Latest Design Iteration and Structural Concepts

Sorry, this is going to be a little long...but just to reiterate, my concept is to create a satellite to the BPL - an annex that breaks with the rigid formality and protectionist ideals of the traditional library. This is a response to a tendancy for people to prefer more relaxed work environments that are centered around social environments, such as cafes and book stores.

I think the traditional library excludes a large percent of the population, who wish to work and access its resources, because it creates an environment unsuitable to their habits.

My satellite, would offer, several different workspaces that vary in "loudness" which could be used for individual work, club meetings, business meetings, job interviews, etc, etc, etc. It would also offer a cafe, a small lecture space, auditorium, computer area, free wi-fi throughout, loaner laptop computers, limited magazine, newspaper, and book stacks that are set up on a 'browsing' basis, not a rigid system. Being part of the BPL, however, it would also give access to the main collection. Requests can be put in at a circulation desk, and every hour or so, a truck would bring requested material back and forth from the big library.



This is an the massing that I was initially drawn to from our first massing study. I liked how it worked with the site, being on a corner, and how it had somewhat of a porosity...which could open opportunities for it to express a welcoming feel. It began to disolve a fabric of continuous, stuck together, buildings.



It had some issues though...it was comprised of separate, very vertical structures, that would not lend themselves to practical circulation. Also, they were still somewhat rigid and sterile...something I was trying to get away from with this new library.




Above is a program study that I did to study ways that the programmatic elements could arrange themselves...I plan to do more of these as I progress, however, I think I have a basic understanding of how they will organize.

In my next (and latest) iteration (see below) I tried to literally combine the forms produced by the program study, with my initail massing concept. The idea is to use the organic and highly functional program organization to hover/hang "freely" within the rigid, vertical masses, and begin to contrast and breakdown their formal character.



I also rotated the western two vertical masses so that they connect fully with the neighboring building, and create an 'opening' along the facade along Newbury, for a main entrance. The main program spaces hover within the vertical masses and the vertical masses primarily become circulation and support space (bathrooms, storage, mechanical).

I welcome feedback as to the direction things are going. In my next steps, I will continue to refine my concept and manipulate both my program and form to bring it through another iteration.

Structural Concepts



Essentially, thus far, my building consists of vertical, tower-like elements, with horizontal masses that hang, bridge, and hover between them. The intent for the vertical massing, is that internally, they can be vertically open and not require regular and stacked floor plates. I think the diagrid structural system will be most suitable for that. I believe (someone please clarify) that the diagrid system will essentially turn the entire mass into a big shearwall, carry most of the load through the exterior structure, and require a minimum of internal, horizontal bracing. This can be seen in the top sketch above.

The second sketch is an alternative, more traditional structural system, using a steel grid and floor plates. This system, I believe, will limit how open my structures can be on the inside. The advantage to this however, is that it will be more suited to carrying the loads of the horizontal structures/spaces. If I use the diagrid system, described above, the horizonatal structures/spaces will have to be more self-supporting.

The third sketch shows a simplified diagram of how the horizontal structures will "hover" within the vertical massing. I think the structural system of these elements will be a more traditional steel grid with floor plates, due to their horizontal nature and because they are mostly only one storey in height.

Thats where I am....I hope to get some good feedback.