THE BOOKSTORE OF THE ACADEMY OF ARTS

In the upcoming project aimed to pay attention to the following points and standards, which are briefly referred to as follows:

• Valuation and proportionality of the design with the main building: Since the Academy building is a durable and specially designed structure, in its renovation, an attempt has been made to use these characteristics in a contemporary way. The selection of materials such as wood, brick, and concrete, as well as colors compatible with Iranian architecture, is influenced by this approach. The use of these elements pays tribute to the main building.

• Low-cost design:

To reduce project costs as much as possible, efforts have been made to reuse existing materials. For example, the current libraries with a new appearance (color) will be reused in the first section. In the second section, floors have been designed using inexpensive and accessible materials, which have a new appearance while being coordinated with the first section.

• Encouragement of people to read and buy books:

The designed space is attractive enough to encourage people to browse through the books, read summaries, and ultimately buy them. The readability of the space is such that as soon as the person enters, they get a general view of the presented books, and the selection becomes easy for them. Regarding the ground coils in the library design, although it is suggested that the same split system be used in the second section as in the first, the existing coils can be hidden behind the porous color boxes for air circulation.

Finally, with all these features in mind, we have come up with a design that focuses on performance as its main feature. Despite its simplicity and speed of execution, the design is durable and free from passing trends.

• Flexibility of the design:

Unfortunately, in most projects, neglecting this point leads to the user making unforeseen changes to the design based on their needs, which after a while will cause the design to deviate completely from its original goals. In the proposed design, this problem is solved by simple and modular design, allowing the user to easily increase or decrease the shelves and move them without disrupting the overall design.

Some of the elements and factors that have had an impact on creating an attractive spatial design include:

1.Categorizing books and designing title signs

Designing thematic signs made of colored Plexiglas and placing them perpendicular to the floors in a way that catches the eye immediately upon entering and guides the person towards their favorite section. Additionally, colored floors in each section contain reference books of the same color. Furthermore, the connection of title signs to the metal frame of the library allows for easy movement for the user.

Our suggestions: They are introduced weekly to readers by the Academy of Arts and include books that are hung on the sales counter in the first section, and the person can use them while waiting in line at the cash register.

Gift Suggestions: Each section includes books that are placed on shorter floors.

2.Introducing books under different titles

In addition to the new release section that was among the client’s requirements and was placed in the central section of the bookstore, other sections have been scattered around the different points to introduce books to readers and simplify book selection for them, including:

Bestsellers: This section is located on the divider wall of the bookstore and includes books that have had the highest sales in recent months.

Bestseller Wall: This wall, which is one of the recommended reading sections, is located exactly between the two spaces and in its previous location, and with changes such as creating more openings to establish maximum communication between the two spaces and brickwork, in addition to being a reminder of the brickwork of the main building and bearing its address, offers a new look and new suggestions. Reference books and books that have won international or domestic awards are placed in color boxes inside each compartment. The color of these boxes is the same as the sign of the corresponding section.

3. Predictive Spaces for Sitting and General Reading:

It seems that in such spaces, predicting individual and scattered spaces is better than a centralized space to provide comfort and independence for each person. In this way, each person can use a seat in any section according to their needs and do not need to move to find a chair. For this purpose, several space models have been designed for sitting:

Colored Boxes: These boxes are embedded under all library floors with easy and light mobility. Everyone pulls it out according to their own needs and sits on it for a while. The accessibility of this type of seat was a priority.

Sitting areas: These chairs, which are located in the middle of the library floors, provide a suitable space for...

More comfortable seating areas: These types of seats include more comfortable sofas with the ability to lean back and have been provided in the central space and the new book section for longer readings.

4. Lighting

The overall lighting of the library space is provided by linear lights installed on the metal structure of the ceiling. These lights have the ability to spread light up to 4 meters and are sufficient for general lighting of the hall. In addition, other lights with spot and focused lighting functions have been designed, including:

• Focused lights on the library floors: These lights are installed on rails on the highest floor of the library and can be moved around as needed.

• Decorative pendants: The selection of pendants has been made so that they not only have a special and different form but also match the other elements of the space. These pendants, which are located in places such as the counters and the central section of the new books, are a good symbol for identifying the space and its readability.

• Lighting for the new book section: In addition to the ceiling pendants, there are high-base floor lamps located next to the lounge areas in this section, with the ability to adjust their angle and height by the user.

Bench lighting: These are wall lights connected to the library walls and are adjustable like reading lamps.

-Wall of Frame

The end wall of the bookstore in the second section, facing the counter, is covered with the faces of artists and famous paintings that remind us of a part of the art and literature of this land and the farthest points of the world.

5.Counters

One counter has been designed for each of the spaces, which, while having similar materials, are completely different.

•The first counter, located in the center of the space with a round shape, is very inviting for the entrance space due to its form and multiple sides.

The second section of the counter: In addition to sales performance, it includes another section that is completely hidden from view. All employees can use this section for eating and warming up. Additionally, the possibility of predicting a location for placing personal belongings of employees, which was also requested by the employer, is provided in this area.