Rem Koolhaas OMA - Seattle Public Library

Rem Koolhaas OMA
Seattle Public Library
Seattle, Washington

"The stacks, arranged along a continuous spiral ramp contained within a four-story slab, reinforce a sense of a world organized with machine-like precision."
Nicolai Ouroussoff
Los Angeles Times

Photo: arcspace

The new Seattle Public Library houses the library's main collection of books, government publications, periodicals, audio visual materials and the technology to access and distribute information from the physical collection online.

The building is divided into eight horizontal layers, each varying in size to fit its function. A structural steel and glass skin unifies the multifaceted form and defines the public spaces in-between.

Photo: arcspace

Situated on a sloping site between 4th and 5th street the new library will have entrances on both street levels.
The entrance level on 4th Street, one of Seattle's main thoroughfares, houses the Children's Library and foreign-language resources.
Rows of escalators lead to the 5th Street "Living Room" lobby located under a 50-foot-high sloping glass wall. The lobby can also be reached directly from a covered walkway than runs the length of the 5th Avenue facade.

Photo: arcspace

The carpeted "Living Room" contains the fiction stacks while non-fiction are located on the "Dewey Ramp"; a four-story ramp that allows people to browse through books in a continuos sequence.
The Reading room, on the top floor, has views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains.

Photo: arcspace

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.

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 potential rethinking: new forms of storage enable the space dedicated to real books to be contained; new forms of reading enhance the aura of the real book.
Our first operation has been the "combining" and consolidation of the apparently ungovernable proliferation of programs and media. By combining like with like, we have identified five platforms, each a programmatic cluster that is architecturally defined and equipped for maximum, dedicated performance. Because each platform is designed for a unique purpose, they are different in size, density, opacity.
The in-between spaces are like trading floors where librarians inform and stimulate, where the interface between the different platforms is organized - spaces for work, interaction, and play. (And reading).

Image courtesy OMA

Total area: 362,987 square feet

Seattle Public Library

Architect: Rem Koolhaas OMA
Local architects: LMN Architects, Seattle

Visit the Image Library to download larger images.

Original article March 29, 2004

Updated October 28, 2005

Rem Koolhaas arcspace features





				Features
		Rem Koolhaas OMA Seattle Public Library Seattle, Washington "The stacks, arranged along a continuous spiral ramp contained within a four-story slab, reinforce a sense of a world organized with machine-like precision." Nicolai Ouroussoff Los Angeles Times Photo: arcspace The new Seattle Public Library houses the library's main collection of books, government publications, periodicals, audio visual materials and the technology to access and distribute information from the physical collection online. The building is divided into eight horizontal layers, each varying in size to fit its function. A structural steel and glass skin unifies the multifaceted form and defines the public spaces in-between. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Situated on a sloping site between 4th and 5th street the new library will have entrances on both street levels. The entrance level on 4th Street, one of Seattle's main thoroughfares, houses the Children's Library and foreign-language resources. Rows of escalators lead to the 5th Street "Living Room" lobby located under a 50-foot-high sloping glass wall. The lobby can also be reached directly from a covered walkway than runs the length of the 5th Avenue facade. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace The carpeted "Living Room" contains the fiction stacks while non-fiction are located on the "Dewey Ramp"; a four-story ramp that allows people to browse through books in a continuos sequence. The Reading room, on the top floor, has views of Puget Sound and the surrounding mountains. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace 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. 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 potential rethinking: new forms of storage enable the space dedicated to real books to be contained; new forms of reading enhance the aura of the real book. Our first operation has been the "combining" and consolidation of the apparently ungovernable proliferation of programs and media. By combining like with like, we have identified five platforms, each a programmatic cluster that is architecturally defined and equipped for maximum, dedicated performance. Because each platform is designed for a unique purpose, they are different in size, density, opacity. The in-between spaces are like trading floors where librarians inform and stimulate, where the interface between the different platforms is organized - spaces for work, interaction, and play. (And reading). Image courtesy OMA Image courtesy OMA Image courtesy OMA Total area: 362,987 square feet Seattle Public Library Architect: Rem Koolhaas OMA Local architects: LMN Architects, Seattle Visit the Image Library to download larger images. Original article March 29, 2004 Updated October 28, 2005 Rem Koolhaas arcspace features