When we think of architecture of
the future, most people tend to think of futuristic esthetically but we never
stop to take a look at what is truly the future. In this case, the library of
the future must be a place that responds to today’s issues and progress in
order to continue towards the future; therefore, the library of the future must
reflect a strong green will and technological flexibility coping with the
constant progress of technology.Lincoln
Road in Miami Beach is one of
the popular pedestrian streets in Miami,
but it wasn’t case in the past. During the 90’s the city of Miami
Beach invested in the revival and the development of Lincoln
Rd in order to take advantage of its unique
location. Today, Lincoln Rd
is one of the main attractions of Miami Beach
due to the successful intervention of landscape, shopping stores and restaurant
along the passage. By adding trees and plants in the middle of Lincoln
rd, this intervention created a much more pleasing promenade like experience
eventually insuring the success of Lincoln Rd.
By studying Lincoln rd experience,
we attempted to recreate the same atmosphere trough out the library. The site
prior to the library project was the only green space on Lincoln
rd; we decided to consolidate the program and the context into one project.
Instead of replacing the garden by typical building intervention, our approach
was to maintain green space on top of the structure and also reinforcing the concept
of the garden and the reading tree space trough out the project. We first began
thinking in abstracting the green belt of Lincoln
rd in a tree like form that should shelter the reader and give an outdoor
garden experience from interior which explains the branching abstraction on the
façade and the forest reading room. Architecture isn’t about form making, so we
decided that function should be the driving force for the design; therefore, we
developed a volumetric system in order to arrange the program according to a three
dimensional strategies to ensure functional circulation and space development
section wise. The program shapes the volumetric study then the materiality of
the interior required to reflect Miami Beach
spirit of interior design that derives from the Art Deco style that flourished
in the past in this particular area. This explains the light and white
furniture that reflect the tropical nature of the site which lead us back to an
early decision of concept as direct response to the context.Finally, the reading tree should
be a breath of fresh air to Lincoln
rd where people can learn and be inspired by this tree like structure. The
green strategies implemented into the design should serve the library’s
functionality. The reading tree library is the answer to the demands of the
future digitally and ecologically eventually becoming a land mark on Lincoln
Rd and redefining the urban texture and fabric.
