Spatial Composition

Floorplan

The design of the programmatic elements of the library is heavily reliant upon the concept. The library is designed as a series of successive cubes, leading from the facade to the core. The innermost cube--the core--is an open court which connects the spaces in the library horizontally and vertically. Surrounding this court is a layer (or "cube") of book stacks. The study carrels are in the outermost cubes where the users of the library can be near natural light.

Photo courtesy of the Great Buildings Collection

View of Space Between Book Stacks and Reading Area

Other spaces are given much less prominence in the design. Stairs, elevators, services, rest rooms and miscellaneous small offices are located in the towers at the four corners of the book storage areas. (Roth p. 156) A large rare book room, seminar rooms, and roof reading terraces are located on the top floor. (Paz p. 60)

Section

"Of course there are some spaces which should be flexible, but there are also some which should be completely inflexible. They should be just shear inspiration... just the place to be, the place that does not change, except for the people that go in and out"

-Louis I. Kahn