DiscoverDesign.org is produced by the

Life Academy's New Library

By Architectkhawlah | L Redesign your school library with new spaces for community groups

fill text

Show Hide

fill text

My name is khawlah . I am a sophomore in High school and i intern at DB+P Architect . In my High school we have a very tiny restricted area that we use as a library so as a future architect I've taken it upon myself to design what could be our New library. My library will have sections for students to read, to study as individuals or as a group. A computer areas where student(s) can work on a project or a quick search up on the internet. Around the outside of the library there will be a gardens and a designated area for reading, and enjoying the fresh air.

Comments

That was quite interesting. Your sections and design are really good. You had used the full space and gave it a different look. View Model and the thought that had been given by you was amazing. Good job.

vente appartement paris

By Katiethomson, Student at 06:22 am, 25 August 2012

That was quite interesting. Your sections and design are really good. You had used the full space and gave it a different look. View Model and the thought that had been given by you was amazing. Good job.

vente appartement paris

By Katiethomson, Student at 06:32 am, 25 August 2012

Collect Instructions

Show Hide

Gather more information about your existing school library by taking photos, sketching, conducting interviews, and doing additional research.

Think About:

  • What are all the different functions / activities that currently take place in your school's library?
  • Do you enjoy working and reading in this room now?  Why or why not?
  • How is the library different than a typical classroom?
  • When you study at home, where and how do you read? (On the couch, on the floor, on your bed, outside, at the kitchen table, at a desk in your bedroom?)  Could similar comfortable places be designed for your new school library?
  • Will you redesign the interior of your existing school library or will you build a new addition for these spaces?
  • How do students collaborate around technoloyg with other students?  Where do you do this now?
  • In what ways could your school building become a small community center for residents after school hours?

Try This:

  • Take photos of your school's library, the media center, the study hall, or any other space where students are hanging out.
  • Measure the overall size of your school's existing library.  Is it crowded now or does it have empty space?
  • Measure the number of linear feet of book shelves in your school library.  Ask the librarian if they feel your library should contain more or less space for bound books?
  • Take photos of where students are studying at school - either independently or in a small group - throughout the school day.
  • Ask your school's administrator about any types of community groups that may already use your school building in the evening.
  • Interview your school librarian and several classmates.  What do they think about the existing library?  What changes would they make if they had a choice?
  • Make a list of all the different functions / activities that currently take place in your school's library.
  • Make a list of all the things you like about your library.  Ask several friends and your teachers their opinions.
  • Several new public libraries have opened recently around the world.  What can you learn from these?  Investigate... (links to come)
  • Some of the most impressive historic libraries provide an awe-einspiring place to learn.  What can you learn from these?  Check out...(links to come)

Architectkhawlah's work for the Collect Information step:

Summary
I have collected information by taking pictures of my current library. I’ve taken pictures of how the space is being used and what is inside the current library.
This is the entrance (the small door) to the library, it's located under stairs.
0 comments
This is pretty much the half of the room we use as a library,there is no place to sit and read and...
0 comments
This is the other half of the room, it's used as a storage.
0 comments
The view to the outside from one of the three windows in the library.
1 comment
The side(the bottom three windows) of the library from the outside.
0 comments
The back of the library ( where the mural is).
0 comments
This is a map diagram showing what angle of the picture was taking from.
0 comments

Brainstorm Instructions

Show Hide

Develop preliminary sketches to help you puzzle through new ideas and solutions.

Think About:

  • Many libraries just have rows of book shelves and a few tables and chairs for students.  But is this the best way for students to access, learn, and share information today?
  • How does collaborative learning occur in a library?
  • How can you provide both quiet and noisy learning spaces in a library?
  • Does the library have a separate entrance so community groups can enter/exit in the evening without having to walk through the entire school building?

The library will need to include four big types of spaces and furnishings:

  • a reading room / study loungue (tables with computers, chairs, couches, etc)
  • book storage and a circulation book check-out counter (shelves, work counters)
  • librarian's office and workspace
  • meeting rooms (tables, chairs, technology options)

Try This:

  • You'll need to decide where will this new library be located in your school.  Are you redesigning the exsiting space or building a new addition?
  • Walk around the exterior of your school building and take photos of your existing library and / or a possible location for a new library addition.
  • Use Google Maps to view and print out an aerial photo of your school.  Identify a location for the library.
  • Contact your school's building or maintenance department.  They may already have a floor plan of your school to use as a reference.
  • Sketch bubble diagrams to figure out the spatial relationships between the various rooms and spaces in your new or redesigned library.  Which spaces will be next to each other?  Which spaces should not be next to each other?
  • Make lots of sketches to get your early ideas down on paper.  Learn from each different idea.

Your design or redesign of a new library might include the following types of sizes of spaces.  These are just suggestions.  Feel free to revise this and incorporate other spaces you think may be needed.

Library space planning rules of thumb:

space 800
students in your school		 1200
students in your school		 1600
students in your school		 2400
students in your school
Reading Room / Study Lounge with computers
 1,400
square feet		 2,100
square feet		 2,800
square feet		 4,200
square feet
Book storage and book check-out counter
 1,400
square feet		 2,100
square feet		 2,800
square feet		 4,200
square feet
Librarian's office / workroom 120
square feet		 120
square feet		 240
square feet		 240
square feet
Meeting rooms 1 room at
250 square feet		 2 rooms at
250 square foot each		 3 rooms at 250 square foot each 4 rooms at 250 square foot each
TOTAL 3,170
square feet		 4,820
square feet		 6,590
square feet		 9,640
square feet

Architectkhawlah's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:

Summary
I first mapped out where the school is located, the first mapping was of the Bay Area, the second map is of the neighborhood around my school.
This is the map of the Bay Area, the school is marked with a star.
0 comments
This is a map of the neighborhood, the school is marked by a star.
0 comments
This is an outline of the school from above. The orange colored building is the school. The red...
0 comments
This is how the two school get around. These are the circulations of the school, the stairs and...
0 comments
First idea for the proposal. The blue circles are the computer labs The yellow circles are the...
0 comments
The first image of the two people siting, was an idea i got from the internet. I had used a similar...
0 comments
I used the idea and started to expand upon it. I needed to create furniture that will be built in...
0 comments

Develop Instructions

Show Hide

Now's the time to take what you've learned from the steps above and develop your own solution for a new or redesigned library.

Try This:

  • If possible, build a rough physical study model of your library.  You can't really understand the building's shape until you make a quick study model.  Don't worry about making a fancy finished model at this time.  Instead, use cardstock, scissors, and tape to quickly create a large 3D form.  See how it looks.  Break off different sections, add new pieces, and try out new ideas.
  • Take a photo of your model and upload it to your student user account here.
  • Sketch or use software such as Google SketchUp, AutoCAD, or Revit to get your ideas out of your head to share with others.

Architectkhawlah's work for the Develop Solutions step:

Summary
The proposal that i have come up for the library, has many activities in the inside and the outside of the library.
In the final proposal diagram there are three sections in the inside, and two section in the...
0 comments
The reading area will look some what like this, there will be groups of people sitting and reading...
0 comments
This is an idea of how the study area would look like. The green plant back wall will be full of...
0 comments
This is the section cuts that i did to start building the furniture for the library.
0 comments
This shows my first section drawing of the furniture that will be used as shelving. I had choose...
0 comments
This is the second out of three section drawing i did for the library. Here is a place where...
0 comments
This is the third and last section drawing done for the furniture for the library. Here i also used...
0 comments

Final Instructions

Show Hide

Architectkhawlah's work for the Final Design step:

Summary
From collecting information, to brainstorming, and coming up with solutions i have finely designed a library i believe will be a great resource and a beautiful place for students to enjoy.
This is a plan view of my library model. All around the library's wall there will be glass...
0 comments
This is a close up of the right section of the library. If you look back to the developing...
0 comments
This is the left section cut which in the diagram in the developing solution category would be the...
0 comments
As you can see here It will also be where students can meet and have a study group. It will be in...
0 comments
This is the frontal view of the library. This is a view through the glass wall that will be used as...
0 comments
Here is a picture of the stairs that will lead to the library. I have made these stairs wide so...
0 comments
The bottom photograph is a mural that life Academy alumnus created. The wall that the mural is on...
0 comments