DIGITAL INFORMATION CENTER / READING HALL IN ATHENS

DIGITAL INFORMATION CENTER / READING HALL IN ATHENS

Papadopoulou Maria / Vagionakis Manos Diploma project / National Technical University of Athes Professors: Gyftopoulos Stavros / Kourkoulas Adreas Advisor: Rossis Nikos School of Architecture / July 2012

Braune Michael (British architect and writer) '' Even if the source information changes in a form unknown to us, the key features of the personal study space will remain largely intact, just because the relationship between man and information does not seem to be influenced by any means.''

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ΠΕΡΙΕΧΟΜΕΝΑ 1. Intro p. 5 2. Mapping the library halls in Athens city p. 12 3. Athens city / Klafthmonos square p. 13 4. Building diagrams p. 15 5. Procedure / Stagesp. 17 6. Building scenario p. 18 7. Represantations p. 19 a. plans p. 24 b. street views p. 27 c. sections p. 31 8. Internal view: bookcase p. 35 9. Internal view: reading hall p. 37 10. Building’s skin p. 42 11. 3d intersection of the construction system p. 45 12.Sendai mediatheque p. 48 13. Investigation p. 52 14. Work model p. 56 15. Mapping the trend: coffee - bookstore in downtown Athens p. 57 16. Bibliography p. 58

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1. Intro Our diploma project consists a research around a new type of library building to which we refer as a digital information center and reading hall for the city center.

Our intention is to design a building of public character, which appeals to the need of the modern resident to come across a living area in the heart of the city , which will provide them with the right conditions for both access to information and to collaborative work and social contact. Therefore, we considered an empty lot adjacent to Klafthmonos Square (and within very close distance to Karytsi and Syntagma Squares) as an ideal one.

The whole idea for the building project stems from thorough study about the building of a library itself. The prominent issues to be examined were the role of a library building in modern society -and specifically the Greek one- and its function as a space, given the fact of the transitional phase we are experiencing from the era of the printed book towards the digital era. We are facing constant changes in technological requirements and an oversupply of information. Information and knowledge perform great leaps and are, thus, everywhere nowadays. They are spread through networks and are always available in any place via digital devices. The screen is key device: just a thin surface, a gateway to any source of information, anywhere at any time. The book, therefore, is being replaced by a pad type. Information is undoubtedly dematerialized, since it is now a digital good, a fact that eliminates the need for its’ preservation in the real space. Based on this axiom, the idea of creating a building for the storage and «consumption» of information in a printed

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form, certainly consists an anachronism for both the contemporary and the future society.

While leaping to a second level of analysis of the aforementioned issues, one could observe that the new technologies related to information (and more specifically the screen device), have clearly contributed to the change of the perception of spatial structures and the way in which built space is experienced. The sense of sight nowadays is overactive and has become the main mean of perception. This has implications for the organization and the emergence of sites related to information, but also to the relationship between user and source of information as well. The contemporary library as a source of information could be as simple as a broad platform that enables and configures the conditions for the utilization of information and the cooperation and coordination of the existing libraries and other information units.

The building-platform seeks to redefine the terms of communication between the user and the information source through forms of cooperative interplay between networks, but also communication between the final users. It envisages the promotion of dialogue and interaction, thus repealing the isolating and introvert trends, towards which modern societies are induced by the urban dominance of digital media.

In this context the synthetic decisions were given shape. We focused on the objective of ensuring contact between the building and the city fabric, as well as among its users. Both the “external” and the “internal” communication (the latter being associated with an overall operational flexibility),

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were expressed by the desire for transparency of the building shell. The space syntax was morphologically realized through a transparent glass cube where events and constant flows take place: flows of people movement, flows of information, flows of gaze and communication.

The main question, however, throughout the whole investigation, remained the existence of the information in its’ conventional form, the form of the typed book and how this fact would affect the activity of the building.

A modern library building is inevitably called to house the real and the virtual world, materiality and non-materiality. So, ultimately, the entire synthetic process was structured on a dipole; form file - digital file. This was also reflected in the synthetic gestures; line - rectangular, narrowly defined plan - open floor plan, forced traffic - free traffic and was furthermore expressed through the choice of the materials; concrete - glass.

The main synthetic initiative features the creation of two groups of distinct spaces. The first one, where old and precious books are kept, represents the storage of information in the conventional sense.

Furthermore it is the site where the conventional functions of the building such as vertical movements-building restrooms, warehouses have been settled. It is the point where material and memory are met, which the users perceive through wondering on the ascending ramp, a spiral movement around the storage of the books. On the other hand, the second site represents the intangible, the contemporary, and offers the possibility for utilization of information and the development of social contact. It is an open space, a bright one, where gaze, movements and flows of information

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intersect.

Another peculiarity of the building was the location of the plot. As already mentioned, it is located in downtown of Athens, at Klathmonos Square, in the historic city quarters, and over the path of the ancient city wall, where the likelihood of existence of Ancient and Byzantine remains is increased.

This issue contributed to a major decision: the box, the glass cube should hang over the possible finds, a fact which also strengthened the desire for transparency of the cube. A further matter arising was the structural system that would give the cube the sense of suspension. After elaborating various scenarios, we finally came up with four metal pillars of large caliber that would create an enhanced structural zone inside the glass box.

This is a loan - reference to the international architecture’s building: the media library at Sendai (by Toyo Ito: Sendai mediatheque).

Undoubtedly, the grade of the cube shell’s transparency posed various issues regarding the building’s thermal (and consequently environmental) performance. For this reason we chose to apply a double skin of glazing. The two glazed surfaces are positioned at a distance, enough to permit the uninterrupted circulation of cool air between them. This is enhanced by the appropriate opening of the inner panes (double glazed, infilled with argon gas and low emissivity coatings), in order to create the chimney effect, so as to discard the warm air from inside the building. In order for overheating and glare to be avoided, we chose to stop the influx of solar radiation on the outer glass skin. Towards this direction, the solution of hybrid dynamic glazing is adopted, the optical properties of which vary passively (they become translucent) when hit by increased direct solar radiation.

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The user can restore the transparent properties of the glass through controls (by applying electrical charge), thus contributing to the overall sense of flexibility and adaptability, which the whole building is imbued with.

Making an overview of the proposal, it is not easy to answer to what extent it meets the needs of a new building type, that of the contemporary library. The digital information center / reading hall incarnates multiple roles into its’ core, such as that of an education facility, a place making people familiar with technology, a social condenser, a centre of cultural and touristic interest. The glass enclave is an area of multiple uses, a set of actions and interactions, a spatial event. Definitely, the proposal constitutes the introduction of an innovative building application to Athens and its’ society, located not in the suburbs but well into the city centre, able to become another landmark for the city and helping to attract interest for a concerted upgrading of the region.

’’ The actual libraries in the digital age we already live, will play a vital role; the one that corresponds to the constant desire for collectivity.’’

Rem Koolhas

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1. Greek National Library 2. Library of Athens Academy 3. Library of the National Statistical Office 4. Library of the human rights institution 5. Library of the German Institute 6. Library of the international law center 7. Law library 8. Library Board of Primary Education academy 9. Library of preschool academy 10. HAU library 11. TEE - TCG library 12. French institute library 13. Library of the department of International Studies 14. Mansion House library 15. Library of the European Parliament Information Office 16. Benakeios library 17. Greek Literary and Historical Archive 18. School of Communication and Media Studies library 19. Library of the political science and public administration school 20. Evonymos ecological library 21. Athens Municipal Library 22. Library the National Bank of Greece

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2. Mapping the library halls in Athens city

23. Library of the National Centre of Productivity 24. Library of the School of Architecture, Building Averof 25. Doxiadis library collection, School of Architecture 26. Library of the Italian Cultural Institute 27. Library of the greek Parliament, Tobacco Factory 28. Library of the Force Academy 29. Gennadius library 30. Music Concert Hall library 31. Libraries of the Faculty of Health Sciences

National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Goudi Complex 32. NTUA Central Library 33. Library of the National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Zografou complex 34. Library of the National Research Foundation 35. Fine Arts Library 36. Library of the Foundation for Mediterranean Studies 37. Library of the center of programing home study 38. New national library, P. Faliro

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3. Athens city, Klafthmonos square

land built environment unstructured environment

bus station metro station parking

pedestrian flows

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4. Building diagrams

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5. Procedure / Stages

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6. Building scenario

elevators vertical movements vertical into the glass box individual work spaces

restaurant exhibition hall library digital media department

digital learning area for children administration / boardroom secreterial/information amphitheater

reading hall / lounge

installations

pc lab main entrance space emergence of the ancient Athens city traces

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7. Representations

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The fact of the location of the land of the building within the boundaries of the footprint of the ancient city wall of Athens played a key role in the setting up of the whole building structure. The building don’t touches the ground but it hovers over any possible discovery during excavation . The ground floor level recedes and is replaced with a vario ramp trail, among the four pillars which support the glass cube and towards the concrete wall and the main building entrance. There is also a stairwell entrance option. Both systems are meeting at the threshold of the entrance of the complex, which functions like a siphon that sucks the flow of the movements of people, visitors and users of the library space

underground plan / installations

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Paparigopoulou street view

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Parnasou street view

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section Α - Α

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section Β - Β

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section D - D

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section C - C

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8. Internal view: bookcases

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9. Reading hall

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Model: the glass box

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Operation of the external glazed unit during solar irradiation transparency / blur

10. Building’s skin Undoubtedly the issue of transparency of the building’s skin creates various problems concerning the cube’s bioclimatic building operation. For this reason we chose to apply a double skin of glass. The first glass is positioned at a distance from the latter, for reasons of smooth air circulation between them, with the appropriate opening of the inner glazing (double glazing with argon and low emissivity film internally) to create the effect of the chimney and discharged to the inductive warm air from inside the building.

In order to avoid overheating and glare, it was chosen to stop the influx of solar radiation on the outer glass skin. Towards this direction, the hybrid solution of dynamic glazing is adopted, the optical properties of which vary passively (they become translucent) while increasing insolation.

The user can restore the situation of the glass by the application voltage, thus contributing to the overall sense of flexibility and adaptability, which governs the whole building.

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Model

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3d dimensional intersection of the supporting operator / floor and coating of the glass cube The same logic of the double skin is being supported also in the case of the roof of the glass cube. The inner skin material is glass while the at outer coating there are aluminum blinds which ensure sufficient shading creating a pleasant environment inside.

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11. 3d intersection of the construction system

Searching the appropriate supporting system operator and structural system in order to secure both the feeling of swinging of the whole the construction and the general internal functional flexibility.

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12. Sendai mediatheque

Type: Library Town or city: Sendai Country: Japan Construction started: 17/12/1997 Completed: 10/8/2000 Opening: 26/1/2001 Cost: 13 billion yen Height: 36.49 m Technical details/ Structural system: steel-ribbed with partial reinforced concrete Floor area: 21,682 m² Design and construction Architect :Toyo Ito

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13. Investigation (a)

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Investigation (b) Building morphology

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14. work models

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15. Mapping the trend: coffee - bookstore in downtown Athens

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16. Bibliography references / sites ACADIA (Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture) (www.acadia.org), International competition held in 1997 on « The Library in the Information Age « , aimed at a wide production of views on the future shape of libraries. In this contest, third place among 650 entries , was won by the group’s proposal of architects NTU : Billy Giannoutsou , Helen Lavender, Sonia Mavrommati, Clea Moriana Dimitris Rotsiou , Athina Stavridou, Natasha Fouskokolaki Angel Psilopoulou and the NTUA Professor Dimitris Papalexopoulos Dimitris Papaleopoulos, Knowledge and artifacts: thoughts on quasi objets Dimitris Papalexopoulos, Digital Regionalism, Libro 2008 Dimitris Papalexopoulos Machines of becoming (1), discipline societies – society control, functional city - cross-town, Notes from the presentations of the MSc Course: Design - space culture, Technologies and architecture, from the overall design to universal management. March 2011 Anthony Vidler, The Third Typology Thomas Cummins, The Gaze Jürgen Seefeldt και Ludger Syré, Portals to the past and the future - Libraries in Germany, 2007 Εκδόσεις Georg Olms Verlag Ηildesheim, Zürich, New York Mark Popovic, Central Public Library Athens, Thesis School of Architecture NTUA, 2008 Mark Popovic, Public Libraries, Lecture School of Architecture NTUA, 2006

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Tonsberg public library, Tonsberg, Norway Lunde+Lovseth http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Norway/T%F8nsberg/T%F8nsberg%20and%20 N%F8tter%F8y%20Library Usera public library,Madrid, Spain Abalos +Herreros http://www.herrerosarquitectos.com/EN_Ind_Proyectos.html http://www.herrerosarquitectos.com/EN_Ind_Proyectos.html Roberston Branch Library, Steven Ehrlich Architects, Los Angeles ,USA http://www.arcspace.com/architects/ehrlich/rbl/rbl.html Phoenix central library, Arizona USA,Will Bruder,DWL architecture http://architecturerevived.blogspot.com/2008/10/phoenix-public-library.html DUT libray,Mecanoo http://www.mecanoo.nl/Default.aspx?tabid=116&DetailId=821&pcode=A126 Cultural center of Herten, Germany http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/sijpkes/arch304/winter2001/plin8/passive_solar/schempp.html Mt.Angel library, Mt angel, Oregon, USA, Alvar Aalto http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/mountangel/ Multimedia center , Hamburg, Germany, Foster and partners http://www.floornature.com/projects-commerce/project-foster-and-partners-multimedia-centre-hamburg-4277/ http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/labeverly/hamburg/1153065960/450px-hh-rotherbaum3.jpg/tpod.html Mediatheque ‘’Le Carre d’Art’’,Nimes-Norman Foster http://www.architectour.net/opere/index_singola.php?contenuto=galleria&id=5166&width=795 &height=612&tipo=0 http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/0344/default.aspx Boston Mediatheque http://www.ottocad.net/blog/?p=234

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Mediatheque de Sendai,Toyo Ito http://architecturalmoleskine.blogspot.com/2010/09/toyo-ito-sendai-mediatheque.html Mediatheque Emile Zola, Montpellier,France http://sevcommunication.com/Bibliotheque-de-Montpellier Médiathèque Jean-Pierre Melville, Paris, France -Daniel +Patrick Rubin http://de.structurae.de/photos/index.cfm?JS=16426 Mediatheque de Venissieux, Lyon, France, Dominique Perrault http://www.perraultarchitecte.com/en/projects/2517-lucie-aubrac_media_library.html Mediatheque de Noisy-Le-Sec, Noisy-Le-Sec ,France http://www.architectureyannbrunel.com/CThNoisy.htm Munster city library Bolles + Wilson , Munster Germany http://www.bolles-wilson.com/flash/projekt_flash.php?projektID=49 Peckham library ,London, UK http://architecturerevived.blogspot.com/2010/04/peckham-library-london-uk.html http://www.calimera.org/ http://www.gunet.gr/ http://openarchives.gr/ http://www.alfavita.gr/linkspsifiakesbibliothikes.php http://www.ekt.gr/content/display?prnbr=5171 http://www.smartarch.org/index.php?#article:4 http://nedhardy.com/2012/04/02/a-gallery-of-the-worlds-most-amazing-libraries-23pics/ *(τελευταία επίσκεψη στους ιστότοπους την 10/07/2012)

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While the carrying through and presentation of the thesis project, the following design software was used: Autocad, Archicad, Rhino, Studio Max, V-ray Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, In-design Catalyst EX (for the 3d printer machine where the columns of the model were plotted)

Thanks to our professors: S. Gyftopoulos, A. Kourkoulas for their directions, to the static engineer N. Rossi, to our fellow students: Alexis, Vasiliki, Vasiliki and Angeliki for their invaluable help, to the NTUA fab lab, to all our friends for their contribution and support during our effort.

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