INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY OF LIBRARY

SEATLLE CENTRAL LIBRARY

LOCATION – SEATLLE , UNITED STATES

INTRODUCTION :
LOCATION – 1000 4TH AVE, SEATTLE,
WA 98104, USA
ARCHITECTS – Ar. Rem Koolhaas,
OMA, Joshua Prince – Ramus, LMN
Architects.
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE – Postmodern
Architecture
PROJECT YEAR – May 2004
AREA – 38300 m²
BUDGET – US $169.2 M
SITE SURROUNDINGS –
• Safeco Plaza
• Fairmont Olympic Hotel
• Sky View Observatory
ABOUT : The Seattle Central Library redefines the library
as an institution no longer exclusively dedicated to the
book, but as an information store where all potent
forms of media—new and old—are presented equally
and legibly. In an age where information can be
accessed anywhere, it is the simultaneity of all media
and, more importantly, the curatorship of their content
that will make the library vital.
ACCESSIBILITY : Level 0 which has a garage with a
capacity of 143 seats can be accessed from Spring
Street.
Level 1 which has a large hall of 1200 square metres ,
public computer section , phone desks and a
playground can be accessed via Fourth Avenue.
CONCEPT : The Concept Involves the Reinvention of the
Library as an access point to information presented in a
variety of media. The building was made flexible for
future expansions , with the possibility of grouping of
spaces according to the needs of the building and
platforms connected to the study would provide open
spaces , work and social interaction.
SPACES :
➢ Inside the building , a spiral structure provides a
continuous surface with coated side shelves that
offer different themed collections. This spiral that
rises four floors, has required the creation of a
system of zigzag ramps accessible to all ages and
needs. These ramps are supported on slender
columns constructed economically.
➢ The interior is divided into five distinguishable
blocks from the outside :
• Parking Area
• Public Reading Area
• Café deployed in large atrium
• Main library and reading room
• Administration
➢ The third floor of the library is called the living
room.
➢ The library does not consistently use traditional
names that help make you stay exciting. The
location of the Book Series is called “Spiral” and
computing space is called “Mixing Chamber” .
➢ The main feature of the interior is its large public
spaces and leisure reading illuminated by natural
light coming through the glass walls.
INTERIOR :

LEVEL 4 – It has 4 large Meeting Rooms. Two Laboratories,

Technology Training centres , and are used for public and
personal computer instructions.
LEVEL 5 – In this level Computer Lab, the employment
LEVEL 1 - Public Computer Section , A resource centre, workbooks and study, scanners and
front desk , Public Phones and encyclopedias are present.
Playground. There is a Microsoft LEVEL 6 TO 9 – “BOOK SPIRAL” Connected by gentle ramps,
Auditorium with 275 seats. the spiral allows all customers , including people with
Idioms Section : This area has disabilities , to move along the entire collection without
workstation language learning with relying on escalators or elevators or stairs.
audio , video and language learning LEVEL 10 – The atrium rises with 400 seats, a roof 12.9 m
programs by a computer and a high and overlooking Elliot bay.
technology lab that provides access to LEVEL 11 – Administrative offices including the office of city
adaption technology. librarian, Human Resources and Staff Cafeteria. SECTION :
LEVEL 2 - It is for Staff and not for public.
From this level the sending, receiving,
sorting and technical services of books
and collections are performed.
LEVEL 3 – The living area of this level is
called “ Living Room “ and includes areas
of reading and meditation. It is a
spacious and airy space with a maximum
height of 15m. There is also a gift shop,
café , DVD collections, new books,
Magazines and popular newspaper in
this level.
LEVEL 3 – LIVING ROOM :PLAN , SECTION , ELEVATION LEVEL 4 - ASSEMBLY LEVEL 7 – BOOKS PLATFORM LEVEL 11 - HEADQUARTERS
LIGHTING :
➢ The Light coming from the exterior maze of
window wraps the entire building. The interior
of 11 floor atrium has polycarbonate ceiling
that helps to distribute light.
➢ The building is sculpted to maximize
daylighting opportunities in communal areas
like the living room and the reading room. The
designers positioned heavy use spaces like
book stacks and meeting rooms in areas
shaded from daylight, further minimizing heat
gain and eliminates glare on the monitors of
400 computers for public use.
➢ To clad the curtain wall that encloses the
reading room and heavily trafficked public
areas, the designers developed a triple layered
glazing system. Embedded with a curved
aluminum mesh in the outer air cavity and
filled with krypton gas in the inner it was called
metal glass. This glazing system minimizes
glare and reduces thermal transmittance,
lowers solar heat gain and thus lessens the use
of cooling system.
➢ For the lower levels two types were selected –
luminous pendants and recessed fixtures. For
the first floor which is children's section ,
single bulb acrylic pendants alternatively lit
with 55W and 85W Philips QL induction lamps
were used. This source enhanced by the use of
reflectors provides an abundance of functional
light. For the buildings upper levels, 4-foot long
double lamp T8 stripe lights were used.
➢ The fluorescent stripe light are hung in the
stacks above a polycarbonate ceiling plane as
polycarbonate diffuses light evenly without
producing shadows and provides enough
illumination for visitors the view books on
bottom shelves.
DAYLIGHT LIGHTING RECESSED LIGHTING
STRIP LIGHTS USED LUMINIOUS PENDENTS
WITH ACRYLIC SHEETS IN CHILDRENS LIBRARY
MATERIALS USED :
➢ There are aluminum floors of minimalist grid
pattern. The recycled wood pieces from the
ends chipped and stained in a variety of solid
colors. Most carpets are made with metal
wires directly to clean them with water.
➢ Ar. Koolhaas loved bright colors. So the stairs
and entrances to public meeting areas are
painted in red and lime yellow. Inside the
metal structure is painted baby blue. In the
area dedicated to language learning which has
a area of 669 square metre, the whole floor is
of maple wood. The bright white pillars with
bases have high finishes in black and the fire
insulation are sprinkled with glitter.
➢ The escalators are finished in fluorescent lime
color, lined with backlit panels.
➢ Ar. Koolhaas make used of concrete slabs of
reinforced concrete, with small cracks binding
and flooded with tonal variation.
➢ Acrylic sheet shelves are used.