7 READING SPACES

2022 children reading library’s

TYPE: PROFESIONAL PROJECT

TEAM: ARCH. RAFAEL SUAREZ M, ARCH. NICOLE BASTIDAS

STAKEHOLDERS: QUITO MUNICIPALITY, PUCE UNIVERSITY

SITE: QUITO, PINTAG, LLANO GRANDE, CALDERÓN, TUMBACO, FEDERICO GONZÁLEZ SUÁREZ, SAN MARCOS, EL EJIDO AND PAMBACHUPA.

CONTRIBUTIONS: CONCEPTUAL PLANNING, RENDERING, 3D MODELLING, 2D DRAFTING, PRESENTATIONS, CONSTRUCTION, MANAGMENT

The inter-institutional cooperation work between the Ministry of Culture and the PUCE, through the Comprehensive Redesign of the Metropolitan Library Network, will make it possible to have dignified spaces for citizens, that respond to their needs, and that contribute, through their services and renovated spaces, to the construction of a resilient society that has the tools to improve their living conditions in this post-pandemic era, that has free access to information and culture through the libraries of the Network.

This agreement will be developed between the months of July to November 2022. To carry it out, work will be done through three components:

1. Conceptualization and content design

It seeks to emphasize the promotion and reactivation of the seven libraries through a cultural artistic offer from the literary field for the conceptualization and curatorship of spaces and reading corners of the RMB. This conceptualization must have in a complementary manner the following aspects such as: development of relevance of collections and interaction of actors, physical and technological infrastructure.

2. Redesign of infrastructure and as a reading mediation strategy

It seeks to implement quality, spacious and adequate spaces where people feel comfortable and relationships between people are fostered. It is about having shared spaces to stimulate socialization and collaboration between the participants, in addition to having spaces in accordance with the reading mediation strategies for young people and children. These spaces must have an updated bibliographic collection that meets their needs; as well as a physical and technological infrastructure according to current standards. An institutional redesign and identification of a RMB brand that is closely related to quality standards and universal access is sought.

3. Interaction of actors and inter-institutional work

Through inter-institutional cooperation, multidisciplinary work networks will be established to facilitate work and create a multisector offer for the joint work of civil society, academia and the State. A module of practical and guided visits will be generated for students of various careers and the implementation of inter-institutional research based on the practical knowledge created by visitors and reading habits. Collaborative work will be implemented between PUCE professionals and those responsible for the libraries of the Network to share work methodologies that benefit both institutions.

Libraries: Pintag, Llano Grande, Calderón, Tumbaco, Federico González Suárez, San Marcos, El Ejido and Pambachupa.

Main Ideas

• Everything at childrens scale

• Wrapped in books, wrapped in stories

• Live the shelf (enter the book, be part of the shelf)

• Generate reading shelter

• Forest of stories

We were hired by PUCE University to design and build 7 reading spaces across the city of Quito. This places belong to of the libraries of the municipality. Our main , the recommendations of the IFLA and the experience acquired after the construction of the “ChiquiPUCE” in the PUCE. It is important to mention that CHIQUIPUCE has been in operation since 2019. This space was created to be a national and international benchmark in terms of Children’s Literature and from this place, spaces for continuous learning have been generated and also to share among adults and children from the magical world of books.

For the adaptation of existing library spaces, some principles that arise from Children’s Libraries around the world, including CHIQUIPUCE, are taken into account:

- Furniture

- Suitable colors

- Lightning

- Decoration, among others.

To be coherent with all the ideas raised in relation to spaces for children’s and youth literature, in the architectural design it was determined that libraries should be interactive places, where nothing will be static and in which the furniture can be modified if necessary. . In addition, it should be suitable for small and big children.

It should be noted that, with all the information obtained in each of the activities detailed in the focus group section, the architectural proposal was conceptualized with four key ideas in the design:

1. Wrapped in books, wrapped in stories

2. Live the shelf (enter the book, be part of the shelf)

3. Generate reading shelter

4. The forest of stories

Design ideas have been shared in various meetings with the librarians, as well as the agreement management team. In these, the aspects of furniture and spaces were analyzed according to the needs that emerged in the focus groups, as well as concerns about structural changes that could be modified in each municipal library.