Back to the original idea, however, the design is slightly different from my 1st design. I have done some research on precedents, and found that the Leon de Grief Library Park by Giancarlo Mazzanti . It has the same idea which I wanted to apply in my design. A main path which links all the spaces together and allow people to walk through it. Also, it integrates to the landscape, its simple but very beautiful.
Another precedent I found is the Espana Library , also by Giancarlo Mazzanti. Similar to the Library Park, 3 different blocks are linked together by a "connector" .

1st design , The spaces are separated into 3 blocks, which connected by a "connector" . The connector is also acts as a foyer, allow people to access and carry out public activities . The connector has a mezzanine, thus, the connector has a height of 6m :



2nd design, simliar to the above design. 3 separated blocks with a central point to connect all the spaces. Also allowing staffs to take control of all the spaces.:

Arch 1202

Matraville Library

The form of my design comes from observing the directions of major currents of people flowing from. The site is an important transition zone between the busy main road and the quiet small road which heads to the residential area.
The main theme of my design is to create a light, comfortable place for the community to gather. To communicate, not necessary physically, but spiritually. Openness, spacious, brightness, smoothness are important keywords of my design.
My initial design simply having a ramp which cuts through the box shape, the ramp follows the direction which people would walk into the area. Brining people from the main road to the quiet road.
However, the spaces are seriously separated and are difficult to form a smooth circulation.

The following drawings are my last week design. I kept the idea of having a ramp which brings people from main road to the quiet road. However, I added another idea which is following the landscape. Level changes are added in order to follow the slightly sloped site. Each level defines a space. Inserting the building generously into the landscape is very important.
However, this scheme does not work after I carefully defined all the spaces. It is hard to place the control point and there are not enough spaces to put everything.

So, I have made changes to my design and at last I come up with a different form, but yet still have my ideas in it. Now I re-group the spaces into three categories.

- Staff area + exhibition area + entrance ( causal + slightly quiet )
- Libraries + reading spaces ( serious + quiet )
- Children's library + play area ( causal + noisy )

These three categories tell how the journey of people when they're walking through the library. Different atmosphere and noise levels are separated into these 3 categories. The plan views of this design shows that the 3 categories are divided into 3 boxes, they are slightly overlapped in order to link the spaces together. The position they are places is to follow the idea I had before, bring people from main road to the quiet road. Instead of cutting through the building with a ramp, I am cutting through the building visually. When the three cubes are put together, sharp edges are formed. Thus, I cover the sharp edges to form another space.
The circulation is simple and straight forward. The spaces create contractions and expansion with a narrower entrance into a wider space.
And I also keep the idea of following the landscape, when people walking into the building, they are stepping up.
Please click into the images to see the enlarged version.




Plans :
ground floor on the top, 1st floor on the bottom.