m
e c a n o o
hello
- This recent Mecanoo project is being examined
for two reasons: its relation to the landscape and the enrichment of the
interior by a prominent display of the books. The project was completed
in 1997 and is located in Delft, The Netherlands.
- The roof is soded and continues and so
the campus greenspace extends over the library. Although it might
be difficult to play cricket on this pitch, the slope provides a location
for students to gather for outdoor performances, eat lunch, or just lie
in the sun. The wide entrance steps also provide a place for gathering.
- The building consists of two forms; curved
wedge and a large cone. The cone houses the main reading spaces while the
wedge houses the rest of the library. This separation keeps
the reading spaces free of the noise from the entrance, circulation desk,
and book stacks. An isolated reading and study area is always more
quiet than one which is open to other parts of the library. This
is not just due to the fact that noises from the rest of the library are
blocked out. People is these more isolated study areas make less
noise because they are aware that those around them have sought out this
area because they are looking for a quiet space free from distractions.
However it is still necessary to have study areas that are near the book stacks and the circulation. A library used by many people is a library used in many ways. Therefor it is necessary to have a variety of places for people to look at books and study. If these secondary spaces are not provided in the Delft library it would certainly be to the detriment of the library users.