Cameron Kollath

“I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries.”

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                 -Carl Sagan

 

Public Libraries are a beacon for the pursuit of knowledge and a healthier way of life; their future success will depend on its continued service to the public domain.  We approached this project with not only a careful consideration of the surrounding context, but the intention to create a worth while addition to the melting pot of architecture that is London.

 

Libraries serve as the foundation for the free exchange of information, allowing for an informed, progressive society.  Through the use of steel cantilevers, our design has an approachable lightness while maintaining, through visible structure, the strength, durability, and stability a library is expected to instill in those whole inhabit it.

 

We envision a library that will support the transition to more social driven methods of learning while experiencing a dramatic and continuous change in technology.  The open floor plates allows for an incredibly flexible floor plan as well as providing a sense of transparency.  This allows the building to take on an unexpected lightness despite its extensive programmatic needs.

 

Another key consideration in our design was the requirements for green space which lead us to create multiple, accessible green roof-scapes. By allowing for interaction with the environment at multiple levels, it creates an unconventional experience of both the city and our design for the London Public Library.