The seattle central library redefines the library as an institution no longer exclusively dedicated to the book, but as an. The new library, which opens next sunday, was designed by rem koolhaas oma of the netherlands in collaboration with the seattle firm lmn architects. Figureground seattle public library 2004 rem koolhaasoma seattle, washington, usa may 2004. His geometric, structural patterns at the seattle public library informed the cabled lattice motif encircling the beanie. More than 1,000 people attended public events at which architect rem koolhaas described his early vision for the library. The library board selected architect rem koolhaas and seattle based lmn architects to jointly design the new library after 1,700 people attended presentations put on by three finalists. Remment koolhaas harvard graduate school of design.
Central library has been futureproofed to ensure that it is embraced by seattle, and in turn serves the city for a very long time. She asks for a continuing space with surrounded by books, and a centralized area at the center. Seattle public library rem koolhaas oma seattle public. The design of the architect s career clinched rem koolhaas because it is an impressive building that combines futuristic lines with the functionality of a library before completing the design of the building, koolhaas met with representatives of microsoft, amazon and other organizations to discuss the future of books and the. November 3, 1994january 31, 1995, the museum of modern art, new york author. Nov 24, 20 seattle public library rem koolhaas oma my website blog twitter facebook. And yet the freeflowing arrangement of rooms is designed for basic functionality. At the corner of fifth and madison, the wedgeshaped base of the library diminishes nearly to a point. The diagrammatic form of the seattle public library s glass and metal skin began with the simple concept of wrapping the entire building in a continuous layer of transparency. Rem koolhaas,oma, joshua princeramus, lmn architects location. The seattle central library redefines the library as an institution no longer exclusively dedicated to the book, but as an information store where.
Seattle central library oma, bruce mau design, henkel ag. Pdf a phenomenological and hermeneutic reading of rem. The seattle central library is the flagship of the seattle public library system. His outstanding creations such as the dutch embassy in berlin, the seattle library, the casa da musica concert hall in porto, and the guggenheim heritage museum in las vegas are working examples of the dutchmans visionary theories about architecture. Seattle public library seattle public library, designed. The seattle public library is the pub seattle public library, oma. Koolhaas, new york athletic club and seattle public library lecture 9. Construction started in the year 1999 and the building opened to public in the year 2004.
Buildings as lifeworlds and architectural texts 2016, forthcoming research pdf available september. Seattle public library rem koolhaasoma floornature. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. The design was inspired by the work of dutch architect rem koolhaas. Dutch architect rem koolhaas designed the new building in a joint venture with seattle based lmn architects. This short video is part of a large study on seattle public library, in which we examine omas design proces and how they took the needs of the libraries end users into consideration. The building is divided into eight horizontal layers, each varying in size to fit its function. Seattle central library in the usa, designed by rem koolhaus. Innovative in both form and function, the contemporary, glass and steel building is the third central library to occupy the city block between fourth and fifth avenues. Central library okatech facade seattle public library.
The fire of january 2 nd 1901 destroyed the yesler mansion and brought an unfortunate end to the library. Central library architecture the seattle public library. Its the new program relations, that make of this more than a mere library, but an enhanced public space around knowledge. Rem koolhaas s awardwinning, progressive design of the central library has given seattle an architectural gem in the heart of the city. Seattle public library designed by rem koolhaas public. Images by delfino sisto legnani and marco cappelletti, iwan baan, hans werlemann, muhasin mohamed. In many ways, the library and city hall represent two different faces of modernism. To illustrate what phenomenology and hermeneutics offer architectural research, i examine the seattle public library from four different perspectives for which i procure realworld evidence via a range of research methods. Revisiting rem koolhaass central library and peter bohlin.
His geometric, structural patterns at the seattle public library informed the cabled lattice motif encircling the. Thats what koolhaas is famous forthinking forward and backward at the same time. Seattle central library curtain wall design lmn architects. These designs, like the 2004 seattle public library, defy labels. Before completing the design of the building, koolhaas met with representatives of microsoft, amazon and other organizations to discuss. Mar 12, 2014 seattle public library rem koolhaas g. Seattle public library hands down, one of the coolest places i have ever been. Siddharth 12rbar033 slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. The seattle public library spl is the public library system serving seattle, washington. Junkspace book the seattle public library bibliocommons. Seattle public library designed by the firms oma office for metropolitan architecture and lmn architects, constructed by hoffman construction company and completed in 2004.
Junkspace first appeared in the harvard design school guide to shopping 2001, a vast compendium of text, images, and data concerning the consumerist transformation of city and suburb from the first department store to the latest mega mall. Then the architect, rem koolhaas and his partners have perfectly achieved a design composed of lots of public spaces as a compact manner. Mark rahner talks to architect rem koolhaas, who designed the central library. This pattern originally appeared in the fall 2007 issue of interweave knits magazine. Feb 15, 2016 completed in 2004 in seattle, united states. The seattle public library, completed in 2004, calls to mind a piledup heap of books, combining a futuristic design with the utility of a public library.
The building is in line with koolhaas s belief that art should seek to meet modern needs in. Repeat rem koolhaas seattle public library introduction. A phenomenological and hermeneutic reading of rem koolhaass seattle public library. Strategies of the void rem koolhaas, jussieu libraries. The award winning architect rem koolhaas and lmn architects local to seattle was selected to design the building. Koolhaas started construction on portugals casa da musica in 1999, and it opened to the public in 2005. The seattle public library houses the librarys main collection of books, periodicals, audiovisual materials and the technology to access and distribute information from the physical collection online. Systemwide architecture the seattle public library. Seattle public library omalmn rem koolhaas iwan baan. Apr 22, 20 in many ways, the library and city hall represent two different faces of modernism. The seattle public library celebrates the completion of its libraries for all building program saturday. Central library architecture the new central library is the eighth project completed under the 1998 voterapproved libraries for all building program.
The diagrammatic form of the seattle public librarys glass and metal skin began with the simple concept of wrapping the entire building in a continuous layer of transparency. Talking with rem koolhaas, the architect behind the. Seattle central library in the usa, designed by rem. Much like that landmark, the seattle library is a building of its timealthough of a different time. The seattle public library s central library is the flagship library of the seattle public library system. Seattle has the most instagrammable library in the world. Rem koolhaas, joshua princeramus project architects.
Central library history the seattle public library. Seattle central library why is rem koolhaas the worlds most controversial architect the seattle central library by rem koolhas is deconstructive architecture pointing towards one fact. Koolhaas, seattle public library, casa da musica, iit student center lecture 9. Glass, steel, in his seattle public library project, rem koolhas once more skifully demonstrates how architecture can establish complex, articulated, synergic relationships with the urban panorama. Philip johnson in conversation with rem koolhaas and hans ulrich obrist. Koolhaas sees the new library as a custodian of the book, a showcase for new information, a place for thought, discussion and reflection a dynamic presence. Seattle public library commentary the library sits on a steep urban site with a 29foot 8. Oma seattle library pdf the concept book, first presented at seattles benaroya hall on dec. The new seattle public library, designed by rem koolhaas, redefines modernism for the 21st century.
Seattle wasnt a city i think of when i think of cities with really cool architecture. Designed by renowned architect rem koolhaas before the city of seattle adopted its sustainable building policy, the central library will not only meet that policy, but is expected to achieve a leedtm. Rarely has an architect caused as much sensation outside of the architecture community as rem koolhaas. The design objective, by rem koolhaas and joshua ramus, in partnership with lmn, was to.
Having worked as a journalist and script writer before becoming an architect, koolhaas graduated from the architectural association in london, and in 1978, published delirious new york, a retroactive manifesto for manhattan. The library by rem koolhaas the physical impact of books has. With regard to the central library, koolhaas has often talked of a perceived assault on books by the culture of digital information. This layer, with its faceted planes, outlines elevated platforms of program spaces on the exterior while creating a variety of interconnected spaces on the interior. Seattle public library rem koolhaas great buildings. Published on may 22, 2014 rem koolhaas, architect o. Today the central library sports a contemporary look and feel that is innovative in both form and function. The seattle city government adopted the seattle public library as a branch in 1890 and operated from several locations at downtown.
Dutch architect rem koolhaas and former seattleite joshua ramus were principal designers on the project, working closely with the library s board, staff and the public during its development phase. Seattle public library rem koolhaas oma my website blog twitter facebook. It was officially established by the city in 1890, though there had been efforts to start a seattle library as early as 1868. The architect rem koolhaas itemized in delirious detail how our cities are being overwhelmed. Introduction the seattle public library was opened in may 2004. The architecture of rem koolhaas by paul goldberger architecture critic, the new yorker executive editor, architecture, architectural digest there is rem koolhaas the architect, there is rem koolhaas the writer, there is rem koolhaas the urban theoretician, and there is rem koolhaas the figure to whom younger architects are drawn as moths to a. Pdf architecture, phenomenology, and hermeneuticsa. Seattle public library, designed by fellow dutchman rem koolhaas. Architettura contemporanea rem koolhaas biblioteca moderna design library sala da concerto modelli di architettura schizzi darchitettura architetti librerie. The design of the architect s career clinched rem koolhaas because it is an impressive building that combines futuristic lines with the functionality of a library. The design of the architect s career clinched rem koolhaas. Revisiting rem koolhaass central library and peter bohlins. Talking with rem koolhaas, the architect behind the central. Hambright drawing canonical ideas in architecture uofa.
Our visit occurred during a week day and we found the library was full of people. The library appears to be made up of unrelated, disharmonious abstract forms, having no visual logic. When you are there it is dirty and kindoflame, really. I was pleased to find users of all ages and social groups including many homeless who frequent the library on cold days. Rem koolhaas and joshua princeramus of omalmn were the principal architects, magnusson klemencic associates was the structural engineer. The fact that the contents of a whole library can be stored on a single chip or the fact that a single library can now store the digital content of all libraries, together represent a. Seattle central library at a moment when libraries are perceived to be under threat from a shrinking public realm on one side and digitization on the other, the seattle central library creates a civic space for the circulation of knowledge in all media, and an innovative organizing system for an evergrowing physical collection the books.
There are 26 branches in the system, most of them named after the neighborhoods in which they are located. Seattle public library danish architecture center dac. A postoccupancy report about the illinois institute of technology in chicago, the seattle public library, the embassy of the netherlands in berlin and the casa da musica in porto. We continue to reimagine our spaces at all of our branches to marry form to functionality. Designed by dutch architect rem koolhaas and opened in 2004, seattle public library s central branch is proving to be an instagram sensation. The reason why i choose this structure is its unique approaches regarding creating a floating space with minimum supports but without losing the purpose of providing functionality. May 16, 2004 the new library, which opens next sunday, was designed by rem koolhaas oma of the netherlands in collaboration with the seattle firm lmn architects. Despite some criticism due to the way koolhaas and oma perceive architecture, different than traditional approaches, it is clear that the library in seattle is a social success. Rem koolhaas wins golden lion for lifetime achievement.