archi-TecToNics

LIBRARY CONTENT AND LIBRARY CONTEXT // We found our main concepts for the design proposal of the new Library in Guadalajara in the description of the library’s vision for its new building; “To be the most important public library and information service institution in Mexico……..and to propitiate the integral development of all the socio-economic groups in Jalisco through the providing of an efficient, high quality library and informational services, that are effective and permanently accessible and that correspond to the changes and necessities of  the time”. These statements inspired us to develop two essential design concepts: the Library Context [its social, cultural function], and the library Content [its knowledge-based innovative and communicative system].

FISHNETS // SOCIAL CONTEXT // The traditional way of fishing in Mexico is through large nets, which gather all the fish in one large swoop. These inventive extendable Tarascan Indian butterfly fishnets allow the fisherman to form a circle with their boats and plunge their large shared net to catch the tiny fish; the white charales.  We used the idea of “net” here as a social analogue for the gathering spaces of people as well as the internet, the continuously being connected electronically. The library is organized around these “nets”, which give visual connections through the space, They provide for the social, cultural functions such as exhibition spaces, classrooms, and auditoria, where people meet, discuss and learn.

LEARNING // CONTEXT // The library traditionally a system of stacks is here translated as a hyper-textual, free set of spatial connections within the library organization were free association is facilitated between knowledge and subject based floors, connected by the net spaces. Browsing is stimulated, and an overview over fields of knowledge is provided.

LIBRARY // The library is elevated over the ground to facilitate movement from the street into the Campus. Programmatic bands unwind as a translucent knowledge skin around the space, at once containing the traditional stacks in its layers, as well as creating an open space within, organized around the net spaces.

INFO

Project Type: Design Competition, Library 

Location: Guadalajara, Mexico 

Status: Submitted 2005     

Design: Archi-Tectonics

Principal in Charge: Winka Dubbeldam