Structure

Each successive cube of Exeter Library is an independent piece that relates to the whole. The walls of the outermost cube consist of handmade brick. The brick columns taper to become very narrow at the top of the structure. This reflects the structural properties of masonry: it must become thicker at the base to support its own self weight.

Photo courtesy of the Great Buildings Collection

Elevation "Jack Arches"

The horizontal members of the brick walls are made with carefully shaped "jack-arches" which distribute the load to the columns. (Roth p. 153) These bands become deeper near the top of the structure because they must span greater distances between the narrowing arches. (Roth p. 153) Each wall is stabilized by the concrete flooring system (Roth p. 156), thus they do not need to meet at the corners for lateral stability.

Elevation

The thirty-foot-deep book storage area is constructed of concrete. It is stabilized in the corners by square concrete towers which carry circulation and services. On alternating floors, the concrete platforms extend out to stabilize the exterior brick wall, thus creating double-heighted reading areas and corridors on the outside edge of the library. (Roth p. 156)

Photo courtesy of the Great Buildings Collection

Space Between the Reading Carrels and The Book Storage Area

The grand space at the center of the library is formed by poured-in-place concrete. (Paz p. 70) Each of the four sides of the court have giant circles cut out of them. These circular openings reveal the rows of book stacks. This way, there's a visual connection across the space and between the floors. (Roth p. 156) The circular forms also serve a structural purpose: they brace the tall corner columns. Perhaps most importantly, these circular forms "create a strong image of space" (Roth p. 157).

Photo courtesy of the Great Buildings Collection

View of the Interior Court