 |
| From Architect Magazine |
I'm not sure why I was so surprised by the old and new Cambridge Public Library buildings sitting side by side in the park in Cambridge since I had just left the BPL, but I was.
At first it seemed that the cities had found parallel solutions for their expansion, but after reading Joann Goncher’s article in Architectural Record, I started to understand the differences.
In Boston the star is the McKim Building. It is what people come to see and a symbol of what libraries stand for in our country. It is an historic landmark in every sense of the word.
The Johnson Building, opening in 1972, must have seemed modern at the time but now is very ho-hum. My daughter described it as ‘meh’ and I agreed. Although it’s a modern building, the open book stacks on the first floor seemed cluttered and messy - missing the cool, clean lines we expect in a modern building. To 21st century eyes it’s an understandable necessity, not a architectural treasure.
In Cambridge the Richardson Romanesque library, built in 1888 by Van Brunt & Howe is in a 4 acre park, so there is the advantage of elbow room. It is also a beautiful building but, obviously, doesn’t hold the same cultural significance as the McKim. Cambridge knew they wanted a ‘town common’ type space that would serve everyone in their diverse community, they knew they didn’t want to overshadow the old library and they had about $69 million to play with.
In 2009 William Rawn Associates unveiled the resulting new library. It is stunning in its own right and only compliments its elderly neighbor. The new library offers patrons state of the art, LEED certified facilities and an undisturbed view of the ever changing park scenery. The buildings are so different that they are less like Mutt and Jeff than Mutt and Madonna, but they are both beautiful and representative of their genre and context. There is no possible way for them to compete, so they don’t.
The new building looks as if it is made entirely of glass. The front wall was designed with two glass walls that have a three foot gap between them. At the top of the wall dampers control the temperature and shades in between the walls prevent patrons from getting blinded by the sun’s glare. The buildings are connected by a glass bridge and the new space quadruples the library’s square footage.
The original granite and sandstone building was renovated during the project and I love that they choose to put the new teen lounge in the old building. In a behind-the-scenes space that was previously used for book stacks, the designers decided to keep the mechanical systems and brick walls exposed, which gives the laid back space an unexpected industrial vibe, completely unlike the traditional oak paneled reading room that was meant for patrons. That space has also been renovated to its original glory and boasts a large wall mural that chronicle library/book history.
Inside the new building the red walls and ceiling keep the environment fun and fresh for the 1,500 daily visitors. CPL Director, Susan Flannery explained that on the first floor patrons were allowed to eat, drink and chat, just like in a trendy bookstore. Architectural Record called the space an “appealing book emporium”.
Cambridge was rewarded with the 2010 Harleston Parker Medal for the “Single Most Beautiful Building” built in the Boston during the past 10 years. The jury report writes that the library, “exhibits formal beauty as well as beauty of purpose, and the experience of the building as a place is not only beautiful for its form, its building science, its sustainable design, its materials, its program, but also for the vibrant activity and undisputable joy within.”
What else can I say? Check out the slide show for yourself.
In Cambridge the Richardson Romanesque library, built in 1888 by Van Brunt & Howe is in a 4 acre park, so there is the advantage of elbow room. It is also a beautiful building but, obviously, doesn’t hold the same cultural significance as the McKim. Cambridge knew they wanted a ‘town common’ type space that would serve everyone in their diverse community, they knew they didn’t want to overshadow the old library and they had about $69 million to play with.
In 2009 William Rawn Associates unveiled the resulting new library. It is stunning in its own right and only compliments its elderly neighbor. The new library offers patrons state of the art, LEED certified facilities and an undisturbed view of the ever changing park scenery. The buildings are so different that they are less like Mutt and Jeff than Mutt and Madonna, but they are both beautiful and representative of their genre and context. There is no possible way for them to compete, so they don’t.
 |
| Photo by Robert Benson |
The new building looks as if it is made entirely of glass. The front wall was designed with two glass walls that have a three foot gap between them. At the top of the wall dampers control the temperature and shades in between the walls prevent patrons from getting blinded by the sun’s glare. The buildings are connected by a glass bridge and the new space quadruples the library’s square footage.
The original granite and sandstone building was renovated during the project and I love that they choose to put the new teen lounge in the old building. In a behind-the-scenes space that was previously used for book stacks, the designers decided to keep the mechanical systems and brick walls exposed, which gives the laid back space an unexpected industrial vibe, completely unlike the traditional oak paneled reading room that was meant for patrons. That space has also been renovated to its original glory and boasts a large wall mural that chronicle library/book history.
Inside the new building the red walls and ceiling keep the environment fun and fresh for the 1,500 daily visitors. CPL Director, Susan Flannery explained that on the first floor patrons were allowed to eat, drink and chat, just like in a trendy bookstore. Architectural Record called the space an “appealing book emporium”.
Cambridge was rewarded with the 2010 Harleston Parker Medal for the “Single Most Beautiful Building” built in the Boston during the past 10 years. The jury report writes that the library, “exhibits formal beauty as well as beauty of purpose, and the experience of the building as a place is not only beautiful for its form, its building science, its sustainable design, its materials, its program, but also for the vibrant activity and undisputable joy within.”
What else can I say? Check out the slide show for yourself.
No comments:
Post a Comment