1003927_EPSILON_CHRISTOPHER_CHEN

A_03 THE LIBRARY The High Priestess

PEAK ALTITUDE

SET ME FREE

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OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND DEVOID OF RESPONSIBILITY THIS SPACE O' MINE

ST FEEL

M US TD O

D IN

W IL L

AN OL DF RI EN D

NO TF RO M

FREE DOM CO ME S

E TH

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GIVE ME MORE

He sleeps in his space Lying to himself for calm All alone he dreams

IN R DE OR ORWARD VE F MO TO

R OU IS Y

SOME PLACE IN CHINATOWN

THIS SPACE O' MINE

BEYOND

2020

I

2019

W HERE

I T CA

2018



2016



2014

2013

RELEVANCY

MY OW

R AB ?

F N S

N

Lost within the multitudes of ideas, hidden within a space devoid of movement.

O

ENGAGEMENT

Free from constraints. Of time. Of space. Of others.

Finally movement. But not out of the chair. Into another tale of adventure and mystique.

The dragon roared. The robber escaped. The table was filled.

Day turns to night. People come and go. But the real motion is within the pages. Still, the outside world cannot breach the sanctum of his adventures.

Lost within a lie. Within desires, wishes, fantasies too profound to imagine.

All alone. He dreams.

CONTENTS P_01 THE PROPOSITION

P_02 - 02.2 THE LIBRARY IN THE CITY

P_03 THE LIBRARY AS THE CITY

P_04 - 08 THE PLANS

P_09 - 10 THE PERSPECTIVES

P_11 THE SECTION

P_12 - 12.2 THE SUBSTANCE

A SPACE FOR ALL HOW DO WE BRING STRANGERS TOGETHER?

P_01

The Library As An Interpreter of Sacred Moments

UNITED

WE STAN

D

The High Priestess UPRIGHT: Intuition, sacred knowledge, divine feminine, the subconscious mind REVERSED: Secrets, disconnected from intuition, withdrawal and silence A motherly figure: interpreter of knowledge, sacred moments, and personal experiences.

I believe that the individuality and idiosyncracy of one’s expericences are sacred and precious.

In response to this, my library acts as proponent of the city. A living interpreter for the experiences to be had, allowing people to share in the moments of others.

The observer is given power, agency, and choice, and the library brings them together.

Therefore the building becomes an extension of the city. This highlights an inherent connection between the indivudal and the collective. Thus, the space provides chance encounters and moments, while also encouraging interest in the experiences of others.

It achieves this through the interconnection of spaces, dynamic circulation, semi curated moments within the building, and elements which engage the collective on a intimate level.

BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE WILLING

Borne out of the same genesis, through this united atmosphere, strangers are strangers no longer.

Thus, the High Priestess aims to inexplicably bring strangers together.

WE

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TO O LE

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_THE PROPOSITION

THE HIGH PRIESTESS

OUR SPACE "How do we bring strangers together?"

"Is it by chance?"

“Perhaps. Who knows for sure?”

“I merely interpret their stories.”

am the mediator.

“I The High Priestess of moments and experiences. Of stories, even.”

"How can I hear the stories of others? Can you help me?"

"What about yours? Come, they want to see them too"

"We are listening."

Fig 1.

The High Priestess

An attempt to consolidate the ideas which arose during the mapping exercise. This aided in the manifestation of the library. I took a step back to refine and clarify the nuances surrounding the relationships between the architectural and the social. This helped tremendously when trying to materialise notions of unity, connection, and Mediator, Interpreter, Living Figure the specifics thereof.

This piece highlights the inherent connection between people, place, and identity, the ecosystem of which drives the design.

P_02 CONTEXT

An observation was made that the site was essentially a thoroughfare. People use it as a transitory space between main roads.

Out of this was born a desire to slow people down, to suggest to them that there is more to the site than simply being a pathway between two points. And so, a need for incentive was identified.

The facade serves to offer incentive and interest for indivuduals passing by.

It engages with the street level by providing crevices into which the microcosm within can be seen and felt.

Thus a connection is formed from the individual at street level, to the figure before them, the one and the many: the figure and the collective within.

II A key moment for the design is the dichotomy between the figure and the collective.

As the ethos of the building is to act as an uniting figure, the connection between the observer and interior congregation is key to establishing an incentive to enter the space

I

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The individual on the street is given glimpses into what is an engaging, welcoming space.

B 1_ The curtain is oriented so that in order to enter the building, it must be lifted.

2_ From the street, a glimpse of the material can be seen through the rougher exterior facade.

3_ The patterning is an abstracted visual representation of themes such as identity, place, culture, and familiarity.

_THE LIBRARY IN THE CITY

INCENTIVE + CONNECTION

P_02.2

_THE LIBRARY IN THE CITY

INCENTIVE + CONNECTION

FACADE

Fig. 1 Perspective highlighting the experience at street level.

As stated, this is a key element in establishing the intial connection between the individual and the collective.

This is essentially what breaks the thoroughfare, and transforms it into a key artery of the city.

By establishing the library in this manner, by offering glimpses into the interior space, it gives the street weight, purpose, and significance.

It is through this significance that people will begin to explore the space and connect with it.

The rough concrete exterior contrasts with the myriad of vertical frames and curtains within, forming a dynamic which goes beyond the architectural.

It is the juxtaposition of surface condition and interior space which creates the initial spark of interest which will hopefully lead to many shared experiences betweem the observer and the other patrons of the library.

Moreover, the entry into the building is a three step system which highlights again the notions of unity, shared experiences, and a sense of comfort.

Thus, the facade creates a grounded personal experience which forms the basis upon which the framework of the library can be formed.

Refer to P12 for a continuation of the entry sequence

COLL

ECTIV

E

INDIV

IDUA

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1

P_03

1_ STAFF STORAGE

2

2_ STAFF TOILETS 5

3

MULTI FUNCTIONAL SPACE EFFICIENT AND INTUITIVE

3_ STAFF OFFICE SPACE 4_STAFF MIXED USE AREA 5_KITCHEN

4

II 8 INTERCONNECTED LAYERS VISUAL/AUDIO CONNECTION

7

6

6_ READING SPACE + STUDY SPACE 7_COMPUTER LAB

I

8_ TOILETS 9_ MAIN LIBRARY SPACE

9 P_09

11 DYNAMIC CIRCULATION

G

10_ PUBLIC LOUNGE + FOYER SPACE 10

10

11_ HELP DESK AND STAIRWAYS 12_ CAFE/BOOKSTORE

ENGAGING AND INTERESTING

P_12-12.2

12

HIERACHAL ARRANGEMENT

13_ GALLERY SPACE

13

ORDERED YET CONNECTED

14_ LECTURE THEATRE 14

15_MEETING ROOMS

15

B

_THE LIBRARY AS THE CITY

A FACILLITATOR OF EXCHANGE

P_04 RISE

G

P_12

1_ BOOKSTORE/CAFE 2_ FOYER

2

3_ HELP DESK

RISE

P_10 3

VOID ABOVE

2 1 RISE

_GROUND FLOOR

_THE PLAN

1:100

COLLECTIVE SPACE

0

2m

4m

P_05

7

8

I 4_ MAIN LIBRARY SPACE - ADULT SECTION ABOVE, AND CHILDREN BELOW

P_10

6 RISE

5_ COMPUTER LAB 6_ STUDY SPACE 7_ MALE TOILETS 8_ FEMALE TOILETS

VOID RISE

P_09 P_12.2

4 5

_THE PLAN

RISE

_FIRST FLOOR 1:100

COLLECTIVE SPACE

0

2m

4m

P_06 VOID II 9_ STAFF OFFICE SPACE

9

13

12

10_ STAFF MIXED USE AREA 11_ STAFF KITCHEN 12_STAFF TOILETS 13_ STAFF STORAGE

P_10

VOID RISE

10

11

_SECOND FLOOR

_THE PLAN

1:100

COLLECTIVE SPACE

0

2m

4m

P_07

14

R 13_ CENTRAL GLASS SKYLIGHT 14_ SECONDARY SKYLIGHTS

13

_ROOF

_THE PLAN

1:100

COLLECTIVE SPACE

0

2m

4m

P_08 B

RISE

18_ GALLERY PT II 19_ MEETING SPACES 20_ LECTURE THEATRE

_BASEMENT

_THE PLAN

1:100

COLLECTIVE SPACE

0

2m

4m

P_09 The Heart of the Priestess

The heart of the figure. The space in which the notions of unity, collectivity, and the interpretations of moments are realised.

Again, the curtain serves as a reminder that this is a sacred space. All dispositions are to be respected here.

The suspended bookshelves serve as containers of artifacts. Artifacts given meaning by the people within the library.

The patrons are encouraged to leave particularly interesting and profound reads in the shelves suspended between floors.

This is how the library achieves an intangible connection which unifies the individuals and brings together complete strangers on a personal and meaningful level.

The suspended shelves on the first floor are tailored towards younger readers, and so are arranged lower to the ground, with a maximum of two shelves.

On the suspended floor, the shelves are higher off the floor, and consist of two to three shelves, naturally making the space more suitable for adult reads.

However, anybody can access either floor. There are merely gestural elements.

Nothing about the library is trying to force any connections, physical or otherwise.

_PERSPECTIVES

MOMENTS

Fig 1.

The multi directional visual access propogates the spatial qualities of the library throughout the building.

Whether outside the figure, within, upstairs or down, the atmosphere of the library can be felt.

This is how the library responds to the context.

P_10 Moments

A big part of the scheme is the notion of choice.

The individual is given the agency to share in the experience of others through subtle visual and audio cues. The building does not force any particular movements.

This is achieved through the interconnected spaces, merged programme, continuous dispersion of the distinct bookshelves andomnidirectional visual access throughout the levels.

And so, the scheme aims to connect people through its connected spaces.

The overall space is one littered with smaller spaces propogated within a greater more open whole.

Therefore, the moments of each indivdual becomes an integral part of a greater whole: the library, the haven, the figure.

Every major space in the building has visual access to an adjacent space, creating a unspoken network of moments which add to the holistic nature of the scheme.

The atmosphere was tranquil. People quietly went about their business in the building.

As I entered, I felt at peace. Work this week had been taxing on both my mental and physical state.

Coming into the library had been a good idea.

I ascended the stairs to where I knew I would find the main library space. If you could even call it that.

To me, it was my own personal space in the city.

_PERSPECTIVES

MOMENTS

A place where I could relax and read to get my mind off things which weighed upon me like the world upon the shoulders of Atlas.

Here I feel free.

P_11

STRANGERS NO LONGER UNITED UNDER THE SAME ATMOSPHERE THE LIBRARY BRINGS US TOGETHER

7

THEIR SPACE II

THEIR SPACE I

BEHIND THE SCENES

BEHIND THE SCENES

6

6

ASCENT II

OUR SPACE

OUR INFORMATION

THE HEART OF THE PRIESTESS

A MODERN LINK TO SOCIETY

SHARED MOMENTS I 4

5

MOMENTS OF NOTE

5 ASCENT I

AXIS OF MOTION

1_ Lecture Theatre 2_ Basement Gallery 3_ Ground Floor + Foyer + Cafe/Bookstore

4

3

4_ Main Library Mezzanine 5_ First Floor Level

INTRODUCTION AND GROUNDING

2

6_ Second Floor 7_ Vertical Extent

3

THE GALLERY

SPACE FOR EXPRESSION

1

SHARED MOMENTS II Not to scale for clarity

2

_THE SECTION

LAYERED CONNECTIONS

1

NORTH FACING SECTION

P_12

As the entry is vital to the outcome of this design, the entrance consists of a three part system:

The systematic approach to the induction of new individuals is a testament to the role of people within the city and the built environment

THE BUILDING AND THE FABRIC

The gesture of the lifting of the curtain to enter essentially acts as an agreement: to respect the experiences, disposition and background of others within the space.

_THE INTEREST

The systematic approach to the induction of new individuals is a testament to the role of people within the city and the built environment.

_THE QUESTION

The curtain is symbolic of a space which is welcome to all.

_THE AGREEMENT

THE INTEREST, THE QUESTION, AND THE AGREEMENT

The soft material contrasts with the harder, more rigid exterior conditions to provide a threshold which embodies embracement, comfort and escape within an otherwise cynical landscape , both literally and socially.

The patterning is both unsual yet familiar, reflecting fragmented notions surrounding place, identity, and culture.

Thus, the building thereby embraces the individual.

It is both inanimate and living. A space for all.

The two contrasting conditions work in tandem to create a memorable environment as it acts as a subtle reflection of many buildings throughout the neighbouring context.

This creates an interesting dynamic between the city and the library: they are one and the same, yet not.

A landmark within the city grid to be used in both wayfinding and to be experienced.

_The initial moment of interest

_The proposal for a collective experience regardless of disposition

_The gesture of acceptance. To respect the moments of others

_THE SUBSTANCE

THE SPECIFICS

P_12.2 In John Ruskin's The Seven Lamps of Architecture, he stated: "The column, which i doubt not was the greek symbol of the bark of the tree, was imitative in its origin, and feebly resembled many canaliculated organic structure. ... The decoration proper was sought in the true forms of organic life, and those chiefly human.''

Thus, it is shown that architecture is an organic human representation of the environment.

Here, it is much the same, although moreso used to highlight the social environment and the implications therein.

1_ The suspended bookshelves are holders for books patrons find particularly interesting. This allows for a dissemination of personal experiences throughout the collective.

1 2

2_ The adjacent staircase provides a moment akin to the facade: a crevice into which the internal library experience can be felt.

3_ The large curtain which encircles the library space creates a sense of unity and enclosure, leaning into the idea of a space for all.

1

3

2 _ADDITIONAL NOTES

THE SPECIFICS PT II

3