seattle's public library

by:

Farheen Bano

R E A S E A R C H. . . . . . .

Critical Appreciation of a Project

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

GENERAL. . . . . . .

• Location: Seattle,

Washington

• Architects: OMA & REX

• Architect: Rem Koolhaas

• Structural Engineer: Arup

& Magnusson Klemencic

Associates

• Square Footage: 362,987-

square-foot

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

LOCATION. . . . . . .

Budget: $165 million,including $10 million for a temporary location during construction

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

CONCEPT. . . . . . .

OMA director Rem Koolhaas says- “The modern library, especially in a cybercity such as Seattle, must transform itself into an information storehouse aggressivelyorchestrating the coexistence of all available technologies.”

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

PROGRAM. . . . . . .

There are five programmatic“platforms,” blocks of floors designed for a unique purpose: parking, staffarea, meeting rooms, books, and offices.

The platformsalternate with four large, open floors: a childrens’ area, Living Room,Mixing Chamber, and reading room—all places where people can meet, search the Web, or just sit and read.

Diagram of main functional areas (section)Source: http://archplanbaltimore.blogspot.in/2014/07/three-libraries-seattle-stuttgart-and.html

“OMA’s solution is simple andcomplex at the same time,” says Jacobs

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

SHAPE & FORM. . . . . . .

The architects pushed and pulled the platforms almost 50 feet out of vertical alignment with each other to capture light and views. Asmuch as OMA enjoys casting itself as technician not artist, there’s an aesthetic at work, even when it verges on anti-aesthetic.

The sky-blue, diamond-patterned steel grid that supports the glass cladding spans the distance between the offset platforms ingreat, angled planes.

Block ModelSource: http://archplanbaltimore.blogspot.in/2014/07/three-libraries-seattle-stuttgart-and.html

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

CONTEXT. . . . . . .

With its aggressive silhouetteand the apparent scalelessness of its diamond-grid cladding, Illuminated at night, it glows like a giant X-ray, exposing its vital organs through its exoskeleton.

Night ViewSource: http://archplanbaltimore.blogspot.in/2014/07/three-libraries-seattle-stuttgart-and.html

“Its a machine that fragments andreconstitutes the city around it,” says

Koolhaas

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

CONTEXT. . . . . . .

Projecting forms (supported by enormouscantilevered trusses) reach for views. The steeply sloping site— two floors in a cityblock (opposite)—adds to the kinetic effect. The Fourth Avenue entrance (near left) opens to a childrens’ area. Thegridded curtain wall peels away to form an arcade at the main,Fifth Avenue entrance

“Its a machine that fragments andreconstitutes the city around it,” says

Koolhaas

This sequence of images illustrates the approach to the Seattle Central Library by a pedestrian walking North on 5th Avenue Source: http://architectureinmedia.wordpress.com/tag/concept-book

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

SPATIAL ORGANISATION. . . . . . .

Fifth Avenue entrance on the uphill side of the full-block site, into a dramatic three-story volume that appears larger than what seems possible from theoutside. Appropriately dubbed the Living Room, it’s the library’s—and Seattle’s—largest and most inviting public space. Fiction collections, a Teen Center, a café, a shop, and service-desk areas alternate with computer desks and squishy rubber couches.

“Its a machine that fragments andreconstitutes the city around it,” says

Koolhaas

This sequence of images illustrates the approach to the Seattle Central Library by a pedestrian walking North on 5th Avenue Source: http://architectureinmedia.wordpress.com/tag/concept-book

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

SPATIAL ORGANISATION. . . . . . .

Photomural carpets of grass andLeaves float on the woodfloors like giant throw rugs .Wood-clad terraces descend through an auditoriumfollowing the site’s steep slope and seamlessly linking the Living Room to the childrens’ area two levels below.

 Building interior. Photo by Chris Schroeer‐Heiermann. Source: IMAGINATIVE CONTENT AND BUILDING FORM IN THESEATTLE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

SPATIAL ORGANISATION. . . . . . .

The outrageous hot-pink curved hallways threaded among the fourth-floor meeting rooms. Fluorescent-green escalators ascend from the Living Room todeliver patrons to a huge service desk at the center of the fifth-floor mezzanine. This Mixing Chamber places librarians, reference materials, and public-access computers all in one place. Patrons need not wander from one department to another.

 Building interior. Photo by Chris Schroeer‐Heiermann. Source: IMAGINATIVE CONTENT AND BUILDING FORM IN THE SEATTLE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

SPATIAL ORGANISATION. . . . . . .

The well-lit, generously sized levels invite browsing, butshortcuts through the stacks are available by stair or elevator for those who know exactly what they want.

 Building interior. Photo by Chris Schroeer‐Heiermann. Source: IMAGINATIVE CONTENT AND BUILDING FORM IN THESEATTLE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM & ELEMENTS . . . . . . .

Goal: Give the illusion of floating, offset boxes , while minimizing columns and transfer

girders.

Solution: Columns carry gravity loads, while diamond grid and steel perimeter trusses

oppose wind load and earthquake loads.

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM & ELEMENTS . . . . . . .

• Each platform has different structural system. • To minimize column and girders, many columns are skewed to connect to each other in plan. • Columns at corners were pushed back to give the floating effect.• Cantilevers extend up to 52 ft, so skewed yellow columns support the loads. • Skewed yellow columns transfer gravity loads and maximize counterbalancing opportunities. • Skewed columns create thrust, which are then transferred to the floor diaphragm that then connect• to the central core or other columns. • In substructure slabs, thrust is taken by extra reinforcing steel. • Perimeter trusses resist lateral loads and transfer gravity loads to ground.

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

OVERLOOK. . . . . . .

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

OVERLOOK. . . . . . .

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

DISTINCTIVE EXTERIOR SKIN. . . . . . .

• 10,000 glass diamond panels,

• 4,644 tons of steel,

• 165,000 feet of aluminum

• In general the structure is composed of both

load-bearing and seismic systems. The

loadbearing system, in the form of columns

and beams, supports the elevated platforms

containing program spaces.

Custom curtain wall system• Why it has to be Diamond-shaped

windows? Actually, it is a second

structure, providing additional bracing

against earthquakes and wind.

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

GRAVITY LOAD TRACING. . . . . . .

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

ROUTE FOR GETTING A BOOK. . . . . . .

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

ROUTE FOR MEETING AND MEETING FRIEND. . . . . . .

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

CIRCULATION. . . . . . .

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

BUILDING WALK THROUGH. . . . . . .

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

BUILDING WALK THROUGH. . . . . . .

SEATTLE’S CENTRAL LIBRARY…………..

BUILDING WALK THROUGH. . . . . . .

THANK YOU . . .

R E A S E A R C H. . . . . . .

References1. Olson.S., Thanks to oma’s blending of cool information technology and

warm public spaces, seattle’s central library, Architectural Record 07, 2004 Mcgraw-hill Companies, New York. 2004, pp-89

• Julie Brand ZOOK, Sonit BAFNA, IMAGINATIVE CONTENT AND BUILDING FORM IN THE SEATTLE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY, Proceedings: Eighth International Space Syntax Symposium, Edited by M. Greene, J. Reyes and A. Castro. Santiago de Chile: PUC, 2012.