| Optic |
The purpose of this assignment was to enable us to complete the design of a public building of an intermediate size and complexity. Whereas previous work in past semesters has started by primarily considering issues of program and spatial organization, now this was a time to negotiate the requirements of such considerations with the constrains of a specific site and urban context.
During the last 20 years, a relatively large network of medium-sized public libraries has been developed within the metropolitan area of Madrid. These libraries cater for the local needs of districts and subdistricts, and therefore offer a broad range of community services. High school and university students use them to study their finals (often in group), families bring their younger children to develop their taste for reading, and retirees read the daily newspaper and enjoy a coffee with friends. These libraries have become local social hubs. Additionally, some of the most daring and relevant examples of mid-scale architecture produced during the last 20 years in Madrid are in fact contributions to this library network. It was now our turn to produce an additional piece for this system.