SPL ESSAY

THE BEAUTY IN FUNCTION

Some buildings are more than just a place of shelter. They  can even redefine social constructs. Rem Koolhas, the architect behind the Seattle Public Library, sought out for this project to be so much more. Koolhas broke the boundaries of the typical library in more ways than one. The connection of the floors, use of color, and overall innovation make this library undeniably unique. All of these together let the library proclaim itself the ‘first library of the twenty-first century’. In order to have the Seattle Public Library that we do today, issues had to arise in the previous building that stood. Once these issues came to the city’s attention the people of Seattle craved more. This craving brought in donor after donor paving the perfect path for something miraculous. In 1988, the voters of Seattle approved the Landmark “Libraries for All” Bond Measure. This proposed an almost two hundred million dollar makeover of Seattle’s library system and doubling the square footage allowed for the project. So, the search for an architectural team began. 

When Rem Koolhas, accompanied by OMA and LMN, was selected, the concept of the library was reimagined. The library has always solely revolved around the book. This team decided the space was going to be a full information center which was not limited to one medium. New and old media forms would be accessible to everyone who entered the space.

 The classic design of a library has fallen into routine flatness. The plan of the Seattle Public Library was to break this routine.  This was done by taking the usual breakdown of the library and twisting and turning the floors which are more commonly stacked directly on top of one another. Koolhas’ goal by breaking up these floors was to reinvent the skyscraper. To Khoolhas the traditional skyscraper was “a sequence of stacked floors on which anything can happen and functions can freely alternate from one floor to the next.” This exact thing still occurs in The Seattle Central Library but it just takes a different form. These conceptual processes are what formed the library’s unusual shape. The architectural team dedicated each structural platform to a unique purpose. They chose these by grouping together similar functions by different qualities of space such as noise level. As a result of this spatial layout, each floor has its own size, circulation, color palette, and structure. The spaces in between these platform floors were classified by the architectural team as ‘unstable spaces’. 

The unstable spaces include the reading room, the mixing chamber, a living room, and space for children's books. The most unique one of the unstable spaces is the mixing chamber. Which is an area dedicated to the mixing of librarians and visitors. Here, one can find librarians to take them through the book spiral or guide them in any information searches.The definition of these spaces is clear when in the building as the stable spaces have a defined four walls and the unstable spaces have a less defined area in the plan. The stable spaces include an assembly platform, a book platform, a headquarters platform, and a staff platform. Bar far, the most unique is the assembly platform which is painted bright red and full of curvy hallways which take you to the library’s meeting rooms. Overall, the seattle central library’s philosophy is well thought out and never before seen.

This team worked on the project from 1998 to 2004 when the library opened. The building came to fruition at 404,000 square feet divided between eleven levels. Within these eleven levels is a world of information and different social environments. The shifted floors are covered in criss-crossing steel beams which support the glass facade.  This facade helps  protect the building from earthquakes while allowing in natural light from every angle and letting each guest feel as if they are in open-air. Spanning from the fifth floor to the eleventh, is a beautiful atrium which visually connects the floors. The building is held up in collaboration with columns which are strategically placed through the platform floors and the truss criss cross system on the glass facade. 

The book spiral is a great representation of the innovation shown in this building. The inspiration for this particular space is the Dewey Decimal system. This is a well thought out way to organize books. Which is done by placing them in order by subject and labeling them using the numbers to the right of the decimal point, 000 to 999, for more detail.  The book spiral is essentially a wrapping ramp that slowly inclines throughout the bookcases. This unique ramp takes you through the Dewey Decimal System as you ascend up the ramp. This was a great addition to the library in terms of universal design. Nothing breaks the continuous ribbon that is the book spiral, just four floors worth of this beautiful looping wrap. Not only are the books very strategically placed in the building but they are also strategically returned to their location. The library is equipped with a conveyer belt book return system. Each book is chipped so a machine can categorize them into bins which makes for an easy return for the librarians. 

The Seattle Central Library emphasizes the beauty of function. It does this in two special ways, showing off the necessary architectural elements of the space and the use of functional decor. Everything that seems ornamental actually has a use. Selecting the perfect structural materials allowed this to happen. Along with the raw architectural design, Khoolhas added bright and bold colors. Pops of neon yellow, green, red, and magenta collaborate with the industrial building to create a unique interior design. Along with this each piece of ‘decor’ has a purpose. This includes floor mats that mark the dewey decimal system, strategically placed shelving, and natural light that illuminates each intricate decision. All of this is supplemented by the three hundred and sixty degree view of the outdoors. 

This library redefined the social scene through the accessibility of information for the people of Seattle. New and old media came together in one location. These two ages of information are available in an equal and coherent way. This reinvention of the library keeps the old concept relevant. The design of this library was not just for the visitors but also the librarians of Seattle. Deborah Jacobs, a Seattle city librarian, worked alongside the architectural team to make sure the space worked well for the people working the space also. This was a vital part of the design process to create a system that would work with ease. Part of this was the conveyor belt book return system. 

Connectivity and community were two things the architectural team sought out to provide to the social scene of Seattle. Each of the eleven floor plans contain a section that is designed specifically to promote connectivity between the visitors. For example, in the book spiral this connectivity can be found at the intersections of different areas. The team broke down the traditional library experience into three main categories- checking out a book, meeting a friend to do work, and attending a meeting. These three actions were then analyzed to promote maximum connectivity and community. This analysis was then applied to the spatial planning part of the process. After the planning was done the team went back to analyze the exact experience for each of these three experiences.  For checking out a book, it was analyzed as being very connective and in the public in the beginning stages but becomes more private when the person sits down to read solo. For attending a meeting, the person is most vulnerable to connection when entering the main entrance and making their way up to the third floor. They transition into a moderate zone of connectivity when they are in the meeting in a public area. When meeting a friend to do work,  on the first floor there is little time for connection as there is a small walk from the main entrance to the elevator. Once on the tenth floor and trying to find a place to sit the visitor is opened up to a little bit more vulnerability to connection. This analysis of public or private spaces is vital when creating a space that has such diverse spaces inside. This allows for genuine quiet time and place to socialize for the visitors of the space.

When designing, Koolhas wanted to emphasize the surrounding elements around the city. He wanted this to go past the classic skyscrapers that lined the site. Koolhas and his architectural team decided on emphasizing the natural features around the city of Seattle. This was made easy by the existing conceptual plan to push and pull the floors. So, the main shifts of the building point toward Mount Rainier, Elliot Bay and the I-5. The glass facade of the building is a vital aspect in terms of connection to the city. This keeps the visitors of the space engaged with the surrounding buildings. The unique shaping of the Seattle Central Library in combination with the transparent material creates a beautiful relationship between the interior of the library and the city of Seattle. 

Since the building does not resemble the ones around it, The Seattle Central Library pulls the attention of any passerby. The transparent facade creates a strong connection between the interior of the building and the rest of the city. At night the reverse happens. The building illuminates the dark night sky and the people passing by the building can almost see in. This was a really important move in connecting the city to their new information hub.

This new type of library has set an example for many new libraries popping up nationwide. The innovation and conceptual excellence has inspired architects and interior designers nationwide. Never before has a building gone into so much detail in the planning stages. This building is so special because it shows off the beauty of function. Embracing the natural structure of buildings is something people in the architecture world should strive to do more. There is no reason to cover up the power of functionality with something that is just a trend. Aesthetics should begin to align more strongly with innovation and raw architecture as it is something to be celebrated. 

architect, Antonio MollAntonio is an. “An Examination of the Design Theory behind Seattle Central Library by OMA.” Double Stone Steel, 2 Oct. 2020, www.doublestonesteel.com/blog/architecture/an-examination-of-the-design-theory-behind-seattle-central-library-by-oma/. 

Brand, Julie, and Sofia Bafna. “IMAGINATIVE CONTENT AND BUILDING FORM IN THE SEATTLE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY.” Georgia Institute of Technology, PUC, 2012, pp. 7–11. 

Central Library, 2002-Present, The Seattle Public Library, www.historylink.org/File/4303. 

“A Detailed History of The Seattle Public Library.” The Seattle Public Library, www.spl.org/about-us/the-organization/our-history/detailed-history. 

“Dewey Decimal System – A Guide to Call Numbers.” Information Sciences Virtual Library, www.library.illinois.edu/infosci/research/guides/dewey/. 

Fracalossi, Igor. “Seattle Central Library / OMA + LMN.” ArchDaily, ArchDaily, 10 Feb. 2009, www.archdaily.com/11651/seattle-central-library-oma-lmn. 

“Seattle Central Library by REX.” Architizer, 17 Nov. 2015, architizer.com/projects/seattle-central-library/. 

“The Seattle Central Library.” REX, 4 Nov. 2020, rex-ny.com/project/seattle-library/. 

SeattlePublicLibrary, director. Rem Koolhaas: Designing the Central Library Structure (Part 2). YouTube, YouTube, 22 May 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2j8sz2BwK0.