Description

Building on the growing neighborhood book exchange program in Vancouver, the Robson Communal Library is designed to be the new hub for book exchange. The concept behind the exchange is simple, supporters are encouraged to take or leave a book as they like, which ensures a diversity of titles that rotate over time. This medium then becomes a fertile breeding ground for the cross pollination of knowledge, culture and ideas. Whilst also promote literacy, and foster a greater sense of community and wisdom across all generations.

Site

The site is located at the Lower Robson area, at the northwest corner of Broughton and Robson Street. Characteristically it is the threshold between the quiet residential neighborhood and the busy downtown core. This site has been left undeveloped, and is only left with a trail carved by the use of pedestrians cutting across it.

Program Organization

Programmatically the building is separated into public and private spaces. The public spaces such as the café, reading stage and meeting rooms, aim to give people a reason to come. Where the more private program such as the Library, study rooms and reading spaces give people the reason to stay.

The reading stage is intended for communal functions used by the nearby schools. Designed for functions such as theater plays, poetry slams, public reading and other cultural and communal events.

Formal Process

The formal gesture essentially distills down to two wings. The top being more public, hanging off the highest topographic point of the site. Where the bottom wing, sits at the datum of the site and just underneath the top wing. The two wings together forms a partially sheltered courtyard and maintains the current shortcut, which runs across the site.

Plans and Sections

Render

The entrance to the partially sheltered courtyard, which cuts directly across the site.

Duration:

Three weeks.