separating spaces creating a permanent division within a sheltered space. The height and length of the wall planes changes the way a space is read through a volume. A wall that falls short of the roof suggests a temporary barrier that separates the immediate ground level whilst allowing the higher spaces to be open. A wall that sits short horizontally creates a temporary division within that space, thus creating 2 open rooms.

c) columns - Columns do not enclose a space completely, however it does enforce the spatial zoning that it defines. Its effect results in a strong spatial definition whilst retaining an open environment.

d) floor - The floor plane which is independent from the ground plane also has a role in defining space through its recognition as interior space regardless of the openness created by the lack of walls.

As we created composite models through the combination of our iterative models, we can begin to start reading the volumes created/separated by the planes with a role of its own. The more enclosed space begins to read as an isolated space, whilst the more open ones will begin to read as a corridor or an atrium spaces.

I then transitioned from physical model making into digital model making, creating a more complex model that now starts to explore the use of glass and more composite spaces.

The model explores the use of columns, glass and planes to create introverted and extroverted spaces. I also started to add a bit of furniture to start hinting at the role of these spaces. The corridor with a bench may seem like an extroverted space, however, the bench which is wide enough for 1 or 2 person suggest it might be more of an introverted space.

Atmospheric Collage of phase 2

With the rise of digital technology such as VR and AR, our project looks to create what a future library would be like; through considering a speculative development of these technologies which would be included to supplement learning.

FEEDBACK FROM CRIT:

Explore the use of cardboard as a potential for materiality,

The use of stone, but in a light manner, perhaps as some sort of screening like alabaster or a veneer.

Stone, through the mimicry of its tectonics, the referencing of stone rather than stone as a material.

Honestly: spent a good 3 minutes talking about cardboard... didn't really get much out of it other than that.

IDEAS TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE PROJECT:

Extend the library beyond its current footprint, through using the tectonics of the folding/unfolding planar elements to create little follies/pavilions that is spread across the campus that references the library. Potentially connecting back to the library through its digital network, otherwise it can just be a bench for people to read: extending library space.

The follies can have some form of narrative which may potentially be connected through other follies, encouraging users to explore the follies which ultimately leads back to the main library space.

The stories can alternative/grow as time goes on.