Reading Response

“The Library That Puts on Fishnets and Hits the Disco” — Herbert Muschamp

In this article, Muschamp discusses Rem Koolhaas’ Seattle Central Library idea as a “blazing chandelier.” The idea set behind this library’s design is in the form and space, which is found within the organization of space according to use and function. The library pops out in it’s urban space, and will, “play tricks with the eyes, making it nearly impossible to register the buildings scale accurately,” which is due mainly to the four elevations that appear to be different. Altering dimensions of the building effect the different perspectives that are conveyed. This is evident due to the planes that initially look rectangular which are in fact seen on closer inspection to be trapezoidal. Furthermore, the play of the entrances of this library is prominent in a relative aspect. The entrance on Fourth Avenue appears to be for children, which is separate from the entrance on Fifth Avenue, and this happens to be the more prominent entrance.

Putting the interesting aspects of the building to the side, the question arises whether the library’s aesthetic values and spatial organizational factors may intertwine. Muschamp argues that we should not take sides and that the two work well in this library. Furthermore, Koolhaus is a fan of “displacing positions”, in that the mixing chamber floor is the area of where people attain help from librarians. Normally this section would be on the first floor, however, Koolhaus placed this on the fifth floor, and it is more efficient in terms of use of staff time due to its centralized location in the library. Incorporating nature within the library makes the library quite vibrant. The stairs and escalators are a flamboyant green color, except for the large staircase that leads as though it is a “mouthlike opening to the public meeting rooms”. Having the carpeted floors decorated with leaves and grasses on the same floor by the bookshelves also implies an interesting aspect to nature that Koolhaus was trying to make. Putting aside the greatness of this library, the structure is a question that many question. His structural systems in this library seem as though it is placed randomly around due to the huge columns and angled beams placed around without order.

One may argue that the seattle central library is one of the greatest library designs made in history because of Koolhaus’ thriving personality that he’s put into it. Although the idea of this library is quite a fascinating one in terms of its aesthetic appeal, I believe that it is unorganized. The organization of the library is not entirely put together, and it seems as though many aspects were not thoroughly thought out. These are assumptions made by others, and myself however, its controversy is interesting.