ARLIS/NA 49th Annual Conference

Recent library designs can help us interpret and improve the function of the library experience. The design process necessitates that architects and architecture students think creatively and critically. What can we learn from built and unbuilt library designs? The analysis of three recent areas of scholarship helps consolidate the discussion: libraries as “social infrastructure,” architectural aspects of embodied cognition, and the little-explored psychological research on curiosity. These thoughts will be illustrated with recent projects by major firms, emphasizing the 2019 Charles Library at Temple University by Snøhetta. Focusing on unbuilt libraries, a study of Master of Architecture thesis projects presents design and program trends in architectural education and the imagination of emerging architects. Lessons in resilience from these projects help inspire libraries in the future to be elastic spaces that can adapt quickly to challenging situations.

Moderator: Mar González Palacios

Curiosity and Design for Academic Libraries

The literature on library architecture is bifurcated: designers have often emphasized form and librarians function. As the design specialists in our academic libraries, art librarians can mediate, advocating for the value of good design in library facilities planning. Three recent areas of scholarship might help consolidate these discussions: the literature on libraries as “social infrastructure,” another on the architectural aspects of embodied cognition, and the little-explored psychological research on curiosity. Writings on social infrastructure can help us understand the current reallocation of space from collections to people. Embodied cognition provides scientific support for the important subliminal impacts of design. The psychology of curiosity explains some library buildings that seem capable of stimulating inquiry and exploration. These thoughts will be illustrated with recent projects by major firms, emphasizing the 2019 Charles Library at Temple University by Snøhetta.

Speaker: Henry Pisciotta

Exploring Resilient Library Design: A Study of Master of Architecture Thesis Projects

This paper presentation builds on an article that will be published in the Fall of 2021 issue of Art Documentation that analyzes library design through the lens of graduating architecture students between 2015 and 2019. The study of Master of Architecture thesis projects identifies educational trends in the design and program of libraries. Furthermore, looking at unbuilt library designs lays the foundation to collaborate with architecture students and emerging architects in order to create innovative spaces and effect positive change in libraries. The presentation will highlight an analysis of architectural case studies that were researched in the thesis development stage offering insight on influential built library designs. Nest, the resilience of design and program trends in the thesis projects will be discussed. They will be measured in their elasticity and capacity to adapt quickly to challenging situations.

Speaker: Cathryn Copper