LIBRICITY: LIBRARY AS AN URBAN ACTION

Bachelor Thesis

GIU Berlin | Architecture and Urban Design Program | Spring Semester 2022

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. David Calas | TA. Joy Samuel

SINCE THE LAST DECADES AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, LIBRARIES ARE UNDERGOING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. LIBRARIES HAVE BEEN REINVENTING THEMSELVES SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE WWW, THE EMERGING OF THE SMARTPHONES AND UBIQUITOUS CONNECTIVITY, PUTTING ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN NEARLY EVERYONE’S HANDS. THE LIBRARY IS NO LONGER ONLY A REPOSITORY OR HOUSE WHERE TO READ BOOKS BUT A STRUCTURE OF URBAN RELATIONS THAT HAVE MORPHED INTO FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY CENTRES WHICH AIM TO MEET A WIDE VARIETY OF CIVIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS. THEREFORE, LIBRARIES ARE NO LONGER JUST PLACES FOR BORROWING OR READING BOOKS. THEY NEED TO BECOME ARENAS OF A NEW TYPE OF KNOWLEDGE- GATHERING IN OUR URBAN FABRIC REGARDING A CHALLENGING FUTURE.

THE BACHELOR-THESIS-PROPOSAL ENCOUNTERS THE LIBRARY AS AN URBAN ACTOR, AS AN ARENA OF OUR DIGITAL AGE OF MAKING AND CODING. THIS TRIGGERS A COMPLETE RETHINKING PROCESS HOW LIBRARIES OF THE NEAR FUTURE SHOULD WORK. AN ARCHITECTURAL INVESTIGATION THAT PUSHES BOUNDARIES OF PRESENT MINDSETS BY ADOPTING A CHANGED FORMAL AND FUNCTIONAL EXPRESSION. THE GENERAL BACHELOR THESIS FRAMING IS ACCOMPANIED BY URBAN CONSIDERATIONS HOW SUCH PUBLIC BUILDINGS CAN SET OFF AN INCLUSIVE URBANITY PROCESS.