by:

Farheen Bano
R E A S E A R C H. . . . . . .
Critical Appreciation of a Project

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
GENERAL. . . . . . .
Location: Seattle,
Washington
Architects: OMA & REX
Architect: Rem Koolhaas
Structural Engineer: Arup
& Magnusson Klemencic
Associates
Square Footage: 362,987-
square-foot

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
LOCATION. . . . . . .
Budget: $165 million,
including $10 million
for a temporary
location during
construction

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
CONCEPT. . . . . . .
OMA director Rem Koolhaas
says-
The modern library,
especially in a cybercity such
as Seattle, must transform
itself into an information
storehouse aggressively
orchestrating the coexistence
of all available technologies.

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
PROGRAM. . . . . . .
There are five programmatic
platforms, blocks of floors
designed for a unique
purpose: parking, staff
area, meeting rooms,
books, and offices.

The platforms
alternate with four large,
open floors: a childrens
area, Living Room,Mixing
Chamber, and reading
roomall places where
people can meet, search the
Web, or just sit and read.
Diagram of main functional areas (section)
Source: http://archplanbaltimore.blogspot.in/2014/07/three-libraries-
seattle-stuttgart-and.html
OMAs solution is simple and
complex at the same time, says Jacobs

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
SHAPE & FORM. . . . . . .
The architects pushed and
pulled the platforms almost
50 feet out of vertical
alignment with each other to
capture light and views. As
much as OMA enjoys casting
itself as technician not artist,
theres an aesthetic at work,
even when it verges on anti-
aesthetic.

The sky-blue, diamond-
patterned steel grid that
supports the glass cladding
spans the distance between
the offset platforms in
great, angled planes.
Block Model
Source: http://archplanbaltimore.blogspot.in/2014/07/three-libraries-
seattle-stuttgart-and.html

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
CONTEXT. . . . . . .
With its aggressive silhouette
and the apparent scalelessness
of its diamond-grid cladding,
Illuminated at night, it glows like
a giant X-ray, exposing its vital
organs through its exoskeleton.
Night View
Source: http://archplanbaltimore.blogspot.in/2014/07/three-libraries-
seattle-stuttgart-and.html
Its a machine that fragments and
reconstitutes the city around it, says
Koolhaas

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
CONTEXT. . . . . . .
Projecting forms (supported by
enormous
cantilevered trusses) reach for
views. The steeply sloping
site two floors in a city
block (opposite)adds to the
kinetic effect. The Fourth
Avenue entrance (near left)
opens to a childrens area. The
gridded curtain wall peels away
to form an arcade at the main,
Fifth Avenue entrance
Its a machine that fragments and
reconstitutes the city around it, says
Koolhaas
This sequence of images illustrates the approach to the Seattle
Central Library by a pedestrian walking North on 5
th
Avenue
Source: http://architectureinmedia.wordpress.com/tag/concept-book



SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
SPATIAL ORGANISATION. . . . . . .
Fifth Avenue entrance on the
uphill side of the full-block site,
into a dramatic three-story
volume that appears larger than
what seems possible from the
outside. Appropriately dubbed
the Living Room, its the
librarysand Seattleslargest
and most inviting public space.
Fiction collections, a Teen
Center, a caf, a shop, and
service-desk areas alternate with
computer desks and squishy
rubber couches.
Its a machine that fragments and
reconstitutes the city around it, says
Koolhaas
This sequence of images illustrates the approach to the Seattle
Central Library by a pedestrian walking North on 5
th
Avenue
Source: http://architectureinmedia.wordpress.com/tag/concept-book





SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
SPATIAL ORGANISATION. . . . . . .
Photomural carpets of grass and
Leaves float on the wood
floors like giant throw rugs
.Wood-clad terraces descend
through an auditorium
following the sites steep slope
and seamlessly linking the Living
Room to the childrens area two
levels below.
Building interior. Photo by Chris SchroeerHeiermann.
Source: IMAGINATIVE CONTENT AND BUILDING FORM IN THE
SEATTLE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
SPATIAL ORGANISATION. . . . . . .
The outrageous hot-pink curved hallways threaded among the fourth-floor meeting
rooms. Fluorescent-green escalators ascend from the Living Room to
deliver patrons to a huge service desk at the center of the fifth-floor mezzanine. This
Mixing Chamber places librarians, reference materials, and public-access computers
all in one place. Patrons need not wander from one department to another.
Building interior. Photo by Chris SchroeerHeiermann.
Source: IMAGINATIVE CONTENT AND BUILDING FORM IN THE SEATTLE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY




SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
SPATIAL ORGANISATION. . . . . . .
The well-lit, generously sized
levels invite browsing, but
shortcuts through the stacks are
available by stair or elevator for
those who know exactly what
they want.
Building interior. Photo by Chris SchroeerHeiermann.
Source: IMAGINATIVE CONTENT AND BUILDING FORM IN THE
SEATTLE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY



SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM & ELEMENTS . . . . . . .
Goal: Give the illusion of floating, offset boxes , while minimizing columns and transfer girders.
Solution: Columns carry gravity loads, while diamond grid and steel perimeter trusses
oppose wind load and earthquake loads.

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM & ELEMENTS . . . . . . .
Each platform has different structural system.
To minimize column and girders, many columns are skewed to connect to each other in plan.
Columns at corners were pushed back to give the floating effect.
Cantilevers extend up to 52 ft, so skewed yellow columns support the loads.
Skewed yellow columns transfer gravity loads and maximize counterbalancing opportunities.
Skewed columns create thrust, which are then transferred to the floor diaphragm that then connect
to the central core or other columns.
In substructure slabs, thrust is taken by extra reinforcing steel.
Perimeter trusses resist lateral loads and transfer gravity loads to ground.

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
OVERLOOK. . . . . . .

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
OVERLOOK. . . . . . .

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
DISTINCTIVE EXTERIOR SKIN. . . . . . .
10,000 glass diamond panels,
4,644 tons of steel,
165,000 feet of aluminum
In general the structure is composed of both
load-bearing and seismic systems. The
loadbearing system, in the form of columns
and beams, supports the elevated platforms
containing program spaces.
Custom curtain wall system
Why it has to be Diamond-shaped
windows? Actually, it is a second
structure, providing additional bracing
against earthquakes and wind.

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
GRAVITY LOAD TRACING. . . . . . .

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
ROUTE FOR GETTING A BOOK. . . . . . .

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
ROUTE FOR MEETING AND MEETING FRIEND. . . . . . .

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
CIRCULATION. . . . . . .

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
BUILDING WALK THROUGH. . . . . . .

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
BUILDING WALK THROUGH. . . . . . .

SEATTLES CENTRAL LIBRARY..
BUILDING WALK THROUGH. . . . . . .

THANK YOU . . .
R E A S E A R C H. . . . . . .
References
1. Olson.S., Thanks to omas blending of cool information technology and
warm public spaces, seattles central library, Architectural Record 07, 2004
Mcgraw-hill Companies, New York. 2004, pp-89
Julie Brand ZOOK, Sonit BAFNA, IMAGINATIVE CONTENT AND
BUILDING FORM IN THE SEATTLE CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY,
Proceedings: Eighth International Space Syntax Symposium, Edited by M.
Greene, J. Reyes and A. Castro. Santiago de Chile: PUC, 2012.